Mississippi / Public News Service

Several Mississippi correctional facilities offer both short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (six months) alcohol and drug programs with individual and group counseling for treating alcohol and drug addictions. (Wesley JvR/peopleimages.com)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

MS group backs health-center alternative to incarceration

Mississippi prisons often lack resources to treat people who are incarcerated with substance-use disorders adequately but a nonprofit organization is …

In Mississippi, around 11% of the total population was uninsured in 2021. (Drazen)

Mississippi seniors may benefit from dual-eligible special-needs coverage

Certain health plans offer benefits for eligible low-income seniors in Mississippi who have special medical needs, but not everyone knows they are …

The AARP Foundation says its Tax-Aide program helped secure more than $1.1 billion in refunds for more than 1.5 million taxpayers last year. (RomanR/Adobe Stock)

Tax-filing procrastinator? Free help still available in MS

From now until next Monday, Mississippi residents who need assistance in filing their income tax returns can use the free services of the AARP …

One in five children in the Magnolia State faces hunger, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Mississippi kids will miss out on Summer EBT food program

As summer approaches, thousands of children in Mississippi could go without enough nutritious food when school is out, as the state has opted out of …

House Resolution 4366 is a package of six Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills that continues funding for several programs and helps avoid a partial government shutdown. (DC Studio/Adobe Stock)

MS Community Health Centers get boost from federal funding bill

In Mississippi and across the country, Community Health Centers are getting a funding increase, thanks to Congress passing a bipartisan spending …

Mississippi boasts around 5,000 named streams spanning about 14,000 miles in total length, but most are seriously degraded, according to the group Wildlife Mississippi. (kengmerry/Adobe Stock)

Clean water advocates urge Congress to restore vital protections

Today is World Water Day, a global observance to raise awareness about the importance of access to clean, fresh and safe water. This year, advocates …

A new Prison Policy Initiative report revealed the number of deaths by suicide among women in jails increased by almost 65% between the periods of 2000-2004 and 2015-2019. (Karen/Adobe Stock)

New report details harsh realities of women in jail, prison

Women are treated much differently than men by the criminal justice system, according to a new report detailing how and why mass incarceration is …

A report from the National Rural Education Association showed there is only one psychologist or counselor for every 436 children in Mississippi, the fifth

Rural MS schools face steep hurdles compared with nation

Nearly half the public schools in Mississippi are in rural areas and their needs figure prominently in a national report on rural education. The …

In Mississippi, 147,800 people aged 35 to 49 owe an average $48,985 in student-loan debt, totaling $7.24 billion, according to Education Data Initiative. (Tada Images/AdobeStock)

Loan forgiveness deadline approaches for Mississippi student borrowers

Student-loan borrowers in Mississippi and nationwide could have their debt reduced or eliminated through a new one-time adjustment by the U.S…

Mississippi is one of 14 states that has banned abortion completely. Before the Dobbs decision, the monthly average number of abortions in April and May 2022 was 350 each. (Parilov/AdobeStock)

Group offers abortion travel benefits for Mississippi women

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, a Jackson-based organization is offering financial help and other support …

The three oral conditions that most affect overall health and quality of life are cavities, severe gum disease and severe tooth loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Mississippians' access to oral health among worst in U.S.

The Magnolia State is in the top five for worst access to dental care, according to a county-by-county report. More than 70 million Americans live in …

The Postmaster General implemented a 10-year transformation plan known as

MS postal union workers voice concerns about understaffing, mail delays

Postal service staffing shortages across the United States, including in rural areas of Mississippi, are being cited as one of the reasons for mail …

Operation Good works to improve life in Jackson and recently collaborated with University of Mississippi Medical Center for a violent crime interruption research project. (Operation Good Mississippi)

'Operation Good' works to curb violent crime in Jackson

A group of formerly incarcerated people is making headway in Jackson, Mississippi, to turn young lives around and prevent violent crime. On average…

New Lumina Foundation data revealed Mississippi's attainment of higher-education degrees or certificates increased 19.6% between 2009 and 2021. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Report: MS could do more to help people get degrees, certificates

A new report looked at how many people go on to get degrees or other education credentials after high school, and showed Mississippi has some work to …

Last year, the AARP Community Challenge Grant program received more than 3,600 applications. More than $3.6 million was distributed to 310 projects across the country. (Courtney Haas/peopleimages.com)

AARP Mississippi seeks ideas for grants to boost 'livability'

Cities or civic groups with ideas for improving their communities have a new chance to make them a reality. Grants from the AARP Community Challenge …

African American students are about twice as likely as their white peers to attend school in a district with below-adequate funding, while Hispanic students are about 75% more likely to do so, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MS schools among nation's most 'chronically underfunded'

