MPB News on Demand - Local News

Monday December 3, 2007
	Education Reform
	Its been 25 years since the passage of the Education Reform Act of 1982, one of the largest state education bills ever passed in Mississippi. Its impact can still be felt today. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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	Two Schools of Deaf Education
	Helen Keller was trapped in a world of her own until she learned to communicate thru sign language. Today in Mississippi, many deaf children still learn to sign, but others rely on speech. MPB's Patty Davis reports.
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	Traveling Exhibit Pays Tribute to 9/11
	A traveling exhibit paying tribute to the victims of 9/11 was on display at the state capitol over the weekend. MPB’s Scott Phillips reports that memories of the tragedy are still vivid six years later.
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	World Aids Day
	In Mississippi the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS is falling. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports, numbers don't matter to one group.
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	Mortgage Crisis
	How does Mississippi stack up against the rest of the country when it comes to the sub prime mortgage crisis? How does one avoid foreclosure and what do Mississippians need to be mindful of when buying a home? These are issues I discussed with Mark Cumbest, President of the Jackson County Board of Realtors and Broker/Owner of Cumbest Realty.
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Tuesday December 4, 2007
	Major Employer Names Jackson for New Site
	A data processing company is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the metro Jackson area. Governor Haley Barbour made the announcement yesterday. MPB's Scott Phillips reports.
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	Crime Victims Holiday Tree
	A tree trimming ceremony at the Attorney Generals office in Jackson yesterday paid honor crime victims and their families. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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Wednesday December 5, 2007
	Mental Health Department Opens Brookhaven Crisis Center
	A ribbon cutting was held yesterday for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health's newest crisis center in Brookhaven. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Education Reform Act 25 Years Later
	It's been 25 years since the passage of the Education Reform Act of 1982. One of the mandates of this law was a statewide public kindergarten system, which began operation in 1985. MPB's Stephen Koranda Reports.
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Thursday December 6, 2007
	Thompson Returns as State Health Officer
	This morning the Mississippi Board of Health has a familiar face at the helm. MPB's Scott Phillips with the story.
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	Scruggs Katrina Group
	The Scruggs Katrina Group representing Gulf Coast residents in post hurricane litigation has been dissolved as a result of indictment of attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs. But the more than eleven hundred clients of the group still expect to get their day in court. MPB’s Gary Michel reports.
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	Autism in Mississippi
	Autism affects one in every 150 Mississippi children. MPB's Patty Davis reports, earlier diagnosis and better care could be in their future.
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	Third Circuit to Add Drug Court
	Mississippi will soon have one more drug court. It will be a court that specializes in handling the cases of people arrested for some drug and alcohol crimes. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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Friday December 7, 2007
	FBI Director Mueller
	When you think of terrorism Mississippi may not readily come to mind. But state and national security officials think otherwise. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Health Disparities Concern Officials
	African Americans died of heart failure at a rate twice that of whites in Mississippi from 2000 to 2005. Black communities also have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension and infant mortality. As MPB's Stephen Koranda reports some health officials are trying to find out why.
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	Background Checks at Church
	Singing, praying and background checks for possible sexual predators have become part of the worship experience for one local congregation. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Military Mail Bus Tour
	A national bus tour is trying to make the holidays a little brighter for military members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. MPB’s Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Homeless Art – Images On the Edge
	A special group of artists in Jackson are capitalizing on their unique experience to create images on the edge. MPB's Ron Brown with the story.
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Monday December 10, 2007
	UMC Uses Technology to Help Rural Hospitals
	The University of Mississippi Medical Center has helped more than 40,000 patients in rural Mississippi hospitals since 2003. The help comes through a program called Telemergency, (tell-emergency) which allows doctors at UMC to examine patients remotely. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.
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	WIC Whacking Diary Products
	Low income women and their children will see significant changes in their diet now that the US Department of Agriculture is incorporating more fruits and vegetables into the Women, Infants and Children Program. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Teacher Shortage is No Quick Fix
	Teacher shortages on the Gulf Coast are beginning to take a toll on local schools systems. An administrator says it’s a matter of supply and demand, which begins in the states’ colleges. MPB’s Gary Michiels Reports.
