Vaccinations reach 200,000, MSDH reports 2,074 new COVID cases
Photo courtesy of OCH Regional Medical Center The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting 2,074 new cases of COVID-19 as vaccine distributions across the state. Today’s report brings the state’s total up to 268,672. With the confirmation of 65 additional deaths, 5,917 Mississippians have now passed away from the virus. *MSDH Note: 36 COVID-19 related deaths occurred between November 13, 2020 and January 20, 2021, identified from death certificate reports. The state has now surpassed 200,000 administered doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. To make an appointment, visit https://covidvaccine.umc.edu or call 877-978-6453. Currently, those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions are eligible. “It will be a great day when we can gather in stadiums, churches, restaurants and bars–shoulder to shoulder–without the quiet fear of COVID. When you can celebrate with strangers after a touchdown, sing loudly at a concert not muffled by a mask, and just live life without fear. True comradery. That day is coming. It’s coming sooner than we think. There is one more hurdle to that: the rapid distribution of the Coronavirus vaccine. I reject the false narrative that is being pushed by some which says this is our new normal. That even after vaccination, we need to continue to hide away and live in perpetual isolation and fear. That’s just wrong. This is it. This is our moment. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and Mississippi is sprinting towards it,” Governor Tate Reeves said during Monday’s ‘State of the State’ address. Additionally, the latest data from the MSDH show overall hospitalizations continuing on a downward trend. As of Monday, an estimated 222,812 Mississippians have recovered from COVID-19. The post Vaccinations reach 200,000, MSDH reports 2,074 new COVID cases appeared first on News Mississippi.
Inmates building hope through new church at Parchman
The first new building in years is going up at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman in Sunflower County. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held today at Mississippi’s oldest prison but not for a new cellblock. For the first time in the prison’s 120-year history, a church is being built inside prison walls with private funds and inmate labor. The nonprofit Mississippi Prison Chapel Foundation is providing construction money. The nondenominational, 6,000-square-foot sanctuary will be constructed at Unit 30 and hold 250 people. Services will be conducted by inmate pastors and attendance is voluntary. The church is part of MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain’s “Moral Rehabilitation” initiative, a 20-year-old program to instill values along with vocational education. MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain said, “This is tantamount, very important to real, true rehabilitation with skills and trades and equipped to get a job. With morality in your heart, you’ll be a successful citizen.” 17-year inmate Henry Dennis said, “It gives us inmates hope, something to look forward to. A lot of us come in here thinking all of us has been forgotten, that everybody did away with us. So this is hope for us, new life for us, and this is a symbol of that. With the church being here, it brings that.” Parchman’s inmate carpenters have their work cut out for them. They’ve got 70 days to finish construction. Commissioner Cain has challenged them to open for Easter morning. The post Inmates building hope through new church at Parchman appeared first on News Mississippi.
Governor Reeves delivers 2021 ‘State of the State’ address
After an eventful first year in office, Governor Tate Reeves delivered his State of the State address on the steps of the capitol this afternoon as he looks ahead to 2021. The governor covered a myriad of topics with the overarching theme of the state’s effort to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below, you can read through the governor’s remarks which have been broken down by topic. Introduction: To members of the legislature and other public servants who would normally be here, I wish that we could be together today. We all know that normal has not been in the cards in 2020 or 2021 so far. But I know that you will be able to thoughtfully carry out your work even despite the challenges before us. I’m grateful for your service and I’m even more grateful for your friendship. I’m very proud to be joined by my beautiful wife, who has been the steady hand I’ve needed during this tumultuous year. Elee, thank you for being a friend, a great Mom to our daughters, and a true partner in this work. Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to say that our state is unconquerable. We have taken every hit that can be thrown. We’ve been tested by every force of nature, disease, and human frailty. It is already a miracle that our state is still standing, but we are not simply standing. We are marching forward. In this year of crisis and confusion, there has been a solid foundation. It is the Mississippi spirit that binds all of us together. This is not a state of people who have cowered in the face of adversity. We’ve got grit, and pride, and faith. We know how to overcome our differences and work together. We know how to do hard things. We know how to treat one another. As we saw on Easter Sunday, this is a state of people who won’t let a tornado leave the ground before arriving with chainsaws to clear their neighbors’ land. As we saw after Zeta, it is a state of people who won’t let the waves of a hurricane rush back to the sea before ensuring their neighbor has food and warmth. We are a state of people who step up, time and again, and have exceeded all expectations this year. Tennessee Williams was a world-renowned playwright, and a son of Lowndes County, Mississippi. He once wrote that “The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.” What he meant was that decency, kindness, empathy, and goodness always win, even when facing hardened opposition. That has happened here, in our state, in our time. We’ve seen courage and compassion beat the forces of chaos and destruction in Mississippi. The victory isn’t final, but we can see it here every day. That victory is visible in the long hours of nurses, teachers, and first responders. It is visible in the lives saved by ordinary heroes administering care–physical, emotional, and spiritual–on a daily basis in our state. Economy: It is because of those people that Mississippi was able to move forward when the rest of