Mississippi Edition

With just a few weeks left until 2020, we take a look at what Mississippians can expect from the upcoming Census. 

Then, the enrollment deadline for coverage under the Affordable Care Act is Sunday, December 15th. We revisit our conversation with Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney.

And, after StoryCorps, a ceremonial groundbreaking for Mississippi's First Lady.

Segment 1:

Every ten-years the United States government conducts a constitutionally-mandated census. John Green is the Director of the State Data Center of Mississippi. He talks with MPB's Ashley Norwood about the importance of the Census and how the data is used.

Segment 2:

Enrollment for coverage though the Affordable Care Act closes on December 15th. MPB's Desare Frazier talks with Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney about how Mississippians can access the exchange.

Segment 3:

StoryCorps

Segment 4:

Mississippi is welcoming its first pediatric skilled nursing facility. Designed for the state's most medically fragile children, the center hopes to be a reprieve for those families dealing with medical complexities. First Lady Deborah Bryant has been a long-time advocate of this care option for Mississippi families.  Dr. Christian Paine is the Division Chief of Pediatric Palliative Medicine for UMMC. MBP's Ashley Norwood talks to both about the goals for the facility.

The State Economist's office projects higher than expected revenues for 2019. What does this mean for the 2020 budget?

Also, the House has formally drafted articles of impeachment against President Trump. We look at the significance of this momentous act.

And, after a Southern Remedy Health Minute, we talk with the University of Mississippi's first female African-American Rhodes Scholar.

Segment 1:

Mississippi's state economist estimates lawmakers will have more money to allocate during the upcoming 2020 legislative session than originally thought. Darrin Webb says tax revenue grew by about a half a percent. He explains that growth with MPB's Desare Frazier.

State House Democrat Earle Banks of Jackson is pleased with the revenue projection, but says Mississippi is missing out by refusing to expand Medicaid.

State Senate Republican Dean Kirby of Pearl says lawmakers must be cautious in their appropriation of these surplus funds.

Segment 2:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that the House will pursue a formal impeachment against President Donald Trump. Two articles of impeachment were presented by the Speaker and the chairs of the various committees involved in the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday. Matt Steffey is a professor at the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson. He speaks with MPB's Michael Guidry about the significance of this historic action.

Segment 3:

Southern Remedy Health Minute

Segment 4:

From the plains of the Mississippi Delta to the halls of Oxford University - that's the story of Arielle Hudson, the University of Mississippi's first female African-American Rhodes Scholar. She talks with us about the process of becoming a Rhodes Scholar and how she plans to use her scholarship experience to give back to her home state.

The University of Mississippi is one step closer to relocating a Confederate monument. We talk to the Associated Student Body President.

Plus, a special feature on the immigrant communities affected by the August ICE raids.

And, Mississippi fourth graders have shown the greatest reading gains in the country according to the National Assessment of Education Progress. We take a close look at some of the practices that may explain this rise.

Segment 1:

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has approved a motion from the University of Mississippi's Associated Student Body to relocate a Confederate monument. The statue currently resides in a prominent location outside of the school's administrative buildings. The approved motion would move the statue to the Confederate cemetery on campus. As President of the ASB Barron Mayfield tells our Michael Guidry, the relocation is a sign the University community is progress-minded.

Former students are also weighing in on the relocation. Je'Monda Roy is a University of Mississippi alumna. She tells MBP's Ashley Norwood that the statue's presence makes members of her community feel unwelcome.

Segment 2:

Mississippi communities are pooling resources to help undocumented immigrants cope with the fallout from the ICE raids earlier this year. MPB's Desare Frazier visits one community to see how their managing relief efforts. 

Segment 3:

Fourth grade students in Mississippi have outgained their national peers in reading according to the latest National Assessment of Education Progress. Emily Hanford is an education reporter for American Public Media who has looked closely at the science of reading, and how that science is being implemented in classrooms across the country. She talks with us about how Mississippi is utilizing this research and how it may account for those gains in reading.

A civil rights leader is honored.

And the Mississippi Department of Education considers adjusting its accountability model.

Plus, the high school football season comes to a close with Championship Weekend.

Segment 1:

Vernon Dahmer was a voting rights activist in the Hattiesburg area during the Civil Rights movement. His life was taken following a firebombing on his home by White Knights of the Ku Kux Klan in January of 1966. Now, his legacy is being honored outside the the Forest County Courthouse through efforts made by David Hogan and the Forest County Board of Supervisors. MPB's Michael Guidry speaks with Dennis Dahmer, son of the fallen civil rights leader, about his father and the new monument to his memory.

