April 2009

By the time the last school bell rings today, a bus load of students from Gautier to Corinth will have dropped out of school, putting Mississippi’s dropout rate among the highest in the nation. Officials say the end result could mean social and economic disaster. Over the next few weeks, MPB News will examine why so many students are dropping out and what is being done to stop it. MPB's Lawayne Childrey begins our series this morning with a report on the impact the dropout problem has on Mississippi.

A Mississippi group working to abolish the death penalty is making a new push. MPB’s Stephen Koranda has more.

Monday would have been the 100th birthday of Eudora Welty, and now the famous author could have a school named after her. MPB’s Cari Gervin has more.

Gun buyers across the country are flocking to stores to stock up on assault rifles, handguns and ammunition. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports what's happening in Mississippi.

After weeks and weeks of hard study, hundreds of Mississippi kids left the classroom this week for the final phase of their classical education. MPB's Ron Brown has the story.

Spending for preschool programs nationwide is up and so is enrollment. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports Mississippi is one of the few states that hasn't funded schools for kids four and under.

The national tobacco tax shot up April first, and the state tax will soon do the same, once legislators reach a compromise. Since a quarter of Mississippians use tobacco on a regular basis, the economics of the matter could encourage many to try to quit. But that’s easier said than done. There is a program at the University of Mississippi that is making headway. MPB’s Cari Gervin has the details.

Senate Bill 2628, known as the Children's first Act of 2009 is designed to strengthen accountability measures and academic standards for public schools. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

One Gulf Coast health system is trying to get a better handle of the health needs of the community by calling people up and asking them how they are feeling. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports.