Mississippi Edition

Alumni and supporters of Jackson State University are calling for a fair and transparent national search for the university's next leader.  Then, 24 years later, how has security in the homeland changed since 9/11?Plus, Books, books and more books!  The 11th annual Mississippi Book Festival is coming to town, and we'll tell you what you need to know.

Educators say too many students are chronically absent from school. They're meeting to talk about methods to combat the problem.We return to North Gulfport, where some residents say they're still dealing with flooding 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, despite ongoing development.Plus, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. A doctor is urging men not to wait for screenings because being proactive saves lives.

State regulators move to end local control of the Holly Springs Utility Department due to years of neglect, causing frequent, lengthy outages.Then, in one year job growth is down 75 percent across the nation. But an economist says Mississippi remains relatively flat.Plus, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina required a fast response to rebuild. But some minority communities say they were left out of important safety and environmental protections.

On today's show:Federal regulators are changing their stance on vaccines. Other states are removing their requirements on vaccines for children.Then, infant and matrnal mortality rates are extremely high, ranking Mississippi at the top of the list, especially for black birthing people and their families.Plus, emergency managers on the Gulf Coast reflect on facing the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.

The Mississippi agriculture commissioner meets with farmers who say they're facing a crisis. They talk about what the state can do to help shore up the industry.Then, infant mortality in Mississippi is alarmingly high. An expert in the field of maternal mortality says the problem is worse for Black mothers and their babies.Plus, concerned citizens are responding to recent bicycle deaths in New Orleans, and how the risks can be mitigated.

The cannabis industry in Mississippi is experiencing low demand, and steep competition. Lawmakers are considering how to address the issue.Then, the recent Overdose Awareness Day draws attention to the importance of mental health care in treating addiction. A closer look ahead.Plus, Hurricane Katrina dealt a blow to Amtrak service on the coast, ending it for 20 years. Now, Amtrak is back with the Mardi Gras route. We'll take a ride.

Families, advocates, and state officials are remembering those who died from opioid overdoses.Then, Hurricane Katrina devastated the lives of many Mississippians. That includes their mental health.Plus, Mississippians are reflecting on the legacy of Emmett Till 70 years after the 14-year-old was murdered in the Mississippi Delta. 

We continue our conversation with former Governor Haley Barbour about how Mississippi overcame the massive damage left by Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago today.Then, we hear reflections on how the story of Emmett Till's murder helped inspire a generation of civil rights activists.But first, a psychedelic drug called Ibogaine could soon be the subject of medical research in Mississippi.