Segment 2:

The Accountability Task Force met Thursday at the Mississippi Department of Education to discuss the accountability model that measures student achievement. At the heart of the conversation was the United States History exam. The State Board of Education is currently considering eliminating the test from its accountability model. MPB's Ashley Norwood talks to Dr. Tim Martin (Superintendent of Clinton Public Schools) about the task force's objectives.

Dr. Eddie Peasant (Superintendent of Starkville-Oktibbeha Public Schools) agrees that the US History course helps in developing critical skills. But as he tell's MPB's Ashley Norwood, he doesn't think the exam is essential to ensuring the course is taught to a high standard.

Segment 3:

Six high school football champions will be crowned this weekend at M. M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. Don Hinton of the Mississippi High School Activities Association says he is excited about the upcoming games in Hattiesburg as he discusses with MPB's Michael Guidry.

Impeachment hearings continue in the House Judiciary Committee. We hear from Mississippi delegates on both sides of the aisle

Also, a federal appeals court is deciding whether felons in Mississippi should have the right to vote.

Plus a new Book Club.

Segment 1:

The impeachment proceeding are moving closer to Senate action as the House Judiciary Committee considers Articles of Impeachment. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is part of the congressional body that will be responsible for voting on the President's removal from office if articles are presented. Representative Bennie Thompson is Mississippi's lone Democrat in Congress. He has also been following the impeachment hearings closely. Both lawmakers give their take on the impeachment.

Segment 2:

A group of six felons is pushing to have their right to vote in Mississippi restored. A federal appeals court will decide whether it is constitutional for Mississippi to limit voting rights of felons after their sentence is complete. These limits disproportionately affect communities of color.  MPB's Kobee Vance speaks with Dr. Corey Wiggins, Executive Director of the Mississippi NAACP and Paloma Wu, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center,

Segment 3:

Mississippi writer, Larry Brown, had great fans in John Grisham, Pat Conroy, Barry Hannah and Willie Morris … Yet, Larry Brown doesn’t share in the notoriety of the other authors. Perhaps it’s because he died 15 years ago and his writing career was cut short. But now, thanks to Jonathan Miles, the complete stories of Larry Brown have been compiled in the book “Tiny Love.” Miles talked with us about his friend.

Political discord in the workplace is growing nationwide. How can your job be affected by your political beliefs and affiliation?

Also, part two of our special report on HIV challenges in the Delta.

Plus, a Southern Remedy Health Minute.

And, the enrollment period for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is drawing near. We talk to Insurance Commissioner Mike Cheney on how to get coverage.

Segment 1:

As the impeachment proceedings move to the House Judiciary Committee, the nation's attention once again turns to Capital Hill. And new survey from the Society for Human Resource Management suggests highly politicized topics like the impeachment are creating discord in the work place. We discuss the findings with Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., CEO and President of SHRM.

Segment 2: 

More than half of people diagnosed with H-I-V in the south are African American. The Mississippi Delta is home to some of the highest infection rates in the state and the country. There's still a lot of stigma around having H-I-V and AIDS here, but as MPB’s Alexandra Watts reports some people are finding support in what may seem -- at first -- like a surprising location.

Segment 3:

Southern Remedy Health Minute

Segment 4:

Enrollment for coverage though the Affordable Care Act closes on December 15th. MPB's Desare Frazier talks with Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney about how Mississippians can access the exchange.

It's Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement focused on unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann outlines how to be safe in your charitable giving.

Also, a special report on H-I-V challenges in the Delta.

And the lottery hits Mississippi.

Segment 1

December 3rd is Giving Tuesday.  It began in 2012 as a simple idea: a day encouraging people to do good. Today, donations are made to charitable organizations world-wide in recognition of Giving Tuesday. We talk with Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann about how his office is helping Mississippians make smart contributions today and this holiday season.

Segment 2: 

Almost a year ago, President Trump pledged in his State of the Union address that his administration would eliminate the transmission of H-I-V by 2030. It’s a goal that public health advocates have long sought. Almost 40 years into the epidemic, the medications work better and people with H-I-V are living longer.  But as MPB’s Alexandra Watts reports, there are particular challenges in places like the Mississippi Delta.

Segment 3: 

The lottery has officially arrived in Mississippi. Scratch-off games are now available state-wide with larger, multi-state jackpot games soon to come. We speak with some of the principal individuals behind the rollout.