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	Beer Wars
	Rarely has any topic in recent history stirred the passions in Yalobusha County as much as this: Tuesday’s special vote on beer legalization. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports from Water Valley.
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	Charities Work to stay on Top of Toy Recall
	Recalls are causing charities to check their list twice when it comes to toy giving this holiday season. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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Tuesday December 11, 2007
	Groundbreaking for Toyota Supplier
	A ground breaking ceremony yesterday started construction for one of the main suppliers for Toyota. The small north east Mississippi town of Baldwyn will be home for the new Toyota Auto Body factory. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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	McMillin now Chief
	Malcolm McMillin has made state history now that the Hinds County Sheriff will also serve as Jackson's police chief. But MPB's Scott Phillips reports, concerns still exist after the city council's confirmation vote yesterday.
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	Restaurant and Beverage Tax
	Voters in Ocean Springs will go to the polls today to vote on a proposed new tax on restaurant and lounge revenues. As MPB’s Gary Michiels reports,.although it will only mean pennies on the dollar, the issue has become quite controversial.
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	Mississippi Faces Foreclosure Fatigue
	In light of President Bush's proposed plan to help homeowners facing possible foreclosure, we wanted to know what kind of impact this might have on Mississippi. Quentin Whitwell is the Executive Director of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Mississippi.
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Wednesday December 12, 2007
	Scruggs Investigation Widens
	The scope of the judicial corruption investigation against Oxford-lawyer Dick Scruggs is widening as the FBI seized documents on Monday from Scruggs’ defense attorney Joey Langston. MPB’s Sandra Knispel has more from Oxford.
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	Gulf Coast Youth Gangs
	Youth gangs are becoming an increasing concern across the county. It is a problem that was once confined to the metropolitan inner cities but is now finding its way into smaller towns. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports on gangs along the Gulf Coast.
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	Yalobusha County Votes In Favor of Beer
	A measure supporting the legalization of beer and light wine passed yesterday in Yalobusha County. The issue was contentious in the small North Central Mississippi County. MPB's Stephen Koranda has more from Water Valley.
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	Teens Get Straight on Drunk Driving
	Rankin County emergency responders found a more realistic way to warn students of the dangers of drinking and driving Tuesday morning. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Lagging Recovery
	Thousands of low to moderate income families on the Gulf Coast are still living in FEMA trailers while they wait for a federal homeowners grant to rebuild. And as MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, a state plan to use six hundred million dollars of the grant program to enlarge the Port of Gulfport comes as discouraging news for those who are still not back in their home.
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Thursday December 13, 2007
	New Flood Elevation Maps
	The Mississippi Management Agency is holding a series of Open House meetings on the Gulf Coast to help residents view the newly revised flood maps. The information will determine how high new structures must be built. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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	Air Pollution Issues
	Air pollution in the Memphis area has officials in north Mississippi's Desoto county and Tennessee's Shelby county blaming each other for the problem. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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	Holiday Stress
	The holidays are filled with parties, heavy rich foods, drinking and rushing around to shop. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports holiday STRESS can lead to holiday heart attacks.
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Friday December 14, 2007
	FEMA Trailers Examined
	The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced it will begin examining FEMA trailers for formaldehyde gasses. The action comes after numerous complaints from trailer residents. MPB’s Gary Michiels has the report.
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	Refuse To Be a Victim
	Crime Prevention and personal safety information is being taught to law enforcement officers from across the state in Jackson this week. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Credit Card Fraud
	A recent increase in credit and debit card fraud has officials in north Mississippi's DeSoto County trying to find out how card numbers are being stolen. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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	Mississippi Art Part of White House Holiday Decor
	A local Mississippi artist whose specialty is painting small, is enjoying some big time success. His work is hanging in the White House. MPB's Ron Brown tells us about Billy Wayne Martin's brush with fame.
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Monday December 17, 2007
	MS Athletes and Steroids
	As officials in Washington continue to look at Major League Baseball's steroid use many Mississippians who are close to the game step up to the plate to tell their stories. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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MDOT Warns Drivers of Deer Danger

Car crashes involving deer are most common in the months of December and January. MPB's Steven Koranda reports that the Mississippi Department of Transportation is warning drivers to be on the lookout for deer in your headlights.

