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Monday July 2, 2007 |
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New Board of Health Gets to
Work |
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Health care advocates say Mississippi's
new board of health will have its work cut out for it when
the group meets in Jackson later this afternoon. MPB's Scott
Phillips has this report. |
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Listen |
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William Winter Institute Hosts
Civil Rights Education Summit |
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Righting the wrongs of slavery and segregation
is a lengthy process. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports on
a civil rights summit, hosted by the William Winter Institute
for Racial Reconciliation. |
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Listen |
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MS-AL Hurricane Conference
Ends |
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The Mississippi and Alabama Emergency
Management Agencies concluded their second annual combined
hurricane preparedness conference. More than four hundred
state and county emergency officials walked away with new
ideas that will improve their hurricane response and recovery
efforts. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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Tuesday July 3, 2007 |
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Training Hospital |
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The Keesler Medical Center Physician
training program was closed after Hurricane Katrina heavily
damaged the hospital facility. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports,
thousands of Military retirees and active duty personnel were
left without medical care. |
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Interim State Health Officer
Returns to Job |
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Mississippi's newly reconstituted board
of health has brought in a familiar face to lead the state's
health department on an interim basis. MPB's Scott Phillips
has this report. |
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Listen |
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Kidney Transplants at UMC |
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The University of Mississippi Medical
Center has announced that it has just completed 50 kidney
transplants this year. UMC surgeon Alan Hawksby says it's
significant because only 10 were performed in all of 2006.
*UMC is the only hospital in the state that performs organ
transplants, and according to Dr. Hawksby, the success rate
of kidney transplants is close to 100%.
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Wednesday July 4, 2007 |
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Holiday Travel In Mississippi
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Tourism ranks 6th in the states overall
economy. MPB's Lawayne Childrey examines how holiday drivers
are helping to fuel one of the states fastest growing industries.
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Fireworks and More on the
Gulf Coast |
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Thousands of tourists are on the Gulf
Coast for the fourth of July holiday. The skies will explode
with fireworks and the beaches are ready. MPB’s Gary
Michiels has this explosive report. |
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Listen |
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Oxford’s 4th of July
Fireworks Show Will Go Ahead |
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What would the 4th of July be without
fireworks? Well, in Oxford the decision on allowing the fireworks
show to go ahead came down to the wire. MPB’s Sandra
Knispel reports. |
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Thursday July 5, 2007 |
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New Choctaw Chief |
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After almost thirty years, new leadership
is coming for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. MPB's
Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Hard Rock Opens |
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The Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi will have
its official grand opening this weekend. And as MPB’s
Gary Michiels reports, it is expected to bring a lot of new
visitors to the Gulf Coast. |
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County Inmates Garden Lowers
Jail Operating Costs |
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A few jails in Mississippi are growing
their own vegetables, which affects more than just their bottom
line. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports. |
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Friday July 6, 2007 |
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Lauderdale Sheriff's Accreditation
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State law enforcement accreditation examiners
looked at everything from parking to hiring practices before
declaring Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department as fully
accredited from the ground up. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has
more. |
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Beaches Get Makeover |
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One of the major attractions on the Gulf
Coast has been struggling to recover from the impact of Hurricane
Katrina. But after twenty-two months some progress is being
made. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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UMC Doctor Leads American
Heart Assoc. |
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Mississippi leads the nation in cardiovascular
disease. But health care advocates are hoping that may change
with a Mississippian now leading the American Heart Association.
MPB's Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Monday July 9, 2007 |
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At Risk Student Funding |
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State lawmakers are meeting this summer
to determine if additional resources are needed to prevent
"at risk" children from dropping out of school.
With a 40% high school drop out rate, lawmakers believe it's
worth a look as MPB's Scott Phillips reports. |
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Fraud Lands Contractors Behind
Bars |
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State, local, and federal law enforcement
agencies are cracking down on contractors who have cheated
Gulf Coast homeowners. Eight felony arrests have been made
and there are more to come. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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Emergency Preparation Calendar |
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After a disaster you could get help in
hours or it may take days. Jim Craig, Director of Health Protection
with the Mississippi Department of Health says his department
has initiated a 24 week program, available at healthyMS.com.,
to help families be better prepared. Craig says once disaster
hits you won't have time to shop for supplies or gather important
numbers like out of state contacts, doctors and creditors.
