| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Murrah High’s award-winning literary magazine revived and thriving

Thu, 11/21/2024 - 01:21 PM

Desks scooted into a circle, the day’s mental debris dumped into five quiet minutes of no-rules writing, and the high-schoolers were primed to tackle poetry.

Miss. State one of three universities to offer a bachelor’s degree in AI

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Thu, 11/21/2024 - 12:51 PM

The AI degree program builds on strengths already in place at the university.

Mississippi State University (MSU) is one of three higher institutions in the U.S. to offer an undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence (AI) this year, in a bold move that signals the future of the educational experience.

The AI degree program builds on strengths already in place; MSU previously had an AI concentration within its computer science degree program.

Oldest Mississippi institution of higher learning changes its name to Mississippi Christian University

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Wed, 11/20/2024 - 03:01 PM

Mississippi College opened its doors as Hampstead Academy in 1826. Nearly 200 years later, it’s rebranding again while discontinuing its DII football program.

The Mississippi College Board of Trustees has approved an institutional name change, renaming the nearly 200-year-old school to Mississippi Christian University. It is also closing its Division II football program.

The school said in a statement that the decision underscores MC’s status as a comprehensive university and allows the institution to retain its MC logo and identity.

Harrison: Supporters of public funds to private schools dealt a major blow after recent election results

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Wed, 11/20/2024 - 12:41 PM

Below is a political analysis column by Bobby Harrison:

Mississippians who are dead set on enacting private school vouchers could do like their counterparts in Kentucky and attempt to change the state constitution to allow public funds to be spent on private schools.

The courts have ruled in Kentucky that the state constitution prevents private schools from receiving public funds, commonly known as vouchers. In response to that court ruling, an issue was placed on the ballot to change the Kentucky Constitution and allow private schools to receive public funds.

Ervin: Waitlisted, again

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Tue, 11/12/2024 - 11:51 AM

Below is an opinion column by Wil Ervin:

Wil Ervin writes that unnecessary regulations and flat funding have left a waiting list of students who need a specialized education in Mississippi.

Total university enrollment increases in Mississippi

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Thu, 11/07/2024 - 12:41 PM

Ole Miss led the way with an 11% percent, or a 2,400 student increase between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024. Jackson State had the largest decline, losing 238 students, or 3.6%.

Enrollment numbers released by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning earlier this week show that across all institutions student enrollment increased by more than 2,700 students from Fall 2023 (77,074) to Fall 2024 (79,817).

That is an over 4,000 enrollment increase since Fall 2022 (75,739) for all eight public universities.

University of Mississippi students walk to class on the Oxford campus. Credit: Molly Minta/Mississippi Today

Ole Miss, State post record enrollments as more students pursue college in Mississippi

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Thu, 11/07/2024 - 12:21 PM

The University of Mississippi posted its second consecutive record-breaking enrollment this fall, according to figures released Monday by the governing board of the state’s eight public universities.

The state’s flagship university in Oxford now enrolls more than 27,000 students, an 11% increase over last year’s headcount. This propulsive growth is fueled by the largest-ever freshmen class in state history, high retention rates, and an increasing number of out-of-state students.

Pinola Class of 1964 Reunion

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Wed, 11/06/2024 - 08:53 AM

The 1964 Pinola Class celebrated its 60th reunion on Oct. 26 in the Old Pinola Auditorium, where they graduated 60 years ago. Class member said they are looking forward to several more. Present are, front, Rachel Lee Hayes; back, from left, Dale Whittington Gordon, Francis Berry Ware, Max Lee, Gerald Wigington, Belle Crosby Sanford, Barbara Cone Miller, David Halle, Shelby Sherman. In attendance but not pictured were Guy Buckley, Ronnie Lee, and Ed White.

Two new charter schools receive approval in Mississippi

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Mon, 11/04/2024 - 04:01 PM

One new facility will use a hybrid model for learning, while the other will employ traditional in-person teaching only.

Two new charter schools have been approved to set up operation within the state of Mississippi.

Approval was provided during a meeting held on Monday by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board.

Rankins: Completing the FAFSA is an important step toward success

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Fri, 11/01/2024 - 11:35 AM

Below is an opinion column by Al Rankins:

Dr. Al Rankins, Commissioner of Higher Education, says helping more Mississippians get and keep jobs is a critical component in our state’s success.