the world came to a halt. In Mississippi, we never stopped working. We never shut down our farms and we never shut down our factories. What we did slow down for safety, we opened up as quickly and as widely as we possibly could. We’ve been cautious, never panicked. We’ve been safe, but not stubborn. Life cannot be lived in perpetual idleness and isolation. We realized that, and we’ve adapted our plans throughout the year–responding swiftly when the spread was most severe and opening up whenever it is possible. And that has made a tremendous difference. Despite the once in a century pandemic, Mississippi’s economy actually grew year over year. Think about that. We were the third-best state in the country for job recovery. We had more tourism spending return than any other state in the country–we were number one! That’s not just because of an open economy. It’s because Mississippians don’t want welfare, they want to work. They recognize the pride and dignity that comes with it, and they’ve been eager to return when given the opportunity. It is also why, as we look forward, we cannot be content with where we are. We can never simply say “that’s good enough.” I don’t want to compete with the Mississippi of the last fifty years. I don’t want to compete with Mississippi of the last decade. I don’t want to compete with Mississippi of last year. I want to compete with the best–Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas. Because I know we can compete, and I know we can win. We can get in the ring with anybody, and we can leave with more jobs and higher wages. Mississippians can bring more skill and dedication to any project than anyone else, anywhere in the world. We work harder than anyone. Why shouldn’t we get the best jobs, the best expansions, and best headquarters? I believe we can. And as Mississippi’s own, the great Dizzy Dean, once said: “If you can do it, it ain’t braggin’.” This is a time of global upheaval, uncertainty, and chaos. And it is in those times that fortunes are made. We need to make Mississippi’s fortune today–this is the moment in our history to do it. We’ve chosen a new banner, we’ve improved our education, and we’ve shown the world that we’re open for business. Now we need to go out and win high-paying jobs for the people of our state. Income Tax Elimination: I believe that in order to fully capture the potential of this historic moment, we must think big. We need a bold move. This is the time for an action that will turn heads all across the country and get money and people flowing in. And I believe that move is the elimination of the income tax. It is a reward for our hard workers, and an incentive for others to
Governor’s proclamation signifies launch of ‘School Choice Week’
Governor Tate Reeves speaks during a ceremony launching ‘School Choice Week’ in 2019. Photo by News Mississippi. While this year’s ‘School Choice Week’ in Mississippi won’t feature the typical fanfare of year’s past due to COVID-19, Governor Tate Reeves issued a proclamation signifying the beginning of the week on Monday, highlighting his continued support for the cause. Thank you to Governor @TateReeves for all you do to empower parents and for helping us celebrate @SchoolChoiceWk! pic.twitter.com/oQwI0kOklH — Empower MS (@EmpowerMS) January 25, 2021 According to Empower Mississippi, a non-profit advocacy organization, ‘School Choice Week’ is “designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through thousands of independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.” “This is a special week that recognizes the need for effective education options for every child, something that is especially needed now because of COVID-19 and the changing classroom. We appreciate the steps Mississippi has taken in providing high-quality educational options, but we know much work remains,” Grant Callen, CEO of Empower Mississippi, said. At the national level, Mississippi Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith co-sponsored legislation to declare this week as ‘National School Choice Week.’ “Education decisions should be in the hands of those who know best – parents and families,” Wicker said. “I am glad to join Senator Tim Scott to show support for school choice and acknowledge the important work of educators, administrators, and parents in supporting quality education for all students, no matter where they live.” “Parents in Mississippi appreciate options to choose educational settings that best suit their children. National School Choice Week highlights the benefits of school choice and the need to strengthen these policies across the nation,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over federal education programs. The senators noted that a recent survey conducted by the American Federation for Children shows that 72% percent of K-12 parents who work full-time support school choice. Among other arguments, critics of school choice believe that options like charter schools pull funding away from public schools. As the 2021 Mississippi Legislative Session continues, EmpowerMS outlined several key bills that the organization hopes to see make it to the governor’s desk. HB 1035 and SB 2793 would establish a virtual public school pilot program to allow students from all over the state to access virtual school options run by school districts or regional education service agencies. This would expand education options for all Mississippi students and, in particular, give new options to students in rural areas, students in failing school districts, students in need of schedule flexibility, students with health concerns, and students who learn at a different pace from their traditional classroom. HB 851 would revise the charter school law to give greater flexibility to charter schools to hire great teachers and enroll students without unnecessary delays. Charter schools are supposed to be laboratories of innovation, and this would give them more freedom to serve some of the neediest populations in Mississippi better. The week is typically kicked off by a large event at the Mississippi Capitol with students and lawmakers sporting yellow scarves, but as previously noted, the pandemic caused a shift. Empower Mississippi will instead host a week-long celebration on its Facebook page. The highlight of the week will be a virtual Coffee and Conversation featuring National School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella and Empower Mississippi CEO Grant Callen on Tuesday, January 26 at 6 p.m. The post Governor’s proclamation signifies launch of ‘School Choice Week’ appeared first on News Mississippi.