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Tuesday July 10, 2007 |
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Corn Farmers Feeling Drought
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Mississippi farmers had hoped corn would
be the states top row crop this year. But as MPB's Lawayne
Childrey reports, severe drought conditions have cut their
yields in half. |
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Singing River Island Back
in State Hands |
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Fourteen years ago the U. S. Navy opened
a Naval Homeport on Singing River Island just south of Pascagoula.
Now the Island has been officially returned to the state.
MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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Mississippi Choctaws Ready
for New Chief |
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The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
will have a new leader for the first time in 28 years when
Chief-elect Beasley Denson is sworn in this morning. MPB's
Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Wednesday July 11, 2007 |
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Emergency Radios to Begin
Testing |
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A new state wide radio network will get
a trial run beginning next month. The system is expected to
improve emergency response immediately following a hurricane.
MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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Cutting The Fat In Schools
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Mississippi School Children are among
the fattest in the nation. And Although their is no one cause
for childhood obesity experts say food preparation plays a
big part in their overall health. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has
more. |
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Listen |
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Choctaw Chief on the Job |
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Hundreds were on hand yesterday to see
Beasley Denson sworn in as the next chief of the Mississippi
Band of Choctaw Indians. MPB's Scott Phillips was there and
has this report. |
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Listen |
Thursday July 12, 2007 |
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Columbia Training School Suit
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The State of mississippi is being sued
over allegations of abuse of mentally ill girls at Columbia
Training School. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more. |
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Thompson Assesses Health Department
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Interim State Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson
is tasked with fixing a department of health that has been
seen as on the decline in Mississippi. MPB's Scott Phillips
reports on Thompson's assessment of public health 10 days
after his appointment. |
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Listen |
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Habitat Homes |
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Habitat for Humanity is moving forward
building houses on the Gulf Coast. MPB’s Gary Michiels
reports on the dedication of seven new homes in Biloxi yesterday.
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Kudzu Takes On New Meaning
After Author's Death |
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Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug
Marlette was killed in a car crash Tuesday morning on his
way from the Memphis airport to Oxford High School where students
are rehearsing his musical. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports
on a show that must go on. |
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Friday July 13, 2007 |
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First Lady Fordice Dies |
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Funeral services are scheduled for Monday
for former first lady Pat Fordice. Mrs. Fordice died yesterday
morning at her home in Madison after a long battle with cancer.
MPB's Scott Phillips reports on Fordice's legacy and how she
will be remembered.
*MPB television will air an archived edition of "Conversations"
featuring First Lady Pat Fordice tonight at 9:30. The program
originally aired in May 1998.
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Bioterrorism Plant Possible
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Researchers of foreign animal diseases
such as avian flu could soon be calling Flora Industrial Park
in Madison County home. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports it
is one of five sites competing for the multi million dollar
project. |
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Listen |
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Amos March |
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The Governors Homeowner Grant program
came under fire from a coalition of religious leaders on the
Gulf Coast. They say they will march on the Capital if the
issues are not resoled soon. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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Listen |
Monday July 16, 2007 |
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First Lady Fordice |
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Funeral services will be held this morning
for former Mississippi first lady Pat Fordice. On Sunday Mississippians
got a chance to pay their respects to Mrs. Fordice at the
Governor's mansion. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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Changing Role Of The Black
Church |
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AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and high school
drop out rates are just some of the tough issues being discussed
this week at the Black Baptist Convention in Jackson. MPB's
Lawayne Childrey has more. |
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Listen |
Tuesday July 17, 2007 |
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Poverty Tour Comes To Mississippi
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Democratic Presidential Hopeful John
Edwards stopped in Marks and Canton Mississippi monday as
part of his 3 day poverty tour. Edwards first stop was a poultry
plant in Canton. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports. |
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Listen |
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Hundreds Attend Fordice Funeral
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Hundreds turned out yesterday for the
funeral of former Mississippi first lady Pat Fordice. MPB's
Scott Phillips reports family members thanked Mississippi
for its kindness and recalled a woman that led an extraordinary
life. |
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Listen |
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Barbour on Japan Trip |
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Governor Haley Barbour says he's encouraged
after a recent economic development mission to Japan. Last
week he led a delegation to the country in an attempt to land
suppliers for the Toyota plant currently under construction
near Blue Springs.
*Barbour says he anticipates Japanese suppliers will be making
decisions on sites very soon, because supplier industries
have to be up and running before the Toyota plant itself. |
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Wednesday July 18, 2007 |
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Move-On Rally |
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As Senators on Capitol Hill prepared
to burn the midnight oil over pulling troops out of Iraq,
Mississippians were participating in a nationwide rally to
support a timetable for withdrawal. MPB's Scott Phillips has
this report. |
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Listen |
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Low Wage Conditions |
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Democratic presidential hopeful, John
Edwards' visit to Mississippi this week helped shine a light
on what some call unfair work practices in the state. MPB's
Lawayne Childrey reports. |
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Listen |
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Successful Teacher From Poor
L. A. Neighborhood Shares Insights |
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Rafe Esquith’s (RAIFF ESS-quith's)
students score in the top one percent nationwide on standardized
tests and many have gone on to the Ivy League… that
despite the fact that they’re from a blighted neighborhood
of Los Angeles. Yesterday, Esquith came to Oxford to share
the secrets of his success, as MPB’s Sandra Knispel
reports. |
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Listen |
Thursday July 19, 2007 |
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Struggling Coast Cities |
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Recovery from the devastation on the
Gulf Coast is taking much longer than in the aftermath of
other hurricanes. Several small beach front cities on the
western end of the coastline are struggling to survive. MPB’s
Gary Michiels reports. |
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Listen |
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Closed Primary Voting System |
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Now that a federal judge has given Mississippi
more time to enact a closed primary voting system, state officials
still continue to voice concern over Voter ID requirements.
MPB's Scott Phillips reports. |
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Listen |
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Greenwood School Scuffle Video
Ruling |
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A Leflore County Chancery Judge ruled
yesterday that video tape showing a scuffle between a Greenwood
high school student and school police officer should be declared
public record. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more. |
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Listen |
Friday July 20, 2007 |
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Mississippi Tries to Lure
Future Toyota Suppliers to the State |
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They could move to neighboring states
and ship their parts to the future Toyota plant near Tupelo….
but, as MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports, community leaders
are working hard to ensure that automotive suppliers come
to Mississippi. |
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Listen |
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Whooping Cough Spreading in
MS |
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The Mississippi Department of Health is
urging doctors to be on the lookout for new cases of whooping
cough. MPB's Scott Phillips reports the advisory comes on
the heels of the death of an infant earlier this month. |
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Listen |
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Barrier Islands |
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The islands that dot the horizon off
the Mississippi coastline protect the mainland from approaching
tropical storms and hurricanes. But they were no match for
Hurricane Katrina. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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Farmers Market |
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At a Mississippi Farmers Market local
art, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment are regular
features. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports the main draw
is the Mississippi soil grown produce. |
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Monday July 23, 2007 |
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Federal Tobacco Tax Could
Boost CHIPS |
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Senators on Capitol Hill are confident
they've found a funding mechanism that will enable expansion
of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. But as MPB's
Scott Phillips reports, tobacco smokers are fuming at how
lawmakers want to accomplish it. |
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Toxic FEMA Trailers |
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Many Gulf Coast residents living in FEMA
travel trailers are experiencing respiratory difficulties.
After seven months of numerous complaints Congress is now
investigating the issue. MPB's Gary Michiels reports. |
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Listen |
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New Generation of Freedom
Riders |
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A group of high school students from
Washington D.C. are taking a month long Journey to meet with
Civil Rights movement leaders and foot soldiers in the African
American and Jewish Communities. And as MPB's Lawayne Childrey
reports their journey is reminiscent of the 1960's freedom
riders. |
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Did Harry Potter Series Stem
the Tide of Growing Illiteracy? |
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It's been called the "Harry Potter
effect," according to which more youngsters read because
of J.K. Rowling's blockbuster series. But is it true? MPB's
Sandra Knispel reports. |
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Listen |
Tuesday July 24, 2007 |
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Restraint Ensures Amber Alert
Success |
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Public safety officials are touting the
success of Mississippi's Amber Alert System. Two alerts in
as many weeks have resulted in children being returned unharmed.
