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Mississippi Edition
3/3/21 - Gov. Rolls Back Pandemic Restrictions | Teacher Pay Raise in Limbo | Southern Remedy Health Minute | SCOTUS Hears Voting Rights Case
The Governor roll backs restrictions on mask wearing and gatherings while advocating vaccinations.
Then, the long-promised teacher pay raise sits in legislative limbo. We look at how and if the raise will come this year.
Plus, after a Southern Remedy Health Minute, we examine how yesterday's Supreme Court hearing could affect voting rights in Mississippi.
Segment 1:
Mississippians will no longer be required to wear a mask in public. Yesterday, Governor Tate Reeves announced he is rolling back many of restrictions designed to combat transmission of the coronavirus. Reeves said with a steep decline in hospitalizations and deaths, it is time for Mississippi to open up.
While government orders requiring masks and limiting gatherings are going away, public health guidance still places heavy reliance on those mitigation strategies. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs is strongly encouraging those who have not yet been vaccinated to continue safe practices.
Segment 2:
For the second year in a row, members of the Mississippi Senate are including a teacher pay raise on their list of top priorities. This session, the Senate passed a stand-alone bill that included a raise and lifted the salary floor for new teachers. That bill had until yesterday to clear House committees. MPB's Ashley Norwood caught up with Senate Education Chair Dennis Debar on Deadline Day.
Segment 3:
Southern Remedy Health Minute
Segment 4:
A recent Supreme Court hearing could go a long way in deciding how new voting restrictions will be judged under the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The high court heard arguments in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee yesterday. Following the last year's general election, Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country are offering up new voting laws that could limit the ability to vote and create additional barriers to the ballot box. Ezra Rosenberg, co-director of the Voting Rights Project, shares more.
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05/03/2024: Medicaid Bills Dead | Tiny Desk Host | HIV De-stigmatization
24:02This year's legislative plans to expand Medicaid have died in Mississippi.Then, NPR’s Tiny Desk has a new series host and producer-- Bobby Carter – Who got his start in radio at Jackson State University.Plus, a new billboard campaign seeks to de-stigmatize HIV.05/02/2024: Medicaid Stalls Near Finish Line | Bi-Lingual Voter Engagement Initiative | Alzheimer's Study
23:58After months of debate, plans for expanding Medicaid in Mississippi may have ended for this legislative session.Then, language barriers can prevent many people from voting. A new initiative seeks to bridge that gap.Plus, a new study by the University of Mississippi and Harvard has found a connection between bad cholesterol and Alzheimer's Disease.05/01/2024: Medicaid Conference Report | Abortion Ban in Florida | Oldest Standing Home in Mississippi
23:50The future of Medicaid expansion is on the line at the state legislature today.From the Gulf States Newsroom, an abortion ban in Florida is set to go into effect today, severely limiting access for many across the South.Plus, what's the story behind the oldest standing structure in Mississippi? The answer in this week's History is Lunch.04/30/2024: CCID Jurisdiction | Utility Bill of the Month | Education Funding Formula
23:38A bill heading to the Governor's desk could add time to an expanded police presence within the capital city.Then, water utilities in the South are notorious for poor customer service, leaving customers trying for months to fix inaccurate bills. In some cases, years.Plus, what a new education funding formula could mean for classrooms in Mississippi.04/29/2024: MS Student Funding Formula | Gaza Conflict Protests | Bobby Rush
24:08Mississippi lawmakers are sending a bill to the Governor that would create a new education funding formula.Then, local organizers are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as the war between Israel and Hamas nears it's seventh consecutive month.Plus, the state legislature is honoring blues legend Bobby Rush for his recent Grammy win.04/26/2024: Medicaid Discussions Stall | Speaker Responds | Health and Gospel Fair
23:10Lawmakers are running out of time to expand Medicaid benefits to the working poor as the session nears a close.But Mississippi's Speaker of the House Jason White says he's still confident the state can pass a bill for Medicaid.Plus, health officials are seeking new methods to reach under-served communities.04/25/2024: Business Leaders for Medicaid Expansion | Organ Donor Month | "Outliving the White Lie" author
21:31Mississippi business leaders are calling for Medicaid expansion, but lawmakers remain deadlocked.Then, how registering to be an organ donor can save lives.Plus, Mississippi's dark history often gets a cleaner slate than it should. A new book seeks to clear the air.04/24/2024: Medicaid Meeting | Air Pollution | History is Lunch
23:46Mississippi legislators are trying to reach an agreement over Medicaid expansion as the session nears an end. Then, Nearly four in ten people, in the U.S. live in counties that have unhealthy levels of air pollution. How do counties in Mississippi stack up?Plus, A former Mississippi politician is sharing stories of his experience in the state legislature through a short film.04/23/2024: Disenfranchisement Bills | Gang Crack-down in Jackson | Crop Prices
23:53Almost 3 dozen people convicted of felony crimes in Mississippi could soon have their voting rights restored. Then, Law enforcement officials in Jackson say a federal program meant to address gangs and other violent crimes in the capital city -is set to begin soon. Plus, fluctuating crop prices have caused major shifts in what's being planted this year.