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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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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.
04/19/2024: Healthcare Disparities Report | Forestry Aid | Record Store Day
23:53A newly released report shows racial and ethnic health disparities are persistent across the U.S., especially in the deep south. Mississippi Tree farmers who lost forest land during last year's extreme drought are now eligible to receive federal assistance for their losses. Plus, tomorrow is National Record Store Day. Audiophiles and vinyl collectors will be in search of that one-of-a-kind item.
04/18/2024: Felony Disenfranchisement | Medicaid Rally | Award Winning Author
23:36Civil rights advocates are seeking a way to restore voting rights to people who have served their time for convictions on certain felonies. Then, for the second day in a row, a coalition of activists rally at the state Capitol for full Medicaid expansion in Mississippi. Plus, a Native American author is honored for her contributions in children's literature.
04/17/2024: Medicaid Rally | Federal Marijuana Regulations | Petition to oust Rankin County Sheriff
19:08A coalition of religious and nonprofit groups is rallying for full Medicaid expansion in Mississippi, calling it a moral imperative. Then from the Gulf States Newsroom: a former New Orleans police chief is pushing for changes to federal marijuana rules.Plus, civil rights activists are gathering signatures to oust the Sheriff of Rankin County for his lack of oversight over the 'Goon Squad.'
04/16/2024: Lawsuit against School | Micro-preemies | "Exvangelicals" Book
24:02Attorneys claim a 15 year old student from Canton was physically assaulted by her school's resource officer.Then, healthcare experts say getting pregnancy health screenings can greatly increase the survivability of very premature births.Plus, a new book shares the experience of an NPR journalist who left the evangelical church.
04/15/2024: State Insurance Exchange | Crawfish Prices | Tax Deadline Day
24:01Some Mississippi lawmakers want to replace the federal health insurance exchange with a state-based one.From the Gulf States Newsroom, crawfish prices skyrocketed this season. Farmers and fishermen are struggling as they try to sell the little crawfish they’ve been able to catch.Plus, the deadline to file taxes is midnight on Monday, April 15th.
04/12/2024: INSPIRE Act Revived | Jackson Water Billing | Plastics Manufacturing
23:55The Mississippi House is reviving their education funding bill, despite Senate efforts to block it.From the Gulf States Newsroom: Jackson has struggled to keep drinking water safe and affordable. Now, the city's taking a new approach through one of the nation's oldest safety nets.Plus, billions of taxpayer dollars are being used to fund plastics manufacturers that pollute. That's according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project.