| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 574 Reads
On Wed, 11/19/2025 - 03:56 PM

Several subjects for this week’s column:

The latest federal government shutdown lasted 48 days, the longest in history. No doubt this was a hardship on many federal workers, but if you had 48 days worth of money saved, it was a 48-day paid vacation.
The federal workers who were furloughed during the 48 days will be reimbursed for back pay.
So for those who think these shutdowns save taxpayer money, think again.

Life Lines - How to get news from your college kid

By Donna McLean, READ MORE > 548 Reads
On Tue, 11/18/2025 - 11:14 AM

It’s November, and it has been three months since you paid that massive tuition bill and sent your child away to college.
Unless you reared one of those really clingy kids, or you bought a condo in his college town so you keep helicoptering over him, you have hardly heard from that child since, right?

Estes: Mississippi should double down as an education innovator

By Hunter Estes - Magnolia Tribune, READ MORE > 259 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:42 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Hunter Estes:

Hunter Estes says when Mississippi families can vote with their feet, or with their wallets, education becomes a market of ideas, not centralized government control.

Estes: Mississippi should double down as an education innovator

By Hunter Estes - Magnolia Tribune, READ MORE > 259 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:42 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Hunter Estes:

Hunter Estes says when Mississippi families can vote with their feet, or with their wallets, education becomes a market of ideas, not centralized government control.

Let’s call it ‘The Lane Kiffin Bowl, presented by Jimmy Sexton’

By Rick Cleveland - Mississippi Today, READ MORE > 476 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:38 PM

If this Saturday’s Florida-Ole Miss football game were a bowl game, we all know what its name would be: The Lane Kiffin Bowl. That’s because the worst kept secret in college football is that Florida has zeroed in on Kiffin to be its next head coach.

And, in keeping with the corporate sponsorship of bowl games these days – as in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Goodyear Cotton Bowl and the Rose Bowl presented by Prudential – I’ve got the perfect name for this one: The Lane Kiffin Bowl, presented by Jimmy Sexton.

The legislative school choice subcommittee meets before a packed room at the state Capitol, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Smith: Teacher of the Year - Don’t derail Mississippi’s education momentum with vouchers and ‘choice’

By Louise Smith - Mississippi Today, READ MORE > 236 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:28 PM

Below is an opinion column by Louise Smith:

Editor’s note: This essay is part of Mississippi Today Ideas, a platform for thoughtful Mississippians to share fact-based ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.

Smith: Teacher of the Year - Don’t derail Mississippi’s education momentum with vouchers and ‘choice’

By Louise Smith - Mississippi Today, READ MORE > 236 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:28 PM

Below is an opinion column by Louise Smith:

Carswell: Those dark clouds are the debt

By Douglas Carswell - Magnolia Tribune, READ MORE > 125 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:24 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Douglas Carswell:

Douglas Carswell says costly foreign wars, mega bailouts, COVID giveaways and all those federal entitlement programs LBJ said would “end poverty”, eventually add up.

Carswell: Those dark clouds are the debt

By Douglas Carswell - Magnolia Tribune, READ MORE > 125 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:24 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Douglas Carswell:

Douglas Carswell says costly foreign wars, mega bailouts, COVID giveaways and all those federal entitlement programs LBJ said would “end poverty”, eventually add up.

Harrison: Trump’s concerns about big insurance could be alleviated with universal health care

By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, READ MORE > 217 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:20 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Bobby Harrison:

Based on their recent comments, perhaps President Donald Trump and some other Republicans are getting ready to embrace universal health care.

Universal health care involves some form of the government ensuring everyone has medical coverage at little or no out-of-pocket cost, beyond what people pay in taxes. Many countries, including much of western Europe, have some form of universal health care.

Harrison: Trump’s concerns about big insurance could be alleviated with universal health care

By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, READ MORE > 217 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:20 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Bobby Harrison:

Based on their recent comments, perhaps President Donald Trump and some other Republicans are getting ready to embrace universal health care.

Friedeman: A spiritual hernia?

By Matt Friedeman - Magnolia Tribune, READ MORE > 220 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:16 PM

Below is a religion column by Matt Friedeman:

Too often the very programs trying to ground our young ones in the faith suffer from a lack of willing volunteers.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been doing a good bit of travel for various kinds of speaking engagements, not the least local church revivals.

Friedeman: A spiritual hernia?

By Matt Friedeman - Magnolia Tribune, READ MORE > 220 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:16 PM

Below is a religion column by Matt Friedeman:

Too often the very programs trying to ground our young ones in the faith suffer from a lack of willing volunteers.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been doing a good bit of travel for various kinds of speaking engagements, not the least local church revivals.

St. John: A Mississippi Christmas, early

By Robert St. John, READ MORE > 342 Reads
On Mon, 11/17/2025 - 10:38 AM

Robert St. John’s new book is full of recipes, of course, but also stories—about the people, places, and memories that shaped what the holiday means to him.

Christmas has a way of showing up early at my house—usually while the pumpkins are still on the porch.

Thanksgiving’s higher prices

READ MORE > 578 Reads
On Thu, 11/13/2025 - 06:59 PM

As a man who believes he never makes mistakes, President Trump often shows a glaring inability to discuss bad news. This has been on display as he downplays rising food prices just as families are getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner.
The president said grocery prices are coming down, but various polls report that a majority of Americans disagree. One story that’s sure to make plenty of news over the next few days is the price of turkeys, which are up significantly from last year, with estimated increases ranging from 11% to 40%.

Can nuts, apples, squirrels predict winter weather?

By Jeff North, READ MORE > 655 Reads
On Thu, 11/13/2025 - 04:48 PM

This past Sunday, the winds of November began just after dawn. Subtle at first, by noon leaves were streaming towards the turf covering any freshly laid pine straw with a vengeance. It only picked up from there. Skies were crystal clear, and temperatures began to plummet. By dusk, the thermometer had plunged more than 40 degrees from the same time 24 hours earlier. My bones were chilled as I climbed down from my first bow hunt of the season. I was excited to say the least. Not because of my opportunity in the woods, but finally, it began to feel like winter.

Can diversity have merit?

By Luther Munford, READ MORE > 280 Reads
On Thu, 11/13/2025 - 02:34 PM

The argument against favoring ethnic or gender diversity when choosing among different candidates for a position is that choices should be based on “merit.” But that opens up the questions, “what is merit?” and “can diversity itself have merit?”
Surely the meaning of “merit” depends on the nature of the position. For some positions, there may be an objective measure. The Army administers physical fitness and intelligence tests to recruits.
But objective measures are relatively rare, and seldomly exclusive.

Can diversity have merit?

By Luther Munford, READ MORE > 280 Reads
On Thu, 11/13/2025 - 02:34 PM

Donate to your local newspaper

By Camille Wright, READ MORE > 242 Reads
On Thu, 11/13/2025 - 02:22 PM

The saying goes, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." When you have had something all your life, you tend take it (or them) for granted. Things like freedom, liberties, democracy, and free press, all of which are currently under domestic threat by America's first authoritarian want-to-be. One of the methods being used is to destroy the trust we have in these institutions and each other. As citizens, it is our responsibility to recognize it, acknowledge it, and then respond by doing what you can to preserve and protect them.

Donate to your local newspaper

By Camille Wright, READ MORE > 242 Reads
On Thu, 11/13/2025 - 02:22 PM

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