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	Replanting South Mississippi
	Hurricane Katrina destroyed hundreds of thousands of trees as it tore through the Gulf Coast. As MPB's Gary Michiels tells us the efforts of volunteers the replanting seedlings is moving at a fast pace.
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	Emotional Time of Year
	For some people Christmas isn't the most wonderful time of the year. Instead, it may be one of the most depressing. Dr. Mardi Allen, a clinical psychologist with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health has some good advice for how to make the holidays, while not holly jolly, at least bearable.
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	Holiday Cards by the Millions
	Today marks the busiest mailing day of the year for the US Postal Service . MPB's Patty Davis takes a look.
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Tuesday December 18, 2007

Stealing the Holiday Season

With only a week left in the holiday shopping season, the attorney general’s office is warning consumers to be vigilant when it comes to protecting their identity. MPB’s Scott Phillips has this report.

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	Gulfport's Memorial is State's First Stroke Center
	A Mississippi Gulf Coast Hospital has been classified as a Certified Primary Stroke Center. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, it is the first of its kind in the state.
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	Disputed House Seat Re-Vote
	Voters in four Hinds County Precincts get another shot at electing their state house representative. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more on today's vote.
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	Ecru Proposes Smoking Ban
	Another of Mississippi's towns may soon be smoke free. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports, officials in the small north east Community of Ecru, have proposed a ban on smoking in all public places.
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Wednesday December 19, 2007
	Mississippi Housing Market
	Mississippi has out performed much of the country when it comes to the housing market. But will recent problems in the industry affect how well the state will continue to do? MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	Officials Consider Delta Health Concerns
	Mississippi leads the country in rates of obesity and hypertension, as well as infant mortality. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports that in Mississippi's delta region, finding ways to pay for treating these problems can be especially difficult.
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	Mississippi Officials Dispute Election Law
	As Senator Trent Lott wraps up his work on Capitol Hill this week, officials in Mississippi are still at odds over when Lott’s successor should be elected. MPB’s Scott Phillips has this report.
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	Biloxi Council Split Over Recovery Funding
	The issue before the Biloxi City Council yesterday was a choice of supporting the use of Hurricane Katrina recovery funds on rebuilding homes, or for an economic recovery project. MPB Coast reporter Gary Michiels, on the results.
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	Busiest Delivery Day for USPS
	Shipping company drivers and postal carriers will be working late today. It's the busiest delivery day of the season. MPB's Patty Davis reports.
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Thursday December 20, 2007
	Richton Salt Dome Expansion Causes Controversy
	The U.S. Department of Energy has identified the Richton, Mississippi salt domes in Perry County as a storage area for an expansion of the nation’s strategic petroleum reserves. As MPB’s Gary Michiels reports a plan to pump the salt from the domes into the waters off the Mississippi shoreline has Gulf Coast residents concerned.
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	Southaven Installs Defibrillators
	More than 10,000 Mississippians die every year from cardiovascular disease. Many of these could be helped with quick access to a defibrillator (de-fib-rill-ate-or). The north Mississippi community of Southaven has installed small, hand-held defibrillators throughout the city. MPB's Stephen Koranda Reports.
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	Help For Battered Women
	The crime of domestic violence most often occurs when a woman is forced to do what her abuser wants through verbal, physical, psychological, or sexual violence. Police say a more recent case involves the stabbing death of 20 year old Jackson State University Student, Latasha Norman. Catholic Charities of mississippi offers a ray of hope for many battered women and their children. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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Friday December 21, 2007
	Speaker Race Could be Close
	When the new State legislature meets in January, House members' first order of business will be to elect a Speaker of the House. MPB's Patty Davis has more.
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	Crimes Against Children and Vulnerable Adults
	Protecting our most vulnerable citizens is a priority for law enforcement agencies across the state. That's why many are fine tuning their investigation into crimes committed against children and older adults. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.
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	A MEMA Christmas
	The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has this Christmas message for the citizens of the state. Deck the halls with Emergency Kits and Radios. MPB’s Gary Michel reports.
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	Fiddlers Carry On Traditions
	The Mississippi Arts Commission is fighting to save one of the state's greatest natural resources and they aren't just fiddling around. MPB's Ron Brown has the story.
