Public Invited to Free Preview of 'WZZQ The Movie'

Before MPB's broadcast premiere of "WZZQ The Movie" on May 20, enjoy a special preview at MPB with filmmakers and WZZQ fans. MPB will show clips from the new documentary, with Director Ann Ford, Producer Robbie Fisher, former WZZQ Newsman Bill Ellison, and more who will be on hand for questions and stories. Get a free preview of the legendary story of the late 70s rock station in Mississippi that may never be equalled. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. on May 17 at MPB (3825 Ridgewood Road in Jackson), and food and beverages will be available for purchase. The screening is free but seating is limited, so click below to reserve a seat.

MPB Offers Free Family Fun Day April 20

Bring the whole family to the Pohl Gymnasium at Mississippi University for Women on April 20 from 10 am. to 2 p.m. for brain empowering fun that's pure Mississippi.

Special activities include:

 • Visits with MPB’s Ed Said

 • Workforce talks with MPB Student Council

 • A percussion petting zoo

 • Live music

 • Hands-on STEAM activities and logic games

 • A health fair

 • Free safety gear

This free event is in partnership with Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Mississippi University of Women, MUW-Excel by 5, Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Accelerate Mississippi, and the Preservation Society of Columbus. Click below to save your family's free spots on April 20.

Be A Part of 'Mississippi Antique Showcase' in Natchez May 3 and 4

After watching the first three seasons on MPB Television, be part of the next Mississippi Antique Showcase. Professional appraisers will evaluate items at the Natchez Convention Center on May 3 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry for filming, food and beverages, a yearlong membership to MPB, and one item appraisal comes with a $100 donation. For $399, the package is upgraded to a getaway with two event tickets, plus a one-night stay - with extras - in a local bed and breakfast or casino hotel. Call 844-874-6874 or click the button to reserve tickets.

Producers Alexander and Flood Win at Mississippi Association of Broadcasters Awards

Congratulations to MPB Think Radio producers Lacey Alexander (left) and Germaine Flood, who received Awards of Excellence at the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters ceremony on April 6. Both share the First Place Radio Talk Show award for "Now You're Talking with Marshall Ramsey." In addition, Alexander received Second Place for the producing the radio-feature story, "International Dancers Descend on Jackson to Compete, Build Community."

MPB Think Radio Live at Annual Clarksdale Blues Festival April 12

Felder Rushing, "The Gestalt Gardener," will start the live broadcast for the 21st Annual "Juke Joint Festival" on April 12 at Delta Avenue Park in Clarksdale at 9 a.m. Germaine Flood, Kamel King (Visit Mississippi), and DJ Java Chatman will broadcast "Next Stop, Mississippi" live at 10 a.m. Get a taste of the world-famous blues festival with interviews and performances right at the heart of the action with Visit Clarksdale. Click below to listen live or download the podcasts from their pages.

New '10 Minute Time Out' Available April 12

Sports fans can download the next installment of the "10 Minute Time Out" episode on April 12 at noon. The mini-podcast focuses on all facets of Mississippi sports via interviews with coaches, analysts, and the athletes who make Mississippi shine. The new episode features the Mississippi Braves minor league baseball squad. Listen by clicking the button for online, using the MPB Public Media App, or wherever podcasts are downloaded.

MPB Learning Offers Many 'Roads' to Family Fun on April 20 in Columbus

The really fun part of "Family Fun Day" is many of the games and challenges allow the family to work together to solve problems and come up with solutions. On "Showstopper's Street," MPB's favorite son, Ed Said, wants to encourage the family to make puppets and put on a show. "Numeracy Cove" helps create a life-sized replica of a city skyline using numeracy concepts and Pi. The life-sized Alphabet Blocks on "Literacy Lane" can create favorite words. There will even be a life-sized MPB Scrabble Board to increase vocabulary skills. The Green Gardening and Recycling Station in "Nature's Nook" promotes sustainability through gardening and recycling. Throughout the day, "Minute Mania" is a friendly competition encouraging family communication and collaboration to complete different challenges in under a minute. Bring the entire family to Columbus on April 20 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. to build brainpower as a team.

