Mississippi
Mississippi state song soon to join old state flag

“Go Mississippi!,” the state’s official track for the previous 60 years, is seemingly going, going, gone with the wind.
The track written and recorded by songwriter-musician Houston Davis wants solely Gov. Tate Reeves’ signature to affix the previous state flag within the Nice Past, to not be heard once more, at the least in ceremonial circles.
Reeves has till April 23 to signal into regulation Home Invoice 453, which features a provision designating Greenville native Steve Azar’s “One Mississippi” because the sanctioned state track. The matter is included in laws appropriating tens of millions of {dollars} geared toward selling the state.
The invoice additionally creates a examine committee to think about different songs that “Mississippians could get pleasure from … which can be acceptable for all events, occasions and day by day actions.” The group would report its findings to the Legislature by Dec. 31.
“Go Mississippi!” grew to become the state track Could 17, 1962, based on the “Blue Ebook,” a miscellany revealed quadrennially by the secretary of state’s workplace. The Jackson Board of Realtors had undertaken “the duty of discovering a passable track to signify the State of Mississippi,” a Blue Ebook blurb famous. Lyrics of “Go Mississippi!” adopted.
“I Am Mississippi,” written and relentlessly promoted to lawmakers by the late entertainer and wildlife conservationist Paul Ott as a doable new state track, may very well be one thought-about, and probably is the selection of many voters aware of its lyrics.
Davis, who additionally was a justice of the peace in Hinds County, wrote marketing campaign songs for the late former Gov. Ross Barnett. One composition, “Roll With Ross,” included the strains, “For segregation, a hundred percent,” and “He’ll struggle integration with forceful intent.”
“Go Mississippi!” has been underneath hearth for its affiliation with Barnett, a religious segregationist, and carried a rhythm much like the Barnett marketing campaign anthem. Thus, its official standing was in jeopardy – very like the previous state flag that integrated the Accomplice battle flag in its canton.
Reeves in 2020 signed into regulation a invoice handed by legislators to create a brand new state flag. Later, voters chosen the brand new flag that includes a magnolia blossom and the nationwide motto “In God We Belief” in its middle. There’s been no point out of a referendum for state songs.
The Clarion Ledger’s Todd Worth reported in March that after Azar’s “One Mississippi” was chosen by representatives as the brand new state track, senators selected a trio of songs to be thought-about: Azar’s track, “Miss the Mississippi and You” by nation music legend Jimmie Rodgers of Meridian and “Crossroads” by Robert Johnson of Hazlehurst, thought-about because the “founder” of Mississippi Delta Blues. The Rodgers and Johnson efforts are possible different decisions.
“Azar distills the complete state, from its meals and tradition to landscapes and power within the face of disasters, right into a 5-minute track,” Worth reported. Considered one of Azar’s strains reads, “I’ll breathe Mississippi ‘until I’m useless and gone.”
The track by Rodgers, thought-about by most observers because the “father of nation music,” is believed to be the work that “meets the melodic and lyrical necessities for a state track.” One line romanticizes, “Mockingbirds are singing ‘around the cabin door, whereas I dream of Mississippi and also you.”
Johnson’s composition presents the assumption that the bluesman bought his soul to the satan at a crossroads – theorized to be situated on the intersection of highways 61 and 49 close to Clarksdale – “in alternate for his musical abilities,” Worth wrote. “Johnson falls to his knees and begs God for mercy.”
For now, the Teddy Bear, Natchez silt loam, sq. dances, milk, mockingbirds, and honeybees, amongst others, appear secure as “state symbols.”
Mac Gordon is a local of McComb. He’s a retired newspaperman. He may be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.

Mississippi
Anti-DEI bills clear both the Mississippi House and Senate

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI is a hot-button issue across the country right now. And the Mississippi legislature is joining in on taking action. However, that comes with its fair share of passionate debate.
The House version of a DEI ban would impact the state’s public schools from K-12 up to universities.
It would do away with certain diversity training programs, prevent teaching what the bill outlines as “divisive concepts” and require they teach that there are only two genders: male and female.
“If it is not followed by public schools or colleges and universities, the Attorney General or an individual would have a right to an action to enforce it,” said HB 1193 author Rep. Joey Hood.
The school could have state funding withheld till they comply.
“We were moving forward and as it relates to race relations, gender discrimination and now we’re going back in time and I just don’t understand why we even consider a bill like this,” said Rep. Jeffery Harness.
Less than 24 hours after the hours-long House debate, the Mississippi State Conference NAACP was hosting its Advocacy Day.
Although they were taking a stand on multiple issues, several noted that communities of color are under attack and said this of the talk about DEI bans.
“How can you have a democracy without diversity?” asked the Mississippi State Conference NAACP Executive Director. “How can you have a democracy without equity and you absolutely cannot have a democracy without inclusion? So, I wish that our legislators and I wish the folks around the country would stop using this term in a perverse way. Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
By the end of the work day Thursday, the Senate had cleared a version of its own. Unlike the House proposal, Senate Bill 2515 would only apply to universities and community colleges.
“Abolishing DEI policies does not mean we are abandoning diversity,” noted Sen. Tyler McCaughn.
“I think that this bill is a turning around point in our history,” said Sen. Hillman Frazier. “This bill is the 1890 constitution in 2025.”
The bill passed. Now, each chamber will consider the other’s proposal.
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Mississippi
‘She’s dialed in’: Mississippi State’s Montague coming off strong outing in Baton Rouge

