MPB News

01/17/2025

A new report alleges widespread abuse, neglect and financial malpractice in many unlicensed homes that care for people with disabilities around Mississippi. A group of community members and representatives of Disability Rights Mississippi gathered in front of the state capital Thursday to discuss the findings.

Read the full story on MPB News. https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/wild-west-of-regulation-disability-rights-mississippi-releases-report-on-unlicensed-care-homes/

01/16/2025

The American Heart Association is hoping to close the gap in health inequities and disparities by promoting diversity among healthcare professionals. Four Mississippi based college students have been selected for their 2024-2025 historically Black colleges and universities scholars program.

The American Heart Association's program has the goal of increasing the number of Black students who apply and are accepted into medical schools.

Read the full story on MPB News. https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/the-american-heart-association-aims-to-close-the-gap-in-health-inequities-with-hbcu-scholars-program/

01/15/2025

The rates of whooping cough have increased in Mississippi and nationwide. One of Mississippi’s leading health experts is encouraging residents to get vaccinated.

In 2023, three people were diagnosed with whooping cough in Mississippi. Last year, that number rose to 46. Dr. Renia Dotson is Mississippi’s state epidemiologist.

Read the full story on MPB News. https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/a-very-significant-disease-that-can-be-deadly-whooping-cough-is-on-the-rise-in-mississippi/

01/14/2025

During the first meeting of the State Board of Health in 2025, state health officer, Dr. Dan Edney, talks about current health concerns in the state and outlines his legislative priorities for the year.

During last year’s legislative session, House Bill 1725, which would have expanded Medicaid coverage for eligible, working Mississippians, died after top lawmakers could not agree on a final proposal.

Read the full story on MPB News. https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/mississippis-top-doctor-outlines-his-legislative-priorities-for-the-2025-legislative-session/

01/14/2025

Public safety officials in Mississippi are asking lawmakers for more support to protect the state from cyberthreats.

In the two years since a dedicated cyber unit was created in the state's homeland security office, the unit has investigated dozens of cyber attacks directed at the state's networks and businesses.

Read the full story on MPB News. https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/dps-asks-mississippi-lawmakers-to-fund-statewide-cyber-defense-program/

01/10/2025

Former Judge Constance Slaughter-Harvey met Georgia’s former governor, Jimmy Carter, in 1975 when she began working as a regional coordinator on his presidential campaign.

“I met him in Jackson,” she said. “The thing that made me look at him differently is he was always smiling.”

Read the full story on MPB News.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting is MPB. Mississippi is Our Mission. Get the latest news on Tate Reeves, the Election and updates on Television, Radio and Online

01/09/2025

The effort to get to the bottom of the city’s utility struggles began in earnest during the 2024 Mississippi legislative session, when lawmakers passed a bill granting the Public Service Commission authority to investigate utilities on their own.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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01/08/2025

Mississippi lawmakers gaveled in for the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday, starting a 90-day clock for tackling major policy issues like taxation and health care.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate have a month less than they did in 2024 to get legislation across the finish line. But House Speaker Jason White says the various special committee meetings and hearings lawmakers held throughout the second half of 2024 have put them in a position to move quickly on their top priorities.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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01/07/2025

When Mississippi lawmakers gavel in the 2025 session, one of the leading questions will be what comes of last year’s effort to expand Medicaid coverage to the state’s working poor.

That effort died at the 11th hour in the 2024 session after the Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, failed to agree specifics on a House-led plan that would provide healthcare coverage to hundreds of thousands of Mississippians.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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01/07/2025

Most of Mississippi is experiencing severe cold weather. The National Weather Service in Jackson reports that the state is expected to have below-freezing temperatures and wind chills as low as 20 degrees. These temperatures will continue throughout the week. There is also a chance of snow in north Mississippi.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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01/05/2025

Tornado warnings have been issued for portions of northwestern Mississippi until 3:30 p.m.

Tune into MPB Think Radio for more information and regular weather updates https://bit.ly/3OPLVFn

01/05/2025

Severe thunderstorms will be likely this afternoon into the evening as a low pressure system moves across the region. The primary hazards with these storms will include damaging wind gusts as high as 60 to 70 mph, tornadoes possible (strong tornados can't be ruled out), and quarter size hail.

The primary impacts from storms for areas near and west of the Mississippi River will be approximately between 1PM and 6PM, between 4PM and 10PM for central Mississippi in the Interstate 55 corridor, and between 7PM and 1AM for eastern and southeastern Mississippi in the Interstate 59 to Highway 45 corridors.

01/03/2025

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12/31/2024

Nearly 80% of Americans who make New Year’s Resolutions focus on health, according to the Pew Research Center. The average weight gain over the holidays is between one to two pounds. Although this amount seems minor, many people resolve to spend the next year losing weight.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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12/31/2024

In the more than forty years since Jimmy Carter left the White House, much of his time was spent contributing to various humanitarian causes.

Many credit he and his wife, Rosalyn, with garnering a swell of national attention for the organization Habitat for Humanity, which builds and renovates homes for low-income or disadvantaged families, or those recently displaced by natural disasters.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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12/30/2024

One fatality and two injuries occurred in Natchez Saturday as severe weather moved through the state, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Two people were also injured due to the storms in Franklin County.

Over 67,000 Mississippians were still without power early Sunday morning after a series of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms tore through the state. At its peak, as many as 93,000 customers in Mississippi were without power, according to powerouttage.us.

Read the full story on MPB News.

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12/24/2024

Public safety officials are encouraging Mississippians to plan ahead and drive sober as they travel for the holidays.

Mississippi ranks among the top ten states for driving fatalities during Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Read the full story on MPB News.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting is MPB. Mississippi is Our Mission. Get the latest news on Tate Reeves, the Election and updates on Television, Radio and Online

12/23/2024

Few things say the holidays like gift giving. According to the National Retail Federation, around 157 million shoppers in the U.S. plan to shop during the last Saturday before Christmas. This is an increase of over 16 million shoppers from last year.

Read the full story on MPB News.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting is MPB. Mississippi is Our Mission. Get the latest news on Tate Reeves, the Election and updates on Television, Radio and Online