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Mississippi Edition
7/9/20 - Gov. Addresses COVID Hospitalization and Vetoes Legislation | Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba | Book Club: Po' Monkeys
The Governor cautions residents, vetoes legislation and defends monuments.
Then, the Mayor of Jackson describes the measures the capital city is taking to fight the trend of rising COVID cases.
Plus, in today’s book club, the history of an iconic blues lounge chronicled through photos in the book, “Po’ Monkeys.”
Segment 1:
Mississippi's current hospitalization rate is now the third highest in the country - trailing only Arizona and Texas. The state has seen cases of COVID spike in the last two weeks, causing hospitalizations to reach their highest levels since the first case was reported March 11th. Governor Tate Reeves says the strain on the hospital system is no longer a hypothetical.
Reeves began easing restrictions in May with hopes to reopen the state fully on July 1st. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says the high levels of transmission are not unexpected.
Reeves also discusses legislation and efforts to remove confederate statues.
Segment 2:
Hinds County, home of the capital city, has been the hardest hit county in the state during the coronavirus pandemic. This has prompted the Mayor of Jackson to take strong action that is often more restrictive than state-wide orders. Chokwe Antar Lumumba joins us to discuss the ordinances and safety measures he has enacted to keep residents of the state's largest metro-area safe.
Segment 3:
Along a dirt road surrounded by farmland in the Mississippi delta is a place that was a mecca for blues fans. This little shack-like lounge welcomed music lovers for more than 50 years before closing in 2016. In the book, “Po’ Monkeys: Portrait of a Juke Joint,” photographer, Will Jacks, shares more than 70 black and white photos that illustrate why Po’ Monkeys was a mandatory stop on a blues pilgrim
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