But as MPB's Scott Phillips reports, officials say the system's
strict criteria for issuance is a contributing factor for
success. |
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Listen |
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Abstinence Study |
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According to Mathematica Policy Research,
eleven and twelve year old students who participated in abstinence
programs were just as likely to have sex as those who did
not. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more. |
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Listen |
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Seashore Mission Gets Help
Through Song |
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A slab is all that remains of the United
Methodist Seashore Mission in Biloxi. It served as shelter
for the homeless. Now the rebuilding of the church is getting
help from a most unlikely source. MPB’s Gary Michiels
reports. |
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Listen |
Wednesday July 25, 2007 |
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Minimum Wage Goes Up |
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Labor advocates are pleased that the
minimum wage has been increased for the first time in a decade.
But what kind of an impact will it have on Mississippi? MPB's
Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Listen |
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Physical Education For Teachers |
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A new law that takes effect this fall
will have students breaking a sweat by spending more time
in physical education class. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey
reports a good workout is not just for PE anymore. |
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Listen |
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Pearlington Make Over |
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A small Mississippi city is getting a
large recovery effort this week. The program involves thousands
of workers and truckloads of supplies. MPB’s Gary Michiels
reports. |
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Listen |
Thursday July 26, 2007 |
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Neshoba Fair Political Speeches
Part 1 |
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Four candidates are vying to become Mississippi's
next State Auditor. All got a chance to ask for votes at Mississippi's
giant house party, also known as the Neshoba County Fair.
MPB's Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Listen |
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Neshoba Fair Political Speeches
Part 2 |
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The east central Mississippi heat was
nothing compared to the political speeches given at the Neshoba
County Fair on Wednesday. MPB's Scott Phillips reports on
the three candidates vying to be the next Lieutenant Governor.
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Mosquito Control |
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Concerns about reports of a deadly virus
in the State have prompted one national organization on the
Gulf Coast to take a pro-active approach dealing with the
disease. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports. |
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Listen |
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Friday July 27, 2007 |
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Governor Candidates At Neshoba
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The two candidates for the states top
office went toe to toe yesterday at the Neshoba County Fair.
MPB's Lawayne Childrey was there and has this report. |
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Neshoba - Insurance Commissioner |
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For two days every summer, the fairgrounds
in Philadelphia become the center of Mississippi's political
scene. Yesterday, candidates for State Insurance Commissioner
had their day in the sun. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more. |
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Neshoba - Secretary od State |
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Food fun and political speeches brought
hundreds of Mississippian's out to the Neshoba County Fair
yesterday. MPB's Lawayne Childrey listened as the candidates
for Secretary of State courted the crowd. |
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Listen |
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State of State Economy |
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A senior economist with the Mississippi
Institutions of Higher Learning has a positive assessment
of the state's economy. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Lott on Katrina and FEMA |
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August and September are traditionally
the busiest time for hurricanes impacting the Gulf Coast.
During his weekly telephone press conference Senator Trent
Lott says he has concerns about the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s ability to respond
*The Senator went on to say that the Agency has learned some
basic things that should make their response more effective.
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Angels on Display at Mississippi
Museum of Art |
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With the Mississippi Museum of Art now
open in its new Jackson facility, it’s no exaggeration
to say its inaugural exhibit is divine. MPB's Ellen Ann Fentress
reports. |
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Listen |
Monday July 30, 2007 |
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Hill-McGraw Concert |
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Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts will
get a big boost from the sold out concert of two country music
superstars. MPB’s Gary Michiels Reports. |
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Listen |
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West Nile Support |
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The US is on pace to have a record number
of West Nile Virus cases this year. As the numbers increase,
so does the popularity of a West Nile support group in Mississippi.
MPB's Scott Phillips reports. |
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Listen |
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Summer Camp For At Risk Youth |
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High drop out rates, teen pregnancy and
poverty prompted one Inner City Mayor to design a camp to
help at risk boys get a better chance at life. MPB's Lawayne
Childrey reports. |
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Listen |
Tuesday
July 31, 2007 |
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Noxubee County Elections |
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Despite objections by the US Department
of Justice, primary elections will go on as scheduled in Noxubee
County. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report. |
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Illegal Dog Fighting In Mississippi |
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Allegations of illegal dog fighting by
NFL superstar Michael Vic brought the underground activity
to the forefront last week. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports
how one Delta town is dealing with dog horror stories of its
own. |
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Mississippi Focus in Fortune
Magazine |
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Mississippi is looking for national companies
to set up shop in Mississippi. A twenty-two page advertisement
inviting them to come on down is now running in a national
business magazine. MPB’s Gary Michiels Reports. |
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