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Tue, 05/11/2021 - 02:54 PM

The Magee Trojans have advanced to the third round of the playoffs after sweeping Columbia. The Trojans won the first game of the series 11-8. The second game of the series was not close. The Trojans were sound on both sided of the ball. Brennon McNair pitched a complete game facing 17 batters over 5 innings and recording 2 strikeouts. McNair and the Trojans’ defense only allowed two hits in route to their 11-0 win over the Wildcats.

Anew Counseling holds ribbon cutting on Thursday at new office

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Tue, 05/11/2021 - 02:53 PM

Anew Counseling, located across from the Magee Post Office, held their ribbon cutting last week. Dr. Monica Webber and family as well as members of the Magee Chamber of Commerce were on hand for the event along with a special guest Anaa Webber, Universal Princess of the World and Dr. Webber’s daughter. Lee Maddox, Chamber president, welcomed the new business during the event and presented them with their Chamber membership.

M’hall Golf team 2nd

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Tue, 05/11/2021 - 02:52 PM

The Mendenhall Golf Team has won second place in the district golf tournament.
Rhett Allen qualifyed for the state tournament after shooting 82 in the district tournament. Allen competed well in the state tournament at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Moss Point.
The team consisted of Rhett Allen, Riley Brown, Chase Bynum, Austin Warren, Anthony Bridges, and Steven Berry.

Simpson County School Board refuses comment on building plan

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Tue, 05/11/2021 - 02:39 PM

The Simpson County School Board has stated their intention to borrow up to $9.5 million to fund building plans. In addition they are discussing using $12.1 million in federal funds, but they will not publically discuss their specific plans for using the money.
A special called school board meeting on Thursday, May 5, was slated to discuss capital improvements in the district as well as to void a previous board action.

Rep. Thompson says Mississippi jail death ‘equal to the George Floyd situation’

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Tue, 05/11/2021 - 01:17 PM

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson is asking the Justice Department to investigate the 2018 jail death of Robert Loggins in Grenada.

“No question it’s equal to the George Floyd situation,” he said, alluding to the 2020 death of Floyd after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Asked if the Justice Department had begun to investigate, Acting U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of Oxford responded, “We cannot comment on any investigation.”

Reeves to end $300 unemployment stipend after Gunn calls for crack down

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Mon, 05/10/2021 - 05:03 PM

Gov. Tate Reeves said Mississippi in early June will opt out of a federal pandemic program that has been providing an extra $300 a month in unemployment benefits to Mississippians since last year.

Packed Mississippi college baseball stadiums do not appear to impact stats on COVID spread

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Mon, 05/10/2021 - 02:43 PM

Since lifting capacity restrictions on outdoor events, Mississippi’s COVID numbers have gone down and stayed down.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves lifted the state’s COVID-19 mask orders for businesses and public venues on March 2, 2021. He further allowed stadiums and arenas to operate at 50% capacity at that time. K-12 schools were the only places where masks were required.

Last Monday and Tuesday, between 13-20 bus drivers for the Greenville Public School District skipped work to protest reduced pay and what they called poor work conditions. Credit: Kayleigh Skinner, Mississippi Today

Greenville bus strike could transform public education in Mississippi

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Fri, 05/07/2021 - 02:27 PM

A political time bomb is ticking in Greenville, and the explosion could transform the state’s public education environment for decades to come.

Last Monday and Tuesday, between 13-20 bus drivers for the Greenville Public School District — some of the lowest paid employees in one of the most under-resourced school districts in one of the most under-resourced regions of America — skipped work to protest reduced pay and what they called poor work conditions.

School board goes into executive session to discuss building plans

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Thu, 05/06/2021 - 06:16 PM

Simpson County School Broad called a special meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss capital improvements.

Stating that the district no longer needed to pass a bond issue because of $12.1 million in federal funds.

The board approved going into executive session to discuss three pieces of property they plan to negotiate on. They did not reveal what property or the plan.

Members of the public were asked to leave the meeting. Outside the board was criticized for not letting the community know what was going.

Gov. Tate Reeves walks out of the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, March 26, 2020, as he prepares to speak to media about the coronavirus during a press conference. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

College board, unable to work without Reeves appointments, calls emergency meeting

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Thu, 05/06/2021 - 10:07 AM

The board of trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning is scrambling to hold a special emergency meeting this Friday to consider several university agenda items — a meeting that wouldn’t be necessary had Gov. Tate Reeves made four new college board appointments on time.

