Mississippi
Childhood obesity found to be ‘prevalent’ in Mississippi
SUMRALL, Miss. (WDAM) – Obesity among the youth of Mississippi is a state health issue.
“According to the Mississippi State Department of Public Health, nearly a quarter of our high schoolers are obese, so we see that this is prevalent in Mississippi”, said Dr. Jamie Lou Rawls, who practices family medicine at Sumrall Medical Center.
Healthier food options can tend to be more expensive while processed food tends to be cheaper, but Rawls laid out a list of what children should be eating per meal.
“Children need 2 to 3 ounces of meat per serving,” Rawls said. “Half the plate needs to be fruits and vegetables of variety.”
Healthy living starts at home with parents, Rawls said, with conversations including talk of a healthy lifestyle, not diets and exercise.
“The focus should be healthy choices and healthy lifestyles, and not diets and losing weight, as that can negatively impact children’s social and emotional health,” Rawls said. “So, the conversation could be like, ‘We are doing this to be healthier, healthy choices and to protect our health as we get older,’ can be really beneficial.”
Rawls said that getting in exercise as a family, like walking outside after dinner or playing in a park for an hour a day can be beneficial to the health of children as well as adults.
For low-income families, some federal government programs such as Women, Infants and Children’s Nutrition Program, offer nutrition classes to teach parents how to shop and cook healthier foods on a budget.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Ms. (WZTV) — The family of a Mississippi teenager whose body was found after he went missing Fourth of July weekend is now demanding answers.
On Friday, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump , Rev. Al Sharpton and the family of Wells are holding a press conference to demand an investigation into the teen’s death.
Wells’ body was reportedly found Monday in the water near the end of Horn Island in Jackson County, Mississippi.
Rev. Sharpton opened the conference by stating there are too many unanswered questions to close the investigation into Wells’ death. He says Wells, who is Black, went on a boat with three white men, who returned with Wells’ phone and keys, but not Wells.
“We we’ve been told does not make sense,” Rev. Sharpton said. “There’s just too many questions where they should not be closing the investigation. This does not smell right.”
Attorney Crump leading an independent investigation into Wells’ death.
Investigators are asking anyone who was on or near Horn Island on July 4 to come forward, especially if they saw Wells, spoke with him, heard or saw any type of disturbance or have original photos or videos from the island.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Division at 228-769-3065 during regular business hours or 228-769-3063 after hours.
This is a developing story. Check back as we continue to update this story.
Mississippi
Mississippi Highway Patrol deployed to Goodman after viral gun video, leaders explain goals
GOODMAN, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has deployed state troopers to the Town of Goodman indefinitely following a viral video showing people waving guns and mocking the absence of police in the town.
DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell and other department leaders flew into Goodman on Thursday to meet with town officials. Tindell said the video drew the attention of both himself and Gov. Tate Reeves.
“We felt like there needed to be a presence of law enforcement in Goodman to send a message,” Tindell said. “That it’s not a town or any town in Mississippi that we’re going to allow lawlessness to prevail.”
Troopers conducting stops, working alongside sheriff’s office
Since Wednesday, troopers have been stopping drivers in downtown Goodman and in neighborhoods. Tindell said the Mississippi Highway Patrol is working alongside the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office as part of the investigation.
“It’s more regular law enforcement duties at this point,” Tindell said. “You know, we’re looking at individuals in the video to ask who they were and go from there.”
Tindell said MHP deployments to towns across the state are not uncommon, and include safety checkpoints, driver’s license verifications and insurance verifications.
“So that’s not unusual anywhere on any given day,” Tindell said. “We just happen to be in Goodman because they needed additional help at that time.”
Mayor supports presence; some residents question it
Mayor Michael Howard said he supports MHP’s increased presence in the town. However, resident Keni El questioned whether the deployment was necessary.
“It really doesn’t change anything because if the people they’ve seen on the video are who they came for then that’s who they need to be looking for,” El said. “Because in a way, it’s kind of harassing the people for stupidity of some younglings.”
El said leaders should instead focus on providing resources to mentor young people.
“The youth need to be taught the right knowledge, right wisdom, right understanding,” El said. “But I’m not going to be afraid of no child.”
Tindell said he is unsure how long state troopers will remain in Goodman but will stay in contact with town officials until a departure date is determined.
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