Mississippi

Commentary: Culture of Life in Mississippi – The Mississippi Link

Published

2 years ago

August 24, 2022

By Christopher Younger,

Contributing Author,

Nicely, we’ve heard it from Governor Reeves, and Legal professional Normal Fitch, too, so you already know it’s the actual deal – Mississippi is making a “tradition of life.” These had been their phrases, on quite a few media retailers, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Courtroom. A tradition of life. A tradition of life. A tradition of life. I’ve to maintain repeating it again and again, simply because it doesn’t ring true to my ears.

Let’s evaluate now how a lot life is valued in Mississippi. Let’s begin with resisting the growth of Medicaid. Mississippi is one in all solely twelve states that has refused to take action. Mississippi is the poorest state within the nation.

Medicaid growth would instantly present insurance coverage for an extra 300,000 residents with the Federal Authorities paying 90% of the price through the use of ARPA funds it will increase to 93% for the following 5 years and permits hundreds of thousands in financial savings that will fund a sixth 12 months of growth at zero internet value to the state.

But Governor Reeves and Speaker Gunn are against serving to poor folks, regardless of claiming to be Christians. I ponder why they might take that stance? 600,000 folks in Mississippi dwell under the poverty line – 34% of black folks and 13% of white folks in Mississippi in response to the Kaiser Basis and the U.S. Census Bureau. Does that determine into their stance?

What about extending Medicaid eligibility for poor post-partum moms? The Mississippi Mortality Report in 2019 signifies that 86% of pregnancy-related deaths happen postpartum, and the mortality price for black moms is thrice increased than for white moms.

Together with being the poorest state within the nation, total healthcare in Mississippi is ranked fiftieth by U.S. Information & World Report. As soon as once more, the Federal Authorities would pay 85 cents on the greenback for the extension of eligibility. Right here in Mississippi Senate Invoice 2033 handed overwhelmingly, together with 30 Republican senators, but as soon as it received to the Decrease Chamber, Gunn made certain it died on the calendar as soon as once more.

Well being disparities by race is a well known reality in Mississippi. 60 of 82 counties in Mississippi reside in poverty (a minimum of 20% of inhabitants for a minimum of 30 years), in response to quite a few sources, together with welfareinfo.org. Many communities lack ample meals, many lack entry to recent fruit and veggies – Greenback Normal doesn’t promote them.

Many communities should not have entry to applicable healthcare as a result of doctor shortages and hospital and clinic closures. Many poor folks have challenges with transportation. There may be the sturdy correlation between low schooling ranges and poor well being outcomes. All or components of each county within the Mississippi Delta dwell in poverty. Poverty and a tradition of life don’t go collectively.

Talking of the Delta, Highlight on Poverty & Alternative simply revealed a research by the College of Colorado on a small group that they refused to call as a result of stigma concerned, the place 80% of the youngsters examined optimistic by way of stool samples for parasite infections. “The degrees of intestinal irritation within the Mississippi youngsters sampled had been 17 instances increased than these documented amongst indigenous Shuar youngsters from Amazonian Ecuador.” These parasites are predominantly attributable to publicity to uncooked sewage – frequent flooding and infrastructure neglect results in sewage backups. Tradition of life you say?

We can not overlook that Mississippi has the very best COVID dying price in nation, as reported by U.S. Information & World Report. As soon as once more, not a tradition of life.

In Mississippi poor persons are appeared down on by our elected officers and their constituents. The governor makes excuses in his resistance to serving to Jackson with its water troubles. He makes blanket statements like, “the town isn’t spending cash the best way it ought to,” reported by WAPT on August 4. He doesn’t present any specifics. He doesn’t seem invested in Jackson transferring ahead.

Now think about the infrastructure nightmares in rural areas of Mississippi. And now, on this season of receiving an extra $6 billion additional from the American Rescue Plan Act, how a lot goes to infrastructure? Then we uncover by dogged reporting by Anna Wolfe at Mississippi At present, that former and present elected officers have stolen $77+ million {dollars} supposed to offer a security internet for the poorest amongst us.

Mississippi earns its horrid rankings. It does so by its attitudes and its actions. There is no such thing as a tradition of life for all of Mississippi, just for some.

Mister Governor, how do you clarify this caldron of ache, struggling and dying to your youngsters? How do you inform them it was okay so that you can steal federal {dollars} for a pet mission like a health heart that supply health bootcamps to legislators, cash that was explicitly given to Mississippi as a security internet for the poorest amongst us? How do you pull that off? Do you pull them apart earlier than Sunday college or after Sunday college, to allow them to know the way?

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Mississippi

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

Published

1 hour ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —It winds 650 miles, rushing past the cities, industries and landscapes that make up Minnesota.

However, the Mississippi River has never gotten this type of attention from water quality professionals.

For the first time ever, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is testing the entirety of the river, from Itasca to Iowa, in a single year.

The governor’s office wants the river to be swimmable and fishable, but right now, parts of the river are polluted.

The MPCA says the upper Mississippi is largely healthy up north, but quality drops south of St. Cloud where metro development and tributaries from agriculture muddy the waters. The National Park Service says stretches of the river exceed water quality standards for things like mercury, bacteria and sediment.

Think of the testing like a checkup for one of our state’s most valuable and powerful resources. Researchers will check temperature, transparency and levels of pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia.

Crews also check fish for those contaminants and collect insects to test in a lab to identify any concerning trends.

“If we find the fish community is suffering — maybe the water is too warm and maybe there’s a thermal pollution source upstream or maybe it’s too much runoff — that sort of stuff. Temperature is an important indicator especially for sensitive species,” Isaac Martin with the MPCA said.

Also for the first time, the agency is looking for PFAS contamination with money from an Environmental Protection Agency grant to identify and stop the forever chemicals from streaming into the Mississippi.

PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals for industry and consumer products that don’t break down in the environment. While research is ongoing, the EPA says exposure to the chemicals can cause human health issues. It’s why the federal agency just lowered the amount allowed in drinking water.

“They go to parts per trillion, which is incredibly sensitive. You get that low, you’re talking drops in an Olympic swimming pool,” Martin said. “Part of the reason why it was chosen is because it’s a primary drinking source or potentially could be a primary drinking source. We’re just finding them in places we never expected to find them. We’re finding them almost everywhere and being that it is new, there’s just a lot of ‘I don’t know’ that goes with it.”

It’s too early to know what this complete snapshot will reveal, but we know this powerful river is part of our community, economy and health.

“Maybe you don’t use the resource yourself, but maybe you know someone who does or future generations of your own will,” Martin said. “In Minnesota, we’re just trying to be the best stewards we can be.”

The data from this testing will be available early next year. Researchers will use that data and compare it to 10-year pollution averages to determine which parts of the river are improved or impaired.

A full report will be released in 2026.

Erin Hassanzadeh

Erin is back home in the Twin Cities after stops in South Korea and Omaha. The Jefferson High School grad (Go Jags!) is excited to get back to storytelling in the community that raised her.

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Mississippi

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Published

9 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.

Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.

DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.

Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.

Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.

Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.

Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.

Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.

Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.

Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.

Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.

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Mississippi

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

Published

16 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.

Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.

Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.

CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.

“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.

Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.

Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.

“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.

Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.

“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.

Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.

“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”

The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.

“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.

All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.

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