August 14, 2024

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• LEARNING  Two Free "Day of da Vinci" Workshops Available to Educators; Student Council Applications Due August 31

• RECIPE  Colorful Black Bean Quinoa Salad from Kitchen Vignettes

• THINK RADIO   "Friday Night Under the Lights" Returns August 23; Mississippi Arts Hour Welcomes Mississippi Book Festival Authors

• TELEVISION "Mississippi Quiz Bowl" Available On Demand; "Mississippi Antique Showcase" from Biloxi; Great Performances presents 20th Annual "Vienna Philharmonic Summer Concert"

• NEWS  Federal Trial Challenging Mississippi's Supreme Court District Enters Second Week

• MPB FOUNDATION "Mississippi Antique Holiday Showcase: Holiday Edition" Tickets Available;August is "National Make-A-Will Month"

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Mississippi Views

Curt Hart shared his photo of a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail captured at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs! Share personal local pictures with the MPB community by emailing them to photos@mpbonline.org.

The MPB "Day of da Vinci" learning initiative is a curated collection of resources and materials based on the interdisciplinary thought processes of one of the most innovative minds in history. The specialized curriculum was inspired by the highly anticipated film, "Leonardo da Vinci," directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon for PBS, coming in November.

Early Childhood Workshop August 17

The "Tiny Tot Toolbox with da Vinci Building Blocks" workshop will be held at MPB on August 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mississippi teachers can learn how to align lesson plans with Mississippi Department of Education standards, receive resources for Literacy, Numeracy, STEAM, and social-emotional learning, and acquire practical strategies for an enhanced classroom experience in an Early Childhood curriculum. Registered attendees will be awarded four in-service hours upon completion.

Next 'Day of da Vinci' Scheduled for August 24

Another free workshop for educators of grades K-12 will be held at the MPB studios on August 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enrolled teachers will have a day of instruction and collaboration; receive access to special resources in Literacy, Numeracy, STEAM, and the arts; and return to their classrooms with MDE compliant lesson plans and a student project. Completion of all phases will earn three free Continuing Education Units (CEUs) towards state licensure. Register below.

MPBSC Applications Close August 31

Students throughout the state in grades 8 - 12 are encouraged to sign up for the MPB Student Council. As community liaisons, they will strengthen their media skills and learn to use their voices for the good of Mississippi. Applications are due August 31.

Black Bean Quinoa Salad

This protein-rich salad combines the vibrant flavors of mango, avocado, cilantro, lime, and cumin in a side dish that is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. The "super group" of fiber, protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, and folate is also low on the glycemic index and may moderate blood sugar levels. If your meal needs color and zing that is also good for you, this offering from Kitchen Vignettes will satisfy everyone at the table.

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa (⅔ cup uncooked)
• 3 cups cooked black beans (1 ½ cup uncooked)
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 1 mango, cubed
• 1 red pepper, cubed
• 1 medium-large cooked sweet potato, cubed
• 1 minced jalapeno pepper (optional)
• 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, washed and chopped (about 2 cups of loose, chopped cilantro)
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

For the dressing:

• ½ cup olive oil
• ½ cup freshly-squeezed lime juice (2 to 3 limes)
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 2 medium garlic cloves (3 cloves for the garlic lovers!)
•  

Recipe courtesy of PBS' Kitchen Vignettes

'Friday Night Under the Lights' Returns

The longest running statewide high school football scoreboard show – affectionately nicknamed FNUTL (feh-NUH-tul) – returns for its 15th season on August 23. Creator Russ Robinson and George Broadstreet lead a team of experts covering all the high school football scores and highlights across the state from 10 p.m. to midnight. Catch the action from regular season to championship games ervry Friday this fall on MPB Think Radio live or using the MPB Public Media App.

'Mississippi Arts Hour' Highlights 2024 Book Festival Writers

The Mississippi Arts Commission hosts the "The Mississippi Arts Hour," on MPB Think Radio Sundays at 5 p.m. Each episode features interviews with artists, musicians, craftspeople, and local personalities with cultural significance. Authors Julie Whitehead will be interviewed on August 18 and Snowden Wright on August 25 in anticipation of their appearance at the Mississippi Book Festival in September.

"Mississippi Antique Showcase" from Biloxi

Revisit some of the interesting and exciting treasures discovered by the MPB Appraisers in Biloxi in Fall 2023. Items include a baseball signed by Babe Ruth (pictured), an ornate music box, a McCoy magnolia tea set, and a gilded statue of a hunter and hound. The special episode first airs September 18 at 3:30 p.m. View all available episodes at the Mississippi Antique Showcase web page.

New Local Game Show Now Available On Demand

Viewers who missed the premiere broadcast of the new "Mississippi Quiz Bowl" with Mississippi Council on Economic Education can now watch on demand. See the action when Mississippi high school students compete for academic excellence in the "Economics Challenge" and "Personal Finance Challenge" with MPB Passport or the MPB App.

'Great Performances' Presents the Annual Vienna Philharmonic Summer Concert

Enjoy the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic’s annual open-air concert from the gardens of Austria’s Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. The 20th annual performance features Andris Nelsons as guest conductor and soprano Lise Davidsen as guest soloist. Fans of composers Smetana, Wagner, Verdi, and Strauss will enjoy this celebration of Europe's rich musical heritage.

Federal Trial Challenging Mississippi's Supreme Court Districts Enters its Second Week

Arguments began last Monday in a federal trial that could see Mississippi’s Northern District Court compel the state to redraw its supreme court district lines – something state lawmakers haven’t done since 1987. In its more than 200 year history, no more than one Black justice has served on the court at one time. With Black residents making up nearly 40% of the state's total population, some believe the lack of representation on the state's highest court isn't happenstance -- but rather, by design.