Mississippi Edition

Mississippi businesses react to the grant program passed by the legislature.

And, what nursing homes are doing to fight high transmission rates.

Then, we hear from a survivor of the 1970 Green-Gibbs murders at Jackson State.

Plus a Gulf States Newsroom round table on hurricane preparedness.

Segment 1:

A $300 million dollar relief package for Mississippi small businesses is one step away from becoming a reality. The two-part program passed through the legislature Wednesday night and is awaiting the signature of Governor Tate Reeves. After a week-long clash with lawmakers over the power to appropriate CARES Act funds, state leaders settled down to address the growing concern of small business owners. During his daily press briefing yesterday Reeves addressed the bill and the relief that comes with it.

A Mississippi business organization says the grant program just passed by the legislature is needed to help small businesses recover from the pandemic. Dawn Starns is with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. She says some small businesses don’t have large cash reserves and operate on thin profit margins. Starnes tells our Desare Frazier, as owners work to reopen, the funds available through the program will help meet expenses.

Segment 2:

Mississippi’s long term care facilities are home to nearly half of the state’s COVID-19 related deaths. MPB’s Kobee Vance reports on what nursing homes are doing to slow the spread of disease and keep family members informed during the crisis.

Segment 3:

In May of 1970, Gailya Porter was a sophomore majoring in Sociology at what was then called Jackson State College. The campus was home to mounting racial tension. At the time, Lynch Street was a main thoroughfare that went through the campus, and Porter says students were routinely harassed by white motorists passing through. Some students started fires on campus in protest, after a false rumor spread of the death of civil rights activist Charles Evers. The National Guard was placed on standby and Jackson Police closed off entrances to the campus. It was just before midnight when highway patrol officers and Jackson police marched up Lynch Street, and at some point opened fire near Alexander Hall - where Gailya Porter lived. When the gunshots ended, two African-American men were dead at least a dozen others injured - including Porter. She shares part of her experience with our Ashley Norwood.

Segment 4:

Hurricane season starts June first. That’s nothing new for those who live along the Gulf Coast. What is new this year is the fact hurricane season is happening during the coronavirus pandemic. We hear about how emergency officials are preparing from reporters in the region. MPB's Evelina Burnett and Tegan Wendland of W-W-N-O in New Orleans join the discussion. Andrew Yeager of W-B-H-M in Birmingham kicks things off.