Mississippi Edition

Mississippi Edition for Thursday, November 7, 2019:

With Republicans gaining control of every statewide office, we're asking the question: Can a Democrat ever win a major office in Mississippi? And we'll take a look at the latest March of Dimes report card. Then, the newest version of a troubled Emmett Till historical marker is already drawing the wrong kind of attention. And what's at the intersection of Memory Lane and Sesame Street? This week's Book Club, of course.

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Segment 1:

Mississippi Republicans are strengthening their dominance by winning all all eight statewide elected offices in Tuesday's election. MPB's Desare Frazier takes a look at what it means for Democrats.

In other news:

Last year in Mississippi, 14.2 percent of all births were premature. That means babies are being born too early - before the 37th week of pregnancy. That's just one of the details contained in this year's March of Dimes Report Card. We're joined by Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of the March of Dimes. She says the problem of premature births and other child-bearing problems are not just in Mississippi - they're nationwide.

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Segment 2: 

More than sixty years ago, Mamie Till-Mobley made the bold choice to have an open casket funeral for her 14 year old son. His body was unrecognizable after being beaten, lynched and thrown in a river. Years later, Emmett Till’s name remains in the news.  Recently, People carrying a white nationalist flag were recorded on security cameras trying to film in front of a new memorial erected in Till's honor. As MPB’s Alexandra Watts reports, activism by Till’s family continues decades later.

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Segment 3: 

Fifty years ago this coming Sunday, a cultural phenomenon came to television. “Sesame Street” introduced us to Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and, of course, Kermit the Frog. In her book, “The Inside Secrets of Sesame Street,” Lucille Burbank takes us behind the scenes of the longest running children’s show in the history of broadcasting.