STARKVILLE — Quanirah Montague played just one minute and 19 seconds in Mississippi State’s loss at Missouri on Jan. 27 and did not register any statistics, with head coach Sam Purcell giving Kayla Thomas more playing time in the post as Madina Okot’s backup.
That came four days after Montague did not check in until there were four minutes left in the first half against Auburn, while Thomas entered the game after just 10 seconds when Okot had a brief injury scare.
But on the road against a top-10 LSU team on Sunday, Montague was on the floor for 17 minutes, her most playing time in a month. She and the Bulldogs’ second unit helped spark a big MSU run in the second quarter that had the Tigers sweating going into halftime.
“I’m really proud of (Montague) right now. She’s dialed in,” Purcell said Wednesday. “I actually talked to her mom the other day just about how hard she’s working behind the scenes.”
Montague entered the game with the Bulldogs trailing 11-3 after less than five minutes, then made her biggest impact over the last five minutes of the first half. She traveled twice during that stretch but made her first five field goal attempts of the game and also blocked a layup from Aalyah Del Rosario.
Two of her layups in the second quarter came off steals, and just before the buzzer, she rebounded Chandler Prater’s missed layup and tipped the ball back up and in, trimming what had once been an 18-point MSU deficit to six.
A former four-star recruit, Montague was a top-50 national prospect, the third-best player in New Jersey and the No. 6 post player in the country according to ESPN. She played behind Jessika Carter and Erynn Barnum as a freshman, and now Okot has swooped in as the starting center. But with 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals in less than half the game Sunday, Montague is making her case for more time on the court.
“Success comes when you put in the work and you’re truly dialed in,” Purcell said. “She’s been coming in, doing extra workouts, and she just has the look where she knows she can help contribute to this team. It’s coming on at the right time. Just really excited about where she’s at right now and how hungry she’s playing.”
Scouting Arkansas
The Bulldogs (16-7, 3-6 Southeastern Conference) have twice bounced back with wins after losing two games in a row this year, and they will need to do it again tonight at Humphrey Coliseum against the Razorbacks (9-15, 2-7). Arkansas is the lowest-ranked SEC team in the NET at No. 132, but the Razorbacks do have the conference’s leading scorer in Izzy Higginbottom, who is fifth in the country with 24.3 points per game.
One superstar does not a great team make, however, and Monday night was a perfect example. Higginbottom scored 40 points but could not prevent Arkansas from losing 108-78 at home to Florida. The Razorbacks have by far the SEC’s worst scoring defense, and — critical from an MSU perspective — they force the fewest turnovers per game in the conference. The Bulldogs will not find a more favorable matchup the rest of the year than this one.
“(Higginbottom) has the green light the entire game. The ball is in her hands, the offense is based for her,” Purcell said. “When she’s not getting major attempts, she’s able to find a way to get free ones at the line. When you have a scoring mentality like she does, the next thing you know she can sneak up and put (up) 40 points.”
Arkansas was without its next two leading scorers, Kiki Smith and Carly Keats, against Florida, and Purcell said he expects both to be back for Thursday’s game. But even at full strength, the Razorbacks have losses to five mid- and low-major teams and have allowed at least 100 points twice.
“We’re going to have our hands full. If (Higginbottom) scores 40, we have to make sure everybody else doesn’t go off,” Purcell said. “We have to be ready for a new-look Arkansas and a team that’s hungry to come off a loss.”
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Mississippi
People gather at MS Capitol to protest Donald Trump, Project 2025. See what was said

On Wednesday, more than 50 people gathered at the Mississippi State Capitol Building to protest the Trump Administration and Project 2025.
What initially began as a sparsely populated protest with overcast skies and slight drizzle quickly grew from a party of three to about 50, drawing men, women and others protesting Republican President Donald Trump, his policies, executive actions and Project 2025.
“Trump lies; Democracy dies,” the protesters shouted from the sidewalk facing the Southern entrance of the capitol.
The protest lasted from noon to 3 p.m. Several of those present wore masks to conceal their identities while holding signs calling out Trump and other GOP talking points. Several times the group began to chant against the Trump Administration and Billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken an involved role in the administration.
Emily McDougal, a single mother from Water Valley, which is more than two hours North of Jackson, told the Clarion Ledger she came to protest the Trump Administration’s policies on halting federal spending and government-funded healthcare.
“I’m a 27-year-old single mother with breast cancer, and I literally would not be alive if I didn’t have Medicaid and food stamps, and there are attacks on those programs,” she said. “I just want my daughter to grow up in the best world that she can, the best country and state. I’m just doing my civic duty.”
Another protester, the Rev. Jim Becker of Jackson, said he believes Trump’s executive actions that have designated federal agents to detain and deport mass numbers of people are wrong, and his executive orders that impact transgender people bothered him greatly.
The protest was one of 50 supposedly going on at state capitols throughout the nation on Wednesday as encouraged and discussed online through various social media platforms. Those who spoke to the Clarion Ledger said they all showed up independently of any one group.
Since coming into office last month, Trump has signed a litany of executive actions. Of them, he has ordered federal agents to head to the U.S. Southern border to address what he calls a border crisis, pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, denying legal recognition of transgender people and rescinding federal funding for gender-affirming care.
Thousands Protest Musk in Washington D.C.
An enraged democratic senator Chris Murphy made a statement at what’s been referred to as a “nobody elected Elon” rally in the nation’s capital.
Cheddar
Another protester, Jim Lightsey, said he chose to protest Trump’s executive actions, because he believes Trump’s goals are not to protect Democracy but to control the nation.
“He’s an evil narcissist and a convicted criminal.” Lightsey said. “His executive actions have all pointed toward complete control.”
Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
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