How to Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

Parents can help children foster deep relationships with the natural world around them while letting them "just be a kid." Encouraging exploration and curiosity helps them build a meaningful relationship with nature. Whether they want to become an "Urban Natural Explorer," a "Citizen Scientist," or watch nature and "just be," every child can recognize their place in the world and the magic that comes with it. Click the button for ideas and activities for the whole family from PBSKids for Parents.

Empee Bee Has Activities Just for Kids

When kids join the MPB Kids' Club, they become part of a community designed for them. Perks include a personalized monthly newsletter filled with activities, games, challenges, and reading/TV suggestions; their birthday added to the monthly televised birthday scroll; they receive a mailed birthday card; and they are invited to the annual Kids Club Birthday Party. The Kids Club is free to join, and all the activities are supported by MPB Learning, PBS Kids, and PBS Learning Media sites, creating a safe virtual experience. Click below to enter children ages 4 to 12 years of age.

'Mississippi Edition' Leads MPB Wins at Miss. Association of Broadcasters Awards

Mississippi Public Broadcasting brought home four top prizes during the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters (MAB) Excellence in Broadcasting Awards on April 6. The signature win was First Place in the Achievement category for the extensive coverage of the 2023 tornado that caused widespread, destructive damage to the Rolling Fork and Silver City communities. “Mississippi Edition,” the weekday morning local news program hosted by Desare Frazier and produced by Kobee Vance, received First Place for its in-depth look at how Mississippi celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Confederate General Robert E. Lee on the same state holiday. In Public Affairs, "Mississippi Edition" won First Place for coverage of the 2023 Mississippi Primary Election and Second Place for coverage of the Rolling Fork tornado. MPB News won additional awards, including Third Place in the Radio Feature category for Mike McEwen’s story of the 8th Annual Pearl River Clean Sweep and Second Place for MPB News’ ongoing coverage and recovery of the Rolling Fork tornado. 

Mississippi State Budget Expected to Shrink Slightly in Coming Year

Top members of the House and Senate met April 5 and set a revenue estimate of $7.6 billion for the year that begins July 1. That is a decrease of 1% from the current year. The estimate is experts' best guess of how much money the state will collect, based on economic trends including employment rates and consumer spending patterns. (Pictured: Mississippi Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, left, confers with Mississippi Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, during floor debaate on general bills, March 13, 2024, at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson.)

'@Issue' Interviews Miss. Rep. Clay Mansell

Host Michael Guidry talks to state Rep. Clay Mansell about current legislative topics like Medicaid, adoption and foster care, Purple Alerts, and more this Friday at 6:30 p.m. Listen live here, download the podcast here after it airs, and view the weekly roundtable discussions with Guidry and local political analysts Austin Barbour and Brandon Jones on MPB's YouTube channel.

PBS's 'Nature' Highlights the Amazing Raptors

From giant eagles to miniature falconets, meet the many species of raptors and see how their superpowers of flight, sight, hearing, and smell give them dominance over the skies. The two-part series also explores what the future holds for these remarkable birds in a rapidly changing world, due to habitat loss, climate change, persecution and pollution. The in-depth two-part series, "A Fistful of Daggers," premieres April 10 and April 17 at 7 p.m.

New Episodes of 'Midsomer Murders' Begin on April 18

A veteran Detective Chief Inspector and his young Sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer County, England. Ten new episodes begin with "The Garden of Death, Part 1" on April 18 at 8 p.m. See it on broadcast, livestream from the website here, or with the MPB Public Media App.

'Independent Lens: The One with the Whale'

A shy Alaskan teen became the youngest person to ever harpoon a whale for his island village of St. Lawrence, ensuring the community's seasonal survival. His proud social media post, however, attracted thousands of brutal virtual attacks from uninformed activists. Watch the premiere on April 23 at 9 p.m. on broadcast, livestream from the website here, or with the MPB Public Media App.

Mississippi Views

Shelia Culbreath Tubbs shared her view of a gorgeous sky in Barr, Mississippi, with Mississippi and the South. Email your favorite local views to photos@mpbonline.org.

Around-The-World Honey Glazed Chicken and Cheesy Rice

Chris Nance demonstrates how to load the classic "chicken and rice" dinner with multiple levels of flavor. This three-course meal is quick sauteed and then baked, but the end result is worth the prep time. Be prepared to learn some new tricks and add spices and herbs found in African, Latin, French and American cuisines to your pantry.