A new report finds Mississippi is among the states that it says "chronically underfunds" its K-through-12 schools. The Albert Shanker Institute …

Report: MS prison policies only deepen inequality

Being in prison has consequences stretching far beyond paying back a person's debt to society and a new report found it is even more true in Mississip…

Restaurant workers are among the groups most likely to earn minimum wage, which in Mississippi is $7.25 an hour. It was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $0.70 from $6.55. (Joshua Resnick/Adobe Stock)

MLK Day highlights wage disparities for Black women

In observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day, there's a call to action to address the persistent wage disparity between Black women and their …

Six states have passed laws requiring state-regulated private health plans to cover certain over-the-counter forms of contraception, without the need for a prescription and without cost-sharing. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi 'Right to Contraception Act' to be filed in 2024

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, Mississippi's Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups are slated to introduce …

An estimated 29% of Mississippi adults, or more than 660,000 people, have criminal convictions; 11% have a felony conviction and 5% have spent time in prison. (Mavoimages/Adobe Stock)

Criminal justice reform would boost MS workforce, economy

In the new year, advancing criminal justice reform could improve the Magnolia State's low labor participation rate and strengthen the workforce…

Parents are the first and most important teachers for their children. As part of the Early Steps to School Success program, a mother reads with her daughter at home. (Save The Children)

MS program help families bond, promotes early child development

A Mississippi home-visiting program is helping families build a strong, positive, nurturing relationship with their children. The program equips …

Natural gas accounted for 72% of Mississippi's net electricity generation in 2021 and was the primary fuel used at nine of the state's 10 largest power plants. (Andranik123/AdobeStock)

Report: Biomass surpass emissions of other fossil fuels

Biomass and wood pellets, often touted as renewable or clean-energy alternatives to fossil fuels, may be far more costly for public health and air …

Mississippians may register to vote by mail or in-person but the deadline for mail-in registration requires it to be postmarked 30 days before Election Day. (rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

'Inclusive Democracy Act' would expand ballot access for people in prison

In Mississippi, 27,000 people are incarcerated and legislation now in Congress might let them cast their ballots from behind bars. The nonprofit …

A 2021 Empower Mississippi report reveals the state earns an

'Dead Zone' persists as defendants await indictment without legal representation

By Caleb Bedillion for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Mississippi News Connection reporting for the Marshall Project-Pub…

A report from AARP found expanding the use of innovative, effective models for nursing homes can improve both quality of care and quality of life, such as with smaller facilities and private rooms. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

MS ranks low among states for long-term care services, supports

A new report finds Mississippi could be doing a lot more to better serve the people in the state who need long-term care. AARP's Long-Term Care …

Volunteers for Big House Books distributed 557 packages containing more than 1,671 books to Mississippi correctional facilities in September and October. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

Prison Book Program fosters literacy behind bars in Mississippi

A Mississippi-based organization is providing free books to incarcerated individuals to promote literacy and pave the way for prison reform. Prison …

Black Americans were 9.3 times as likely as whites to be homicide victims in 2020, American Indians were 4.3 times as likely, and Latino Americans were 1.9 times as likely, based on age-adjusted figures. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

Report cites disparities in crime and policing

The lifetime likelihood of imprisonment for Black men has changed significantly from one generation to the next, according to The Sentencing …

The Governor's Job Fair Network of Mississippi will be in Clinton next Wednesday for a job fair at the Wood Activity and Therapeutic Center. (Prostock-studio/AdobeStock)

MS second-chance job fairs connect formerly incarcerated with employers

Finding a job after prison can be tough, but a program in Mississippi is helping formerly incarcerated people get back on their feet. The …

Black individuals are incarcerated at 2.5 times the rate of white individuals in Mississippi. (thawornnurak/Adobe Stock)

Report: Racial disparities remain high in MS incarceration rates

Black people continue to be locked up at disproportionate rates in Mississippi, according to the latest data. The report from the Prison Policy …

Report: MS ranks last among states for health of women, children

Mississippi received the lowest ranking of the 50 states for the overall health of women and children in the new America's Health Rankings report by t…

In Mississippi, about 375 children are legally able to be adopted, who are in current adoptive placements and at various stages of the process. (Jade M/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Adoption partnership aims to boost 'forever families' in Mississippi

More than 1,100 children are in foster care in Mississippi, and an adoption partnership aims to increase the number of them who find "forever …

Mississippi requires voters to have a photo ID, such as a driver's license or U.S. passport, for verification to vote. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)

Mississippian voters under 45 to change state politics

The youngest Mississippians voters could end up shifting the political landscape of the state in the not-too-distant future. Research from the …

College students with Defenders of Democracy campaign attend a voter registration event at Mississippi Valley State University. (Courtesy of Southern Poverty Law Center)