COVID-19-related hospitalizations drop below 1,000 in latest MSDH data
The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting 1,452 new cases of COVID-19. Today’s report brings the state’s total up to 266,598. With the confirmation of 75 additional deaths, 5,852 Mississippians have now passed away from the virus. *MSDH Note: 26 COVID-19 related deaths occurred between December 26, 2020 and January 21, 2021, identified from death certificate reports. In the latest data from the MSDH, overall hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 for the first time since late November after reaching a peak at over 1,400 in recent weeks. In a tweet, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs outlined a promising trend with hospitalizations dropping and vaccinations increasing. Two encouraging trends in opposite directions pic.twitter.com/pQO06TnR1n — thomas dobbs (@TCBPubHealth) January 26, 2021 As of Monday, an estimated 222,812 Mississippians have recovered from COVID-19. The post COVID-19-related hospitalizations drop below 1,000 in latest MSDH data appeared first on News Mississippi.
Wicker says Trump impeachment trial is sure to inflame partisan tensions
Even though he is no longer in office, former President Donald Trump still faces an impeachment trial in the Senate. Trump is being accused of inciting insurrection after Capitol Hill was stormed on January 6th while Congress was debating the results of the Electoral College. Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker issued the following statement Monday after the House of Representatives delivered its article of impeachment against Trump. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker Impeaching President Trump is a mistake. The effort to remove a President who is no longer in office raises serious constitutional questions and threatens to delay national healing. This article of impeachment was rushed through the House of Representatives shortly after the Capitol riot without hearings or any careful consideration of evidence or precedent. A second impeachment trial is sure to inflame partisan tensions and could poison the cooperative spirit we need in a 50-50 Senate. I fear it will also bring more reproach on Congress’s solemn impeachment power, which should be used sparingly and with sober deliberation. The Senate has important business to do and should not be held up by a pointless and divisive delay. I will vote to dismiss this article of impeachment against President Trump. The impeachment trial is set to begin in early February. The post Wicker says Trump impeachment trial is sure to inflame partisan tensions appeared first on News Mississippi.