Buses, notaries and strolls to the polls: How Mississippi college students are overcoming the nation’s toughest barriers to the ballot box

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Thu, 10/31/2024 - 05:51 PM

In 2016, Jarrius Adams’ absentee ballot never arrived at his apartment in Oxford, so the then-19-year-old at the University of Mississippi was left with one option to vote: Skip all his classes and drive four hours home to his polling place in Hattiesburg.

Faced with a similar situation, the reality is most college students would decide not to vote, said Adams, who now works with the nonprofit Mississippi Votes.

Selma Alford, Director of the Bureau of Language Access, speaks about the profession of medical interpreting during the Community Interpreter and Medical Terminology Training in Ridgeland, Miss., on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2024. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

PHOTOS: Bridging language barriers through interpreter training

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Thu, 10/31/2024 - 05:01 PM

In Mississippi, where an estimated 35,800 residents face language barriers in health care, a recent event trained professionals to communicate more effectively with limited-English-speaking patients in an effort to bridge gaps in care.

The program, which began on Oct. 2, was organized by the Mississippi Department of Health’s Office of Health Disparity Elimination and the Bureau of Language Access. It served as a step toward improving access to essential services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals.

Jones Capital CEO gifts Ole Miss accounting school $10 million for new facility

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Thu, 10/31/2024 - 04:31 PM

The university plans to name the new 100,000-square-foot facility Jones Hall in honor of the donor.

Ole Miss announced this week that Jonathan B. Jones, CEO of Jones Capital, has granted $10 million toward construction of a new academic home for the university’s Patterson School of Accountancy.

Jones is a first-generation college graduate, earning his degree from the university in 2004.

If approved by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, the new $125 million Oxford facility will be named Jones Hall in honor of the gift.

Will Mississippi schools join the cellphone ban bandwagon?

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Wed, 10/30/2024 - 11:21 AM

Many state lawmakers want to take action on teen mental health and say they believe restricting cellphone use in schools is a solution. But opinions and research on the topic are mixed.

Among those who oppose a full ban: Two high school students from opposite ends of the state.

Kate Riddle, a senior from Lafayette County School District, told Mississippi Today that her social media experience has always been “positive and uplifting.”

“Social media can be a positive or negative tool; it just depends on how you use it,” she said.

Heather Bryant with her children Thomas, Joy and Bella. Bryant is ready to ring the bell and get life back to normal for herself and her family.

A Survivor’s Story - Heather Bryant

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Wed, 10/30/2024 - 08:33 AM

*This is the final in a series of articles on breast cancer survivors in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Heather Bryant, 47, is a wife, mother to three kids, daughter, teacher’s assistant to Pre-K special needs children, and a breast cancer patient nearing the end of her treatments.

Hunter Steele Fireman of the Year

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Wed, 10/30/2024 - 07:59 AM

Hunter Steele, left, was named Firefighter of the Year by the Magee Fire Department. The award was presented to him by his uncle, Lane Steele. Hunter has had a big impact on the Magee fire Department.

School board forum held

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Wed, 10/30/2024 - 07:57 AM

The Magee Courier/ Simpson County News hosted a political forum on October 24 for candidates vying for the position of board members of the Simpson County School District (SCSD).
The purpose was to give the public an opportunity to hear each candidate’s qualifications and goals as a member of the school board.
Held at Co-Lin’s Simpson Center, the event was sparsely attended, but as of Monday, livestream coverage had drawn 2,376 viewers and is still available at The Magee Courier Facebook page.

The Lyceum Building on University of Mississippi's campus in Oxford. Credit: Molly Minta/Mississippi Today

IHL approves Ole Miss diversity division closure

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Thu, 10/24/2024 - 08:31 AM

The University of Mississippi’s plan to replace an administrative division dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion with one focused on access won approval by its governing board last week.

The formal OK from the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees came two months after Chancellor Glenn Boyce announced the Division of Access, Opportunity and Community Engagement in a campus-wide email.

A Survivor’s Story - Jana Neely

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Wed, 10/23/2024 - 09:43 AM

*This is the fourth in a series of articles on breast cancer survivors in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer survivor Jana Neely is a staunch believer in self breast exams and early detection. “I’ve always said it should be earlier than 40 when you start having mammograms.”
In July of 1997 Jana went to the doctor for her annual exam where he found a small nodule on the outside of her left breast. He found no breast cancer characteristics and thought it was nothing but told her to watch it and call if she noticed changes.