Mississippi Edition

A record high in COVID-19 cases elevates health professionals' concerns over an already stressed hospital system.

Then, the Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee reflects on the storming of the Capitol earlier this week.

Plus, the latest State of the State survey reveals a drop in the Governor's approval rating.

Segment 1:

Mississippi has a new record high in daily coronavirus cases. This comes as the department of health reports 3,255 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, showing signs of a surge that health officials predicted would follow the holiday season. Dr. Mark Horne is President of the Mississippi State Medical Association. Horne tells our Kobee Vance he feels as if residents have grown numb to the high numbers.

Segment 2:

This week, pro-Trump extremists stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. During the insurrection, lawmakers in the House and Senate Chambers were first placed under lock-down, and then evacuated to a number of undisclosed places. Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson was in the House gallery when the events began. Thompson shares his experience with our Michael Guidry and says he is joining in the House's effort to impeach President Donald Trump.

Segment 3:

A new poll suggests Mississippians largely disapprove of the job Governor Tate Reeves has done in his first year in office. The latest State of the State Survey conducted by Millsaps College and Chism Strategies, reveals a 49 percent disapproval rating for Reeves. Nathan Shrader is Chair of the Department of Government and Politics at Millsaps. In part two of his conversation with MPB's Michael Guidry, Shrader breaks down the Governor's approval marks and examines how the state's voters feel about voting expansion.