New bill aims to bring mobile sports betting to Mississippi
Sports betting launched in Mississippi back in 2018, but a bill introduced at the capitol would bring mobile sports betting to the Magnolia State. Currently, those wishing to place a wager on any sporting event must be on casino property. SB 2732, authored by Senator Philip Moran (R-District 46) would allow you to make bets from your phone or computer from anywhere in the state with a “percentage of operator profits flowing to the state.” “Every day millions of Americans in 15 states have access to state-of-the-art mobile sportsbooks, allowing them to place bets on their favorite teams and leagues at home while fostering much-needed tax revenue. Unfortunately, Mississippi law does not authorize online sports betting, but this bill seeks to change that” Moran said. “Mississippi has been leaving money on the table by not authorizing online sports wagering, and it is time to modernize Mississippi’s gambling offerings and do what’s best for Mississippians.” Several casinos currently offer sports gaming apps but are forced by state law to geofence those apps around their property. This bill would lift that restriction while also allowing Mississippians to use national sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel. Moran, who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee, noted the prevalence of illegal and offshore sports betting web sites across the country, which he says “offers neither state tax revenue nor consumer safeguards such as responsible gaming tools and secure payments.” As for the bill’s chances of passing, it may face an uphill battle following comments made by Speaker of the House Philip Gunn in December. “I have been in consultation with my chairman and those who are in charge with the responsibility of knowing this,” Gunn said, referring to the House Gaming Committee. “They are very cautious about that at this point. I think, right now, they are not in favor of it.” However, Gunn’s comments contradict Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association Executive Director Larry Gregory, who spoke optimistically on the possibility of mobile sports gaming during a Senate Gaming Committee hearing. “If you know Chairman Blount, he’s very methodical and wants to make sure everything is lined up before we take that giant step into offering this to our customers, but early on, I think the numbers are looking good. I think a lot of people would like to have it offered here, so I think we will see some version of legislation on mobile sports betting this year,” Gregory said. During that same hearing, Moran quotes Godfrey as saying that Mississippi’s $370 million 2019 sports wagering handle was a “far cry” from New Jersey’s $850 million in online and retail sports wagering handle reported for September 2020 alone. In addition to a convenience for the consumer, an online option could also greatly benefit Mississippi casinos that continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three mobile sports gaming bills died during the 2020 session and another failed in 2019. Tennessee, Mississippi’s neighbor to the North, launched mobile sports gaming in November 2020 and Louisiana plans to take up the issue during their upcoming legislative session. If passed, Mississippi would become the 16th state to offer mobile sports betting. The post New bill aims to bring mobile sports betting to Mississippi appeared first on News Mississippi.
Southern Miss center gives up football in pursuit of military career
Photo courtesy of USM Athletics A Southern Miss football player will end his college career a year early but not for the usual reason of entering the NFL Draft. After three seasons in Hattiesburg, junior offensive lineman Trace Clopton announced his intention to forgo his final year of eligibility to pursue a career in the military after graduating in May. Thank you, Southern Miss. pic.twitter.com/MVCzfqxBkG — Trace Clopton (@Trace_Clopton) January 25, 2021 Clopton, a Brookhaven native, started all 13 games at center during his sophomore season in 2019 before injuries limited him to five starts in 2020 as a junior. The post Southern Miss center gives up football in pursuit of military career appeared first on News Mississippi.
MSDH confirms 927 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths
For the first time in a month, the Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting under 1,000 new cases of COVID-19. Today’s report of 927 new cases—the lowest total since December 26th—brings the state’s total up to 265,146. Today’s caseload does follow higher weekend totals with 1,856 on Saturday (39 deaths) and 1,196 on Sunday (21 deaths). With the confirmation of 5 additional deaths, 5,777 Mississippians have now passed away from the virus. Hospital data has not yet been updated as a new week begins. Heading into the weekend, overall hospitalizations had fallen below 1,100. To date, Mississippi has administered just under 180,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The post MSDH confirms 927 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths appeared first on News Mississippi.
MSDH, libraries partner to offer free radon home test kits
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Radon Program and the Mississippi Public Library System are partnering to give you the tools to fight a leading cause of lung cancer. Beginning Monday, radon home test kits will be offered at sites across the state while supplies last. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas and is the second leading cause of lung cancer nationwide. More than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year, and radon causes up to 15 percent of lung cancers worldwide. Radon is a radioactive gas found in nature. Its source is natural uranium in the earth. Being a gas, radon moves upward out of the soil and into the air, where it can enter and accumulate in homes. Uranium is found in most soils and in granite. Test kits will be available at the following libraries January 25-29, 2021: Northern Mississippi: Lee County Public Library – Tupelo Starkville/Oktibbeha Public Library – Starkville Carrollton/North Carrollton Public Library – North Carrollton Humphreys County Public Library – Belzoni Elizabeth Jones Public Library – Grenada Indianola/Sunflower Public Library – Indianola Greenwood/Leflore Public Library – Greenwood Central Mississippi: B.S. Ricks Public Library – Yazoo City Fannie Lou Hamer Public Library – Jackson Dekalb County Public Library – Dekalb Attala County Public Library – Kosciusko Leake County Public Library- Carthage Meridian-Lauderdale Public Library – Meridian Southern Mississippi: Hattiesburg Public Library – Hattiesburg Poplarville Public Library – Poplarville The post MSDH, libraries partner to offer free radon home test kits appeared first on News Mississippi.
