PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – With insurance rates rising across the nation, people in Mississippi are looking for ways to protect their homes without breaking the bank.

A program by the Mississippi Insurance Department is expected to help folks fortify their homes ahead of natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes.

The Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program was created in 2007, but didn’t receive funding until this year’s legislative session.

Mississippi House Bill 1705 will transfer $5 million from the state’s Surplus Lines Association to pay for the program.

The bill also requires that MID issue a Request for Proposal for administration of the program, or operate the program internally, according to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney.

Qualified applicants can receive up to $10,000 to help them “mitigate” their homes.

Mitigation includes “higher elevation, adding hurricane shutters, fastening your roof to the walls with hurricane straps and buying flood insurance, among other efforts.”

The program will be limited to the state’s lower six counties, which are Pearl River, Stone, George, Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties.

Leaders said they’re hoping the program will match the success of similar programs in neighboring states like Alabama.

“Their program has been very successful, and they’ve stabilized their insurance rates and have some lower rates than we do here in Mississippi, especially on the coastal areas,” said MIS Deputy Commissioner David Browning. “So, we’re trying to do what they’re doing.”

Mississippi law requires insurance companies to give discounts for homes mitigated to standards set by the Insurance Institute For Business And Home Safety.

There is no required amount for discounts, but folks usually receive up to 30-percent off.

Browning said the program will take a few months to set up, but a website will eventually be up for folks to apply and learn more about eligibility.

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Pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in the built environment, The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) School of Construction and Design has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC).

This grant will fund several initiatives within USM’s Construction Management program, aiming to enhance outreach activities to spark interest in the construction trades through hands-on learning experiences. The initiatives will also provide insights into career paths in the industry and support scholarships and professional development for both students and faculty.

Expressing his enthusiasm, the School Director Dr. Emre Bayraktar stated, “We are thankful for the unwavering support of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, which serves as a driving force, propelling us to provide immersive and interactive learning experiences at Southern Miss for those who wish to explore or pursue opportunities in the built environment.”

Dr. Bayraktar noted that the school recently achieved a significant milestone with the completion of the renovation of its cutting-edge construction practices laboratory. Now, his team can focus on engaging with current and prospective construction students by integrating the lab’s use into the curricula and outreach programs, making it the center of attraction.

“Now that we have completed the renovation of our construction practices laboratory, we plan on launching several strategic initiatives, strengthening the recruitment and retention of students and bridging the gap between academia and the construction industry,” said Dr. Bayraktar.

Among some of the projects that will elevate the Construction Management program, are:

• An Immersive Construction Summer Camp:As the outfitting of the laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment and resources reaches completion, the revamped space will host a one-week summer camp for Mississippi high school students. Serving as a gateway for students to acquire practical skills, the camp will also provide a platform for them to discover the various career pathways available at Southern Miss.
• An Interactive Career Outreach and Discovery Program: Providing foundational insights into careers in construction, K-12 students will actively participate in activities within the new laboratory space. By interacting with professors and current students, they will be exposed to the diverse opportunities available in the construction industry.
• Hiring of Lab Supervisor: Playing a pivotal role in integrating the lab into the construction management course curricula, the full-time lab supervisor will ensure that students benefit from hands-on learning experiences by providing them with invaluable skills and insights that extend beyond the classroom.
• Launching Digital Marketing Campaigns: Launching campaigns on digital platforms will increase the visibility of the Construction Management program, attracting more students.
• MSBOC Scholars Internship Program: To seamlessly blend academic teaching expertise with hands-on construction industry experience, a USM Construction Management faculty member will get the opportunity to work for a construction company over the summer. This will enable faculty to apply real-world examples in the classroom and improve their ability to teach theoretical concepts with practical scenarios.
• Construction and Design Career Expos: Hosting a Career Expo each semester provides students with the opportunity to network with companies from the construction and design industry, which benefit from building their employer brand on campus and expanding their pool of qualified candidates.
• The ABC Construction Management Competition:Enriching the educational experience, five construction management students and faculty advisors will attend the 2025 ABC Construction Management Competition. The competition prepares students for life by tasking them with finding solutions to a real-world construction project.
• Scholarship Fund:Dedicated to supporting talented students who demonstrate a passion for the construction field, the scholarship fund ensures that financial limitations do not hinder a student’s pursuit of a quality education.

“We are very grateful for this grant, which will allow us to continue building upon our momentum,” said Dr. Bayraktar. “We look forward to providing both future and current students, as well as our faculty members, with the resources and experiences needed to meet the demands of the construction and design fields.”

Visit the website of the School of Construction and Design to learn more or call 601.266.4895.

Mississippi State baseball succeeded in Hoover, including beating a consensus top 5 team in Texas A&M and taking Tennessee down to the wire. The Bulldogs showed they can compete with any team in the country, but there were some negatives. 

 State now awaits their fate, as the host sites will be announced later today. However, before that, what stood out from the Hoover Met? 

While the Bulldogs played well in Hoover, it is even more impressive that they did so with little to no production from Dakota Jordan and Hunter Hines. The pair only combined for one hit, a two-RBI single from Jordan that gave State a lead over Tennessee. 

However, this trend can not continue if the Bulldogs want to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Both guys do not have to carry this team because others have stepped up around them, but they can not be the automatic out they were in Hoover. 

State has struggled in the clutch for most of the season, whether on the mound or at the plate. However, the Bulldogs did well in that aspect in Hoover, largely thanks to Connor Hujsak, who had the game-winning hit against Ole Miss and Texas A&M. 

The bullpen also performed well in clutch moments against Texas A&M as Nate Dohm and Tyler Davis pitched a combined three innings of scoreless baseball. State has taken their lumps this season in clutch moments, but all that adversity seems to have prepared them for the postseason. 

When Mississippi State won the national title in 2021, the team had a unique ability to come back in games. They did it in the Super Regionals and a couple of games in Omaha. 

The 2024 Diamond Dawgs have proven to be a tough team. They have faced adversity several times this season and always seem to power through. They also showed the ability to respond mid-game, trailing Ole Miss all game until Hujsak hit a walk-off home run.

The Bulldogs jumped to a 3-0 lead on Texas A&M, but the Aggies battled back to tie it. However, MSU stayed the course after they lost momentum, and it paid off as Hujsak gave them a lead in the ninth, and Davis closed it out. 

Even in defeat against Tennessee, the Bulldogs did an excellent job of battling back from a 3-0 deficit to take the lead. The toughest teams succeed in the postseason, and this team showed plenty of it in Hoover. 

The Bulldogs came into the week needing at least a win to feel good about their hosting chances. Even though State won two games, including a victory over consensus top-5 team Texas A&M, they are still not a lock to host. 

However, State has earned a chance to host with 16 Quad 1 wins, which is good for the fourth most in the country. The only teams ahead of the Bulldogs in that aspect are locks for a top-8 national seed. 

If MSU does not host, it will be because of their poor record against nonconference opponents, but they have earned the right to host.