State investigates Holmes County school district, appoints financial adviser previously accused of fraud

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Wed, 05/05/2021 - 12:27 PM

Following a string of alarming events in the Holmes County Consolidated School District, the Mississippi Department of Education is conducting an investigation and has appointed a financial adviser to oversee the district.

But the appointment of the financial adviser has already stirred up controversy in the district, which has been rated as failing every year since 2016.

State investigates Holmes County school district, appoints financial adviser previously accused of fraud

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Wed, 05/05/2021 - 12:27 PM

Following a string of alarming events in the Holmes County Consolidated School District, the Mississippi Department of Education is conducting an investigation and has appointed a financial adviser to oversee the district.

But the appointment of the financial adviser has already stirred up controversy in the district, which has been rated as failing every year since 2016.

Tate Reeves prepares to vote during Election Day at Liberty Baptist Church in Flowood, Miss., Tuesday Nov. 5, 2019. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Reeves still hasn’t made key appointments to college board, board of education

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Mon, 05/03/2021 - 12:31 PM

Two key state education boards may not have enough members to carry out their duties, and Gov. Tate Reeves, who is responsible for filling most of the vacancies, still hasn’t said when he might make the necessary appointments.

Tate Reeves prepares to vote during Election Day at Liberty Baptist Church in Flowood, Miss., Tuesday Nov. 5, 2019. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Reeves still hasn’t made key appointments to college board, board of education

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Mon, 05/03/2021 - 12:31 PM

Two key state education boards may not have enough members to carry out their duties, and Gov. Tate Reeves, who is responsible for filling most of the vacancies, still hasn’t said when he might make the necessary appointments.

Gov. Reeves ends previous COVID-19 restrictions, keeps school mask mandate

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Mon, 05/03/2021 - 11:49 AM

More than 14 months after COVID-19 reached Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves has rolled back all COVID-related restrictions except one.

Reeves’ new executive order, issued Friday, essentially returns the state to the way things were before the pandemic. The only remaining statewide order that remains in place is the requirement that masks be worn inside school buildings through the end of the 2020-2021 academic school year.

TIM ISBELL/SUN HERALD The Amtrak Inspection Train arrives in Gulfport, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. The train ride began in New Orleans, making stops at Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi Pascagoula before heading to Alabama and Florida. New funding is available that could bring back passenger service to South Mississippi.

The fate of Amtrak’s Gulf Coast return rests with a federal board

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Fri, 04/30/2021 - 11:55 AM

The Mississippi Gulf Coast hasn’t been closer to getting Amtrak access back in the last 15 years than it is now.

But even with $77 million in awarded funds and a 2022 proposed start date, the return of the passenger rail line — which some prominent officials believe would be an economic boon to the state and help complete years of recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina — still isn’t a sure thing.

Here’s why Greenville school bus drivers went on strike

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Thu, 04/29/2021 - 01:35 PM

On Monday, around 20 bus drivers in Greenville Public School District went on strike to protest reduced hours, low pay and what they say is poor treatment by the district.

The move left school children standing on corners with no transportation Monday and Tuesday morning, and the district’s board of trustees and superintendent scrambled to fix the issue at a board meeting Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, the bus drivers were back at work after their concerns were addressed.

Mississippi Becomes 4th State to Allow Access to Federal Financial Aid for Career Pathway Programs

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Tue, 04/27/2021 - 03:27 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Community College Board:

Students have the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency and other postsecondary credential in less time.

In an effort to get students back on campus after COVID interruptions, several Mississippi community colleges are making summer classes free. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America

Some Mississippi community colleges are making their summer classes free

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Mon, 04/26/2021 - 11:31 AM

When COVID-19 hit Mississippi last spring, students at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville flooded Michelle Baragona’s office to withdraw from their classes.

They cited similar reasons, said Baragona, the college’s vice president of instruction. Their parents were laid off, so they needed to work. They no longer felt safe attending class in-person.

Mike Kinnison’s No. 15 jersey will be retired at Delta State Saturday. Kinnison, a former DSU All American, won 75.6 percent of his games as the school’s head coach. He won a national championship in 2004 and six NCAA Regional titles as head coach.

Delta State retires Kinnison’s jersey; they’ll never retire his remarkable story

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Mon, 04/26/2021 - 10:35 AM

Author’s note: Delta State University will retire former head baseball coach Mike Kinnison No. 15 jersey in a ceremony Saturday at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field prior to the 2 p.m. doubleheader against the University of Alabama-Huntsville.