Share

cover art for 5/26/20 - Loosened Restrictions on Sports and Entertainment | Dr. Alan Jones | Plasma Donations

Mississippi Edition

5/26/20 - Loosened Restrictions on Sports and Entertainment | Dr. Alan Jones | Plasma Donations

More Mississippi businesses are opening this week as the Governor eases restrictions on outdoor sports and entertainment.

Then, health experts in the state remain guarded as the number of coronavirus cases increase. 

 Plus, find out how those who have fully recovered from COVID 19-- can help patients currently fighting the virus. 

Segment 1:

Amusement parks and outdoor entertainment facilities are back in business after more than two months of being closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Tate Reeves' new executive order loosening restrictions on those establishments went into effect yesterday morning. Mississippians remain under the state's safer at home order for another week--until June 1. The Governor extended his previous order that expired yesterday. He says the order is necessary to continue flattening the curve while safely getting people back to work.

Segment 2:

The number of total confirmed coronavirus cases in Mississippi has soared past 13 thousand with more than 600 deaths since the state's first case back in March. There's also a slight uptick in the number of patients hospitalized with cases of COVID 19. Dr. Alan Jones is chairman of Emergency Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He tells our Michael Guidry that Mississippians need to remain vigilant, because there are still a lot of positive coronavirus cases in the state. 

Segment 3:

Mississippi Blood Services is looking for people who have fully recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma. Hospitals throughout the state are using that plasma to help treat COVID-19 patients. Researchers believe it contains antibodies that can fight the infection. Merle Eldridge with the nonprofit Mississippi Blood Services says as of last week they’ve only collected about 10 units of plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients in the past month - and the need is growing. She spoke with MPB's Ashley Norwood.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 10/22/2025: Electricity Plant Vicksburg | Flood Insurance in Shutdown | Hyundai Expansion

    22:08|
    Entergy Mississippi is expanding electricity production, investing $1.2 billion dollars in a new advanced technology power station in Vicksburg.Then, flood insurance is in limbo. The government shutdown has frozen new policies and renewals. We’ll explain what you need to know.Plus, the immigration raid on a Hyundai battery plant has some Louisiana residents calling for the state to pull support for the carmaker. But Hyundai’s sticking with plans to expand.
  • 10/21/2025: PERS for Emergency Responders | Moral Monday | Auto Maker Speed Dating

    23:17|
    How will changes to the state's troubled public employees' retirement system affect first responders? That's ahead.Then, a coalition of faith leaders in Jackson call for the Trump administration to protect healthcare for thousands of Mississippians.Plus, speed dating isn’t just for singles. It’s also big in the South’s car-making business. We go to a match-making day as car companies search for American suppliers to avoid tariffs.
  • 10/20/2025: No Kings Protest | Government Shutdown | Disaster Planning for Jails

    23:14|
    Hundreds gather in Jackson to protest the Trump administration as part of a national "No Kings" movement.Then, we hear from a veteran about how the federal government shutdown has been affecting his life.Plus, twenty years after Katrina, experts say disaster planning in jails and prisons needs improvement.
  • 10/17/2025: JSU President Search | Ascent to 55% | Safety at Sporting Events

    22:05|
    State officials begin the process of finding a new president for Jackson State University. Now, stakeholders in the school are joining the search.Then, lawmakers and education leaders meet in Jackson to discuss how to better prepare students for an evolving workforce.Plus, gun violence surrounding school sporting events last weekend have spurred new discussions on safety at ball games.
  • 10/16/2025: Execution of Charles Crawford | Voting Rights Act | Cybersecurity Audit

    21:46|
    The State of Mississippi carries out the execution of Charles Ray Crawford. The 59-year-old was convicted of the 1993 kidnapping, rape and murder of a college student in Tippah County. Then, the U.S. Supreme Court hears a Louisiana case that will determine if race can be used in drawing legislative maps. We take a look at what the ruling could mean for Mississippi.  Plus, Mississippi's auditor finds some state agencies aren't in compliance with cybersecurity laws.
  • 10/15/2025: Drax Hearing | Education Benchmarks | Thurgood Marshall Documentary

    24:19|
     Residents of Gloster say a wood pellet plant operating in their community is the cause of many health issues.They're asking the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to continue denying the company's request to scale up production.Then, Mississippi adopts a new benchmark program to gauge the success of public schools.Plus, we talk with the producer of a documentary exploring the life and legacy of the nation’s first African American Supreme Court justice. 
  • 10/14/2025: Health Insurance Assistance | Breast Cancer | Bail Bond Scams

    24:02|
    Thousands of Mississippians are at risk of losing their health insurance if lawmakers in Washington don't act soon.Then, October is breast cancer awareness month. And Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. But Mississippi has one of the lowest breast cancer screening rates in the nation for older women. Plus, Law enforcement in Mississippi are warning residents about a scam involving false claims of a loved one being in prison needing bail.
  • 10/13/2025: Weekend Shootings | Chronic Absenteeism | Prisons after Katrina

    23:57|
    Homecoming celebrations across Mississippi turn deadly this weekend as 8 people are killed in separate shootings. Then: Tackling the state's chronic absenteeism rate will be a top priority for Mississippi legislators in the upcoming session. Plus: Corrections officials in New Orleans reflect on the legacy of Katrina and how it changed their thinking about caring for people in lockups during storms.
  • 10/10/2025: Cancer Screenings | COVID Vaccine Guidance | AI Training

    23:54|
    Mississippi lawmakers are hearing why genetic testing for cancer patients could give them better access to more effective treatment.Then:  New guidelines released this week from the CDC now determine who can get and give the COVID vaccine.  Plus: how college students are being prepared to work alongside artificial intelligence.