| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Mississippi workforce nears pre-pandemic levels, but experts say real growth will take time

Tue, 09/07/2021 - 10:00 AM

In the last three months on record, Mississippi has gained nearly 15,000 jobs, pushing the state’s number of working residents closer to where it was before the pandemic.

The Magnolia State has recouped nearly 83% of the jobs it lost at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Jobs in manufacturing, trade and trucking, construction and the service industry brought back the most positions in recent months. But the “normal” Mississippi is approaching in terms of workforce is still behind the rest of the nation in terms of wages and general worker participation.

Pediatrician parents say Mississippi’s largest school district is ignoring their COVID advice

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Fri, 09/03/2021 - 05:00 PM

A group of DeSoto County School District parents who are also physicians say their district — the largest in Mississippi — has ignored their advice on COVID-19 policies and has not been transparent or inclusive in setting its protocols, which include no mask requirement for students and teachers.

These doctors mostly work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. The hospital treats children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases — the very conditions that make them more susceptible to severe illness and outcomes from COVID-19.

Pediatrician parents say Mississippi’s largest school district is ignoring their COVID advice

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Fri, 09/03/2021 - 05:00 PM

Simpson County Super Bowl is tonight

sfairchild

Fri, 09/03/2021 - 11:24 AM

Come out to watch the Magee Trojans take on the Mendenhall Tigers in the 97th annual Simpson County Super Bowl. 7pm Trojan Field!

State Board of Education Holds Special-Called Teleconference Meeting in response to COVID-19

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Thu, 09/02/2021 - 10:36 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

The SBE has held a special-called teleconference meeting to consider approval for emergency procurements for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, and Mississippi Student Information Systems (MSIS) state funds to deliver systems and supports to school districts in response to COVID-19.

The live-streamed video is linked below:

Daiyondra Banks and a few classmates perform classwork via laptops at Jefferson County Junior High School in Fayette. Banks also can view classmates participating from home. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Some schools look to hybrid schedules to stem COVID-19 spread in students

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Wed, 09/01/2021 - 04:48 PM

As the delta variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly in schools across Mississippi, the state board of education recently issued a directive to give school districts flexibility in how they teach their students.

The policy change allows school districts to implement a blend of virtual and in-person learning in an attempt to reduce the number of students in a classroom at one time and stem COVID-19 transmission. Schools may do this until Oct. 31, the policy states.

Student Center on the campus of Jackson State University. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

How are Mississippi’s public universities tracking COVID cases?

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Tue, 08/31/2021 - 01:36 PM

As COVID-19 continues to overwhelm Mississippi, classes are in full swing at colleges across the state.

These first weeks of the semester, researchers say, are prime time for outbreaks to occur on college campuses. A peer-reviewed study published earlier this year found that in 18 out of 30 large U.S. universities, an outbreak on campus was followed by a surge in cases in the surrounding county less than 14 days later.

Board Of Trustees Votes Against System-wide COVID Vaccine Mandate for Universities and Colleges

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Fri, 08/27/2021 - 02:48 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi IHL board:

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning voted against mandating students and employees to show proof of vaccination as a condition of employment or enrollment at a special emergency called meeting held earlier today.

MSDH: Health Officials Urge Mississippi Residents to Prepare Before Hurricane Ida

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Fri, 08/27/2021 - 12:36 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi State Department of Health:

Ahead of Hurricane Ida, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) advises residents to prepare now for dangerous storm conditions including heavy rain, possible flash flooding, high winds and possible tornadoes.

Preparing a Disaster Kit

Stock your home with supplies that may be needed during an emergency. At a minimum, these supplies should include:

Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

‘Feels like I’ve been put in danger’: Inside a Mississippi mask-optional school district

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Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:06 AM

So many students and teachers are contracting COVID-19 in the Lincoln County School District in the first weeks of fall classes that leaders transitioned two of their school systems to a hybrid schedule.

But the district remains one of just 15 in the state where mask-wearing is optional. Lincoln County Superintendent David Martin, in an interview, said he doesn’t believe masks are effective, so he “left the decision up to parents.”