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Monday December 24, 2007
	Oxford Angels
	The Oxford Salvation Army changed the way it manages one of its holiday charity programs this year, allowing it to help many more needy children. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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	Special Gifts for Special Children
	Children with parents in prison face a difficult challenge during the Christmas season. But a special holiday ministry at a Jackson County church is making the season brighter for them with the Present from Prisoner program. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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	Military Memories in Centreville
	During WWII, Mississippi was home to two of the most famous infantry divisions in all of the country. Erika Celeste takes us on a tour through time to a museum in Centreville honoring their memory.
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Wednesday December 26, 2007
	The Mighty Mississippi Watched for Pollutants
	A recent study by the National Science Academy and the McKnight Foundation says the Mississippi River needs more help when it comes to pollution levels. Erika Celeste reports from Vicksburg.
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	Hajj is Celebrated in Jackson
	The Hajj is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. It is an obligation that must be carried out by every able bodied muslim at least once in their life time. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports how hundreds of Muslims living in Mississippi last week honored the tradition.
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	DEQ Wants Mississippians to Recycle Holiday Waste
	With holiday celebrations and gifts comes holiday trash. As MPB's Stephen Koranda reports...the environmental Protection Agency says waste production increases 25 percent during the holiday season.
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	Migraines
	Every ten seconds someone in America is admitted to a hospital emergency room for treatment of a debilitating migraine headache. MPB's Patty Davis reports, experts are hoping more research will lead to better treatments.
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	Dead Wood Art
	wood sculptor from the Florida panhandle is spending time on the Coast transforming dead oak trees along highway 90 into works of art. MPB’s Gulf Coast reporter Gary Michiels has more.
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Thursday December 27, 2007
	Mississippi Remembers Evelyn Gandy
	The body of former Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy will lie in repose at the state capitol today, where a memorial service will be held at noon. As MPB’s Scott Phillips reports, Gandy is being remembered not only as a politician who helped shape Mississippi policy, but as someone who carved a path for women in public service.
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	Delta Task Force
	Affordable housing is just one of the issues on the minds of a task force made up of state legislators, city and education officials from the Delta Region. As MPB's Stephen Koranda reports the Mississippi Delta Task Force has made their recommendations for the upcoming legislative session.
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	Kwanza
	Singing, poetry, music, and the lighting of seven candles is part of the rich tradition of Kwanza. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on the significance of this 41 year old African American celebration of culture and history.
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	Holiday Helpers on Coast
	Volunteers from Kentucky drove more than twelve hours Christmas day to deliver a special holiday gift for a Biloxi Family. They brought hammers, saws and a warm holiday spirit. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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Friday December 28, 2007
	Gandy Remembered at Capitol
	The funeral for former Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy will be held this morning at the Main Street United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg. Gandy was honored at the state capitol on Thursday with a memorial service as MPB’s Scott Phillips reports.
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	Farm Bill
	With Mississippi's large agricultural economy, the 2007 Farm Bill is very important to many of the state's farmers. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports on how the bill may affect one Mississippi farmer.
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	Shrimp Season
	Commercial Shrimp fishermen on the Gulf Coast found it difficult to bring in the shrimp harvest in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But as MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, the conditions in the 2007 season are much improved.
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	Fire Safety
	Every year, the devastation caused by house fires hits families in this state particularly hard. In fact, according to most reports, Mississippi has the highest average rate of fire deaths than anywhere else in the country. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.
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Monday December 31, 2007
	Taylor in Iraq Over Christmas
	A Mississippi Congressman visited with National Guard troops stationed in Iraq over the Christmas holidays. Although he sees improvements in the area, he continues to have concerns over the emotional strain the soldiers are facing. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.
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	Free Rides
	Tonight thousands of Mississippian's will party the old year out and the new year in. Unfortunately many of them will drink alcohol and get behind the wheel. Experts are encouraging party goers to not drink and drive. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.
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	State Prepares for Africanized Bees
	State officials are getting ready for a new, aggressive bee to move into Mississippi. Africanized honey bees are expected to establish in the state as soon as next year. MPB's Stephen Koranda reports.
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	Fireworks Safety
	It's New Year's Eve and Mississippi safety officials are urging caution if you plan on celebrating with fireworks tonight. MPB's Scott Phillips reports.
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