Mississippi Edition

Gun violence has dropped sharply in recent years, but federal officials say the root cause is still present in schools and communities. Then, small businesses in Mississippi share the unique challenges they are facing. Plus, we continue our conversation with Civil Rights leader David Dennis, talking about his time organizing during the 1964 Freedom Summer movement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

Thermostats may show a high of 96 degrees in parts of Mississippi today, but it could feel hotter than 109 outside. Emergency responders share ideas for how folks can stay safe in extreme summer heat. Then, Mississippi's population of gulf sturgeon has been decimated in recent years. Plus, a civil rights icon shares his experience of organizing in Mississippi during the 1964 Freedom Summer mo...

Today marks two years since the Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health ruling, allowing states to limit abortion rights. Then, a filmmaker and activist on documenting the Jackson, Mississippi clinic at the center of the Dobbs case . Plus, civil rights leaders are remembering Freedom Summer, a voter registration initiative in 1964 that became a pivotal moment in the movement....

What a major investment in a Mississippi river port in the Delta could do for the state's economy. Then, a growing number of seniors in Mississippi don't have retirement plans, according to a recent survey from the AARP. Plus, Black cowboys in the South are clebrating their own history this week to celebrate Juneteenth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An immigration plan that will shield undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation is being met with praise and criticism from immigration advocates in Mississippi. Then, more than 70 million dollars has been awarded to Internet providers to build out rural broadband networks in the state. Plus, a project in Oxford is helping to bring awareness to lynchings and reuniting some familie...

A non-profit in Mississippi is providing financial assistance to LGBTQ groups throughout the state this Pride Month. Then, a new tool can help keep people informed on how severe the heat will be this summer. Plus, today is Juneteenth, a day celebrating the emancipation of Black slaves in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The family of a Jackson man whose body was found floating in the Pearl River are still searching for answers about his death.  Then, men are at a much higher risk for committing suicide than women. What could be done to prevent those deaths? Also, the abortion pill Mifepristone will stay on the market after a recent Supreme Court decision. What does this mean for the abortion rights move...

Fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. And experts say part of the solution is helping those struggling with addiction.  Then, there’s a rapidly growing business across the South that has communities up in arms. They warn the stores are dirty, crime magnets and dangerous. Plus, New Yorkers with roots in Mississippi are getting together this weekend to c...

A Senator from Mississippi wants to undo anti-discrimination rules recently adopted by the Biden administration which protect trans students. Then, some schools are providing meals for students this summer. Plus, a student from Gulfport is being recognized by National Geographic for her video about oyster farming in the Mississippi Sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Democrats are calling for a boycott of the Mississippi State Fair after Republicans held a rally in support of former President Donald Trump. Then, LGBTQ youth in Mississippi are four times more likely to commit suicide. How can mental health services reduce that number? Plus, roadside markers are a way to preserve history where it happened. That's ahead in this week's History is Lunch. Hoste...

Lawmakers are considering cuts to red tape to increase competition in the healthcare field. Then, the American Heart Association celebrates its centennial. Plus, A Grammy-award-winning star from the South recently launched his first solo tour, saying he wants to bring even more attention to the music legacy of the Gulf States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest report on the overall well-being of Mississippi’s children and families shows the state ranks next to last in several key indicators.  Then, More residents in Mississippi and surrounding southern states have their health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act--- according to a new health policy research report.  Plus, how have flags changed throughout Mississippi's...

A week after former President Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records, some Mississippians are rallying to show support for his 2024 Presidential campaign. Then, Emergency responders test their communication skills as part of an annual hurricane preparedness exercise. Plus, a new law allows for the establishment of a state health exchange. But where does the state begin to design...

We continue our conversation about Jackson's water system and if federal oversight could have prevented a crisis. Then, education experts say technical training can be a big factor in filling the needs of the state's job market and getting students into promising careeers. Plus from the Gulf States Newsroom, For 15 years a man has been uncovering his native and formerly-enslaved heritage on Gulf C...

Several organizations in Mississippi have been named "hate groups" in a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Then, pushback from residents of a historically Black neighborhood in North Gulfport has local officials delaying plans to build a large cold storage facility. Plus, environmental advocates are asking if the EPA is doing enough to help Jackson's struggling water system. Hosted o...

A pandemic-era program to help folks afford Internet coverage is finished. What that could mean for Mississippians ahead. Then, some hospital patients in DeSoto County had to spend nights in jail until they could get mental health treatments, a move experts say is unique to Mississippi. Plus, a grant program seeks to connect low-income Mississippians with financial aid needed to maintain home safe...

Hurricane season is underway. What folks need to know to stay safe from possible storms. From the Gulf States Newsroom: The nation’s major waterway faces challenges like fast current and excess pollution. But in the Gulf South, canoe guides are teaching kids not to fear the Mississippi River. Plus, what a push for abortion pills to be labeled a "schedule 4 drug" in Louisiana could mean for Mississ...

Some businesses in Jackson are required to install new cameras to help police, a move some say could be unconstitutional. Then from the Gulf States Newsroom, how water leaks, poor customer service and aging infrastructure can make paying utility bills a headache. Plus, population growth is booming in the south, but Mississippi is being left out of that trend. Experts say a major factor is 'brain d...

The EPA is providing Jackson Public Schools with new electric busses that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save the district money. Then, blood shortages grow after an agency steps into help several states devastated by storms. Plus, what does it mean to be "home?" A New Orleans resident who participated in the de-segregation of her elementary school answers that question. Hosted on Acast...

A defunct casino could provide temporary housing for unaccompanied migrant children, but some elected officials in Mississippi are opposed to the plan. Then, this hurricane season is expected to be severe. And a program new to Mississippi could fund weather-proofing of homes. Plus, we continue our conversation with civil rights leader Leslie McLemore about the 70th anniversary of the Brown v The B...

With the country's worst maternal and infant health outcomes, doctors in Mississippi say a lack of public awareness of risks could be to blame. Then, this month marks the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling on Brown v Board of Education. Plus, how have laws been re-written over time as part of efforts to erase slavery from history. That's ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Mississippi's Southern US District Attorney is meeting with residents of Rankin County to discuss their concerns about public safety. Then, the ACLU of Mississippi denounces a school clothing policy that defines dress codes according to a student's sex. Plus, a Jackson artist asks the question, "What does it mean to be 'Home'?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 2025 session, legislative leaders say one of their top priorities will be tax reform. Then, with a 10 billion dollar data center in the works, Amazon is prepared to train workers to fill an expected 1000 jobs. Plus, a historian shares the origin story of Mississippi's community colleges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new study looks at how Mississippi police officers are charged and sentenced when they commit crimes. Then, it's cicada season. What thousands of loud bugs mean for your backyard. Plus, In the rural South, it can be difficult for families to get updates on loved ones who are in prison or jail. Especially true when someone is hurt or even dies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

Hurricane season starts soon. Researchers are projective an active summer and fall. Then, public and private broadband providers are discussing how to connect folks across Mississippi to the internet. Plus, a new documentary airs tonight about the first counter-culture rock station in the southeast. Jackson's own WZZQ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.