'Activate Mississippi' aims to boost voter engagement, education

Ahead of the Nov. 7 general election, an advocacy group aims to expand voter education and engagement throughout Mississippi. The Magnolia State has …

This week, Mississippi received an $8.3 million grant to promote better reentry outcomes by expanding people's access to employment when they're released from prison. (Nina/peopleimages/Adobe Stock)

Firsthand experience informs MS 'Rethinking Reentry' conference

In Mississippi, people face many barriers to restarting their lives after prison. Today's Rethinking Reentry Conference focuses on helping them …

Mississippi's Nov. 7 election is to choose a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, members of the Legislature and other offices. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Mississippians urged to register to vote ahead of Nov. 7 general election

Ahead of the general election on November 7, there is an urgent push for voter education in the Magnolia State. In 2020, more than 1.9 million …

Nationwide, nearly 12% of delinquent youth in secure correctional custody have been incarcerated for violating probation or after-care rules, not for committing new criminal offenses. <br />(Miguel Aguirre/Adobe Stock)

A call to action to see fewer children incarcerated in MS

The number of children behind bars in Mississippi has declined significantly in recent years, but their advocates say more work could be done to …

Mississippians with diabetes have medical expenses about 2.3 times higher than those who are not diabetic, according to the American Diabetes Association. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Healthier lifestyle tips for preventing diabetes in communities of color

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in Mississippi. About one in seven Mississippians lives with diabetes. Jernard A. Wells, cookbook …

A recent report found incarcerated individuals were sleeping on steel bunkers without a mattress at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville. (Photo courtesy Disability Rights Mississippi)

New Bill Advocates for Incarcerated People with Disabilities

A new bill in Congress would ensure assistance and resources for people with disabilities who are in jail or prison. It could have a major effect in …

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, during 2020, more than 91,000 Mississippi residents enrolled in health insurance plans through the federal insurance marketplace. (C D/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

MS Call Center Workers Want Better Healthcare, Wages, Union

As the open-enrollment period for people who need health insurance fast approaches, some Mississippi workers are threatening to walk the picket line…

More than 1,495,000 people are currently working as truck drivers in the United States. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi Black Women Make Strides in Trucking Careers

A Mississippi Black-owned business is cultivating solutions to the transportation industry by training women of color to get into trucking. Nearly 6…

Jackson is the largest city in Mississippi, and its public water system includes more than 71,000 water connections. (Jana/Adobe Stock)

The Lingering Effects of Jackson's Ongoing Water Crisis

By Torsheta Jackson for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Mississippi News Connection, reporting for the YES! Media/Public News …

The cost of incarcerating older people is especially high, and their risk of reincarceration is incredibly low, yet 12% of people in Mississippi prisons are over age 55. (Viperagp/Adobe Stock)

Report Examines 'Safety Beyond Sentencing' in MS, U.S.

Making jails and prisons safer and sentencing more equitable are the goals of a report marking 50 years of mass incarceration in the U.S. In …

A study showed thousands of e-cigarette exposure cases reported to U.S. poison centers in the past year, most of which were among kids younger than 5 years old. (Oleg/AdobeStock)

Report: Recommends Ending Disposable Vape Sales in Mississippi

A recent report found disposable vapes are posing a growing environmental threat in Mississippi and across the country. The U.S. Public Interest …

Mississippi is one of five states to not supplement the federal Supplemental Security Income payment. All other states and territories add money to federal SSI payments. (Gunnar3000/AdobeStock)

SSA Expands Outreach for SSI Benefits to Rural Mississippi Communities

The Social Security Administration has taken a proactive step to bridge the gap between critical financial assistance and the people who may be eligib…

About 9,480 Mississippians will see their student loans automatically forgiven thanks to the Income Driven Repayment plan, according to the U.S. Department of Education. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/AdobeStock)

Mississippians Prepares to Start Paying Back Student Loans

Mississippians are working on their monthly budgets as the pause for federal student-loan payments comes to an end, and the pressure of another …

Agriculture in Mississippi is a $9.72 billion industry. There are approximately 34,700 farms in the state, covering 10.4 million acres. (Brastock Images/AdobeStock)

Bill Aims to Advance Farmer-Led Conservation Education in Mississippi

New federal legislation aims to help farmers in Mississippi and elsewhere share their knowledge of conservation practices as they face an increasing n…

In Fall 2022, 6,906 students enrolled at Jackson State University, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Jackson, Miss. (AS Photo Family/Adobe Stock)

Jackson State First-Time Freshman Enrollment on the Rise

Higher education is just one area in which Americans' confidence has fallen, according to the latest Gallup poll. However, people are still signing …

A study from 2021 ranked Mississippi first among the 50 states in terms of its high gun death rate, of 32.61 per 100,000 people. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock)

Report: Young Mississippians Want Stricter Gun Laws

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

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