Mississippi Edition

As coronavirus transmission continues to surge, Mississippi's health leaders ask residents to practice caution during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Then, child hunger is on the rise in Mississippi. We examine how the pandemic is making food insecurity worse in the nation's most insecure state.

Plus, the Salvation Army's red kettles return. But the charitable non-profit is looking for other ways to collect contributions during the holiday season.

Segment 1:

Mississippi’s leading health experts are asking for residents to avoid large thanksgiving gatherings as coronavirus transmission rates surge in the state. Saturday brought a single say record high in reported cases of COVID-19 - with the department of health confirming 1,972 infections. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says the pandemic is only intensifying. Timothy Moore of the Mississippi Hospital Association and Tonya Moore of the Mississippi Nurses Association also warn of strain on the system.

Segment 2:

The coronavirus pandemic is causing a rise in child hunger across the nation, and some of the most food insecure communities in the nation are located in Mississippi. According to the nonprofit Save the Children, one in three children in Mississippi is experiencing hunger - up from one in four prior to the pandemic. The organization also projects Mississippi to have the highest rate of food insecurity for 2020. Yolanda Minor, Deputy State Director of Save the Children, tells our Ashley Norwood, hunger can lead to other developmental challenges for children.

Segment 3:

The red kettles and ringing bells of the Salvation Army are returning this holiday season. A tradition since 1891, the organization's Red Kettle fundraising campaign represents a bulk of its funding for a number of year-round programs. But the pandemic is causing a reduction in kettle locations this year. Michelle Hartfield is Director of Community Relations for the Jackson Salvation Army. She says although the hallmark red kettle is socially distant and safe, the organization is hoping to generate more contributions online.