‘Feels like I’ve been put in danger’: Inside a Mississippi mask-optional school district

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Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:06 AM

History Is Lunch: Suzi Altman, "Saving a Folk Art Icon: Margaret's Grocery"

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Thu, 08/26/2021 - 11:00 AM

On August 25, 2021, photographer Suzi Altman presented “Saving a Folk Art Icon: Margaret’s Grocery” as part of the History Is Lunch series.

State Capitol in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Lawmakers hear from experts as they ponder eliminating income taxes

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Thu, 08/26/2021 - 10:24 AM

As the Legislature considers eliminating Mississippi’s personal income tax and raising sales taxes, a panel of lawmakers on Wednesday heard about the nuts and bolts of state revenue — which is way up in part due to federal pandemic spending — from state tax and budget officials.

They also heard about broader theories of tax structure and policy from national experts.

A needles is prepared to administer the Pfizer vaccine for motorists seeking a vaccination at New Hope Baptist Church Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Natchez-Adams school district adopts vaccine incentive program, requires twice-weekly testing for unvaccinated employees

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Wed, 08/25/2021 - 05:00 PM

The Natchez-Adams School District is incentivizing employees to get vaccinated by Nov. 1 and requiring those that don’t to submit to twice-weekly testing.

Employees who get vaccinated by Nov. 1 will be eligible for a monetary incentive, an additional day of personal leave and a half day off work to receive each injection of the vaccine. Natchez-Adams is the first known school district in the state to implement such a program.

Beat COVID-19? Cure cancer? Isaacson’s bestseller delves into gene editing, the breakthrough that could do both

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Wed, 08/25/2021 - 01:36 PM

MSDH: Immunocompromised Mississippians can now receive booster shot

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Wed, 08/25/2021 - 09:24 AM

Immunocompromised Mississippians who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines can now schedule an appointment to receive a third booster dose through the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s vaccine scheduler.

Previously, the only way for people with weaker immune systems to get a booster shot in Mississippi was by seeking one from their own doctors. Now, a person can self-attest that they are immunocompromised and get a booster through UMMC.

UMMC Associate Vice Chancellor Dr. Alan Jones discusses the need for the COVID-19 Field Hospital, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

UMMC to require students and employees receive COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1

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Tue, 08/24/2021 - 05:00 PM

The University of Mississippi Medical Center announced an amendment to its vaccination policy on Friday that will require, with limited exceptions, employees and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November.

UMMC first announced a vaccine requirement on July 15, but it was not set to be triggered until the mRNA COVID vaccines received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Originally, staff and students were going to be allowed to wear an N95 mask until then, but that will no longer be a sufficient substitute for being vaccinated.

C Spire CEO Hu Meena explains new child protection service

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Tue, 08/24/2021 - 04:36 PM

Hu Meena, the CEO of C Spire, explains C Spire's Wireless new partnership with Bark, an Atlanta-based online safety company. Their goal is to roll out free parental controls to protect the children and families for harmful content on the Internet throughout Mississippi.

C Spire, Bark Partner to Make Internet a Safer Place for Families, Children

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Tue, 08/24/2021 - 03:24 PM

C Spire Wireless is partnering with Atlanta-based online safety company Bark to roll out free parental controls to protect the children and families of its nearly 1 million mobile communications consumers in Mississippi from mounting online threats.

Amarilys Carter, left and Tiffany Kinslow, right, agree that there is no lack of vision for Beans and Sprouts. Together with their husbands they have big plans for their labor of love.

In it together at Beans & Sprouts

sfairchild

Tue, 08/24/2021 - 02:13 PM

Amarilys Carter and Tiffany Kinslow consider themselves sisters. Friends for nearly 17 years, the two Magee women have so much in common they nearly complete each other’s sentences.
The two met as workout buddies when Dr. Denver and Amarilys Carter moved to Magee to open his podiatry practice, Magee Family Foot Care. “We met in Arizona and his (Denver’s) main goal was to come back to his home town to provide a service that was not here. That always stuck in my mind,” said Carter.

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