Mississippi
MS governor says state is ready ahead of winter storm, projected ice
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State agents and private partners are positioned around the state with emergency supplies to support Mississippians this weekend ahead of the projected winter storm, said Gov. Tate Reeves at a Friday news conference at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson.
Local emergency managers are distributing blankets and cots, and four counties opened shelters Friday, with two more set to open Saturday afternoon. Reeves said he spoke with the White House to activate the state Emergency Operation Center, which has distributed supplies throughout the state.
“We do not have unmet needs at this time,” he said. “We’ll see if more support is needed over the next 48-72 hours.”
Reeves said ice is projected as far south as the Gulf Coast region, with significant ice and sleet expected in the northwest section of the state.
The state Department of Transportation has been treating roads and bridges since Wednesday, he said, but ice could remain in parts of Mississippi into next week if the temperature stays under freezing.
“The most important thing I can say to Mississippians is, over the next 48 to 72 hours, check on your friends, family and neighbors,” Reeves said.
Reeves said generators were ready to be deployed to long-term care facilities.
Reeves notes that while it was 55 degrees in Jackson on Friday afternoon, temperatures had already fallen to 38 in Tunica in the Northwest part of the state.
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Will Mississippi be the first state to expand educational freedom in 2026? It’s too early to know, but it’s notable that the state House recently passed HB2, the Mississippi Education Freedom Act, a step in that direction. The centerpiece of the massive bill is an education savings account program called Magnolia Student Accounts, or MSA for short.
By creating these Magnolia Student Accounts, Mississippi would join a growing number of states that recognize parents know their kids better than bureaucrats do, and education funding should follow students to the learning environments where they’ll thrive.
This isn’t a radical concept. We don’t mandate where families shop for groceries or what doctor they visit. Education is too important to be the one service where choice doesn’t matter.
The mechanics of MSAs are straightforward. Instead of locking all education dollars into assigned district schools, the state would deposit funds into accounts that families control. Those funds could pay for private school tuition, tutoring, educational technology, curriculum materials, specialized courses and more.
If HB2 is passed, every student would be eligible to apply for an MSA, but the number of available accounts would be limited. In the first year, there would be a maximum of 12,500 accounts for private school tuition, with half of those reserved for students transferring out of public schools. The cap would automatically increase by 2,500 each year for the first four years. After that, it would automatically increase by 2,500 whenever all accounts are claimed the previous year. If applications exceed available funds, students from lower-income households would receive priority and a lottery would be conducted if needed.
For students using the accounts at participating schools, funding would be based on the state’s base student funding for the applicable school year, currently around $6,800. Students at non-participating schools would receive $2,000 with a family maximum of $4,000. Up to 5,000 homeschoolers could receive $1,000 per family. The program also allows families to carry over unused funds for future educational expenses, which discourages wasteful spending.
As currently drafted, the program respects participating schools’ autonomy. Schools aren’t forced to participate, and those that do aren’t subjected to state curriculum mandates. They can still set their own admissions standards, hire teachers who share their mission and maintain the distinctive programs that make them effective. Religious schools can maintain their faith-based instruction. These protections are critical in encouraging diverse educational options rather than cookie-cutter schools that all look alike.
While adopting MSAs would be a significant step toward more educational freedom for Mississippi families, there are areas for improvement in the proposal. The participation caps mean only around 3% of Mississippi students would be able to participate in the beginning, and the cap increases at a very slow pace. Providing lower funding amounts based on what type of education children receive limits families’ flexibility and complicates program administration, as well.
As is often the case, the teachers union, superintendents’ association and other opponents of school choice are campaigning against the Education Freedom Act, claiming that MSAs will harm public schools. Yet public school funding would only be affected if parents choose other options — which, critically, would not happen if the school is meeting their needs. Keeping kids trapped in schools that aren’t working for them helps no one.
Mississippi’s public schools may be a great fit for many students, but they can’t work for every child. Some students need more personalized environments, different instructional approaches or specialized support that their assigned school can’t provide. When we pretend one-size-fits-all in education, the students who suffer are typically those with the fewest alternatives.
The education landscape is changing. Enrollment in Mississippi district schools has fallen. Many families want options that better fit their children’s needs. Magnolia Student Accounts acknowledge this reality and enable education funding to reflect family choices.
No education system is perfect, and choice programs require careful drafting and implementation. But the old way of doing things — a system where kids are limited by their addresses, struggling students can’t escape schools that aren’t meeting their needs, and innovative approaches can’t get funding — is no longer good enough.
Education works best when families have options and schools have the freedom to meet students where they are. Mississippi is moving decisively in that direction.
— Colleen Hroncich is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom.
Here’s the nominees for Clarion Ledger girls Athlete of the Week for Jan. 19-24
Here’s the five nominees for the Clarion Ledger girls Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for Jan. 19-24.
There were several top performers across the state in girls high school sports, but only one can be voted as the Clarion Ledger athlete of the week for Jan. 19-24.
Fans may vote in the poll BELOW one time per hour per device. The poll closes at noon on Friday.
To nominate a future athlete of the week, email mchavez@gannett.com or message him on X, formerly Twitter, @MikeSChavez.
To submit high school scores, statistics, records, leaders and other items at any time, email mchavez@gannett.com.
Nominations
Mariyah Farrell, Heidelberg: Farrell had 31 points and seven assists in Heidelberg’s 74-45 win against Enterprise-Clarke.
Presley Hughes, Madison-Ridgeland Academy: Hughes recorded 14 points and five rebounds in MRA’s 67-17 win against Jackson Prep.
Leah Laporte, Our Lady Academy: Laporte recorded a team-high 24 points in OLA’s 68-49 win against Tylertown.
Lauren Norwood, South Panola: Norwood had a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds in South Panola’s 56-43 win against Lake Cormorant.
Jayda Smith, Simpson Academy: Smith had 21 points and eight assists in Simpson Academy’s 71-40 win against Brookhaven Academy.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
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