| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Ruth Graham, daughter of the late evangelist Billy Graham, has joined forces with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Video: Ruth Graham, Daughter of the Late Evangelist Billy Graham Opens Up About Her New Ministry in Mississippi's Prison System

2,772

Anonymous

Mon, 06/07/2021 - 04:27 PM

Ruth Graham has written a lot about forgiveness.

That was a word that was preached often by her father, the late evangelist Billy Graham, but the renowned pastor’s daughter said she did not truly fully understand the concept of forgiveness until she went inside Angola prison in Louisiana several years ago.

It was there that she first began working with Burl Cain, who was then head of the famed prison and is now the commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Kamal King, bureau manager with Visit Mississippi's tourism department, speaks to the Indianola Rotary Club at the club's 2021 banquet on Tuesday night at the B.B. King Museum.

Video: Visit Mississippi's Kamel King Keynotes Indianola Rotary Banquet

4,971

Anonymous

Thu, 06/03/2021 - 08:11 PM

Prior to Indianola Rotarians getting a sneak peak at The B.B. King Museum's multimillion dollar expansion on Tuesday night, Visit Mississippi Tourism Development Bureau Manager Kamel King addressed the club about the state of tourism in Mississippi.

King talked about Visit Mississippi's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a host of other topics.

Visit Mississippi represents the tourism division of the Mississippi Development Authority.

Mississippi PEER Committee Releases Report on School Districts' Revenues and Expenditures

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brandonsup

Tue, 06/01/2021 - 03:41 PM

Below is a press release from The Mississippi Legislative PEER Committee:

The Mississippi Legislative PEER Committee is releasing its report titled A Review of Mississippi School Districts’ Revenue Sources and Expenditures for Fiscal Years 2016 through 2020.

Some of the Committee’s major findings include:

A rendering of the courtyard at the B.B. King Museum, which will be unveiled to the public on June 5.

B.B. King Museum To Celebrate Expansion In Grand Style June 5

1,734

Anonymous

Thu, 05/27/2021 - 02:47 PM

The B.B. King Museum is having a party.

Several familiar acts, and a number of new faces may grace the stage on June 5 in Indianola as the museum celebrates the ribbon cutting of its multi-million dollar expansion that will include exhibits that focus on the last decade of King’s life.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson speaks to the Indianola Rotary Club this week.

Video: Secretary of State Visits Indianola Rotary

14,521

Anonymous

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 04:53 PM

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson visited the Indianola Rotary Club this week.

Watson spoke a variety of issues important to him and pertinent to the state, including elections, the recent Supreme Court decision to strike down Initiative 65 and the initiative process, as well as the potential need for a special session to remedy the legislative issue with the ballot initiative process.

Click the video to watch.

More than $4 billion in PPP loans have now made its way to Mississippi after Congress approved another round of federal support this year. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

PPP list: Who received federal loans in Mississippi?

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brandonsup

Fri, 04/30/2021 - 12:13 PM

More than $4 billion in loans have now made its way to Mississippi after Congress approved another round of federal support for businesses earlier this year.

As was the case after the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program last summer, the state’s top recipients so far include restaurants, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, legal practices, construction companies, car dealers, hotels and religious organizations.

Despite federal law, many domestic abusers keep their guns in Mississippi

2,540

brandonsup

Fri, 03/26/2021 - 09:41 AM

This article is the third in a series about how the criminal justice system fails domestic violence victims in Mississippi.

Last year, 23-year-old Phoenicia Ratliff of Canton was kidnapped and shot by her ex-boyfriend before he turned the gun on himself. Just a week earlier, he had been arrested on domestic violence and stalking charges.

Mississippi schools will soon be required to teach computer science

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brandonsup

Fri, 03/26/2021 - 09:31 AM

Beginning in the 2024 school year, all Mississippi elementary, middle and high schools will be required to offer computer science courses.

This week, Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law “The Mississippi Computer Science and Cyber Education Equality Act,” which sets out a timeline for schools to incorporate the curriculum.

‘It’s depressing’: More Mississippi students are in virtual classrooms without teachers during pandemic

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brandonsup

Mon, 03/22/2021 - 12:49 PM

Even before the pandemic, Treasure Cosie was already on a path to not have a geometry teacher her junior year at Leland High School.

Her school district isn’t technically designated as a Critical Teacher Shortage area by the Mississippi Department of Education, but there aren’t enough teachers to teach even core subjects like math.

“You’re expecting to have a teacher teach you something you didn’t know before, but you don’t get that because you don’t have a teacher in the class,” Cosie said about her geometry course.

MDE: All Statewide Assessments to be Administered this School Year

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brandonsup

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 12:45 PM

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

All required federal and statewide assessments will be administered to public-school students this school year, including the 3rd Grade Reading Assessment and high school assessments for Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has provided districts with pandemic-related flexibilities to make it easier to administer the assessments and to schedule in-person testing for virtual learners.

Natchez-Adams schools to consider requiring COVID-19 vaccine for teachers, staff

brandonsup

Fri, 07/30/2021 - 09:48 AM

The Natchez-Adams School District could require all its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to work in the district next year.

Phillip West, the vice chair of the school board for the Natchez-Adams School District, said he’ll be introducing a motion at the board meeting Tuesday to require all eligible employees of the district to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The policy would allow for employees with legitimate medical conditions or religious reasons to be exempt.

Reeves promises teacher pay raises in Neshoba stump speech

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brandonsup

Thu, 07/29/2021 - 05:00 PM

Gov. Tate Reeves in his Neshoba County Fair speech on Thursday proposed “an immediate $1,300 across-the-board” pay raise for teachers followed by $1,000 raises for the following two years – all of which would require legislative approval.

The Holmes County Consolidated School District is facing a potential state takeover. Credit: Kayleigh Skinner/Mississippi Today

State to consider takeover of Holmes County schools

brandonsup

Wed, 07/28/2021 - 11:24 AM

The state education department will consider a takeover of the Holmes County Consolidated School District following an investigation that found the district in violation of 81% of state accreditation standards for schools.

The results of the nearly 400-page audit include allegations of a dysfunctional school board and administration, improper spending, inaccurate record keeping and unlicensed teachers in the classroom.

Parchman prison. Jan. 10, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Mississippi Department of Corrections cancels prison visitation to prevent spread of COVID

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brandonsup

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 01:36 PM

Visitation at all Mississippi Department of Corrections prisons has been suspended, Commissioner Burl Cain said in an internal memo Monday.

Crossing the century mark

164

sfairchild

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 01:27 PM

Wenona Hill Moorehead crossed the century mark on her birthday on July 13.
The 100-year-old Simpson County native was born in the D’Lo hospital in 1921, the middle child to her parents, Red and Hattie Hill.
D’Lo was a booming town during those days, thanks to the Finkbine Lumber Company. Moorehead spent the early years of her childhood just north of D’Lo in the Piney Woods community. Her family moved back to D’Lo when she was 11 years old due to the Great Depression.

Happy 103rd!

497

sfairchild

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 01:25 PM

Hey, Mr. Charlie, you sure are looking good!
On Thursday, July 29, Charlie Dixon will celebrate his 103rd birthday at his home out near the Shivers community in Simpson County.
At 103 he needs a little help in the mornings, but other than a part-time helper and his nephew, Larry Williams, who checks on him regularly, Mr. Charlie lives on his own. Larry often provides his uncle’s favorite meal and one he is not going to miss--a catfish plate from Shivers Fish House. On occasion he may vary a bit and have fried oysters, but the staple on Saturday is catfish.

MDA announces second round of V-Quad grants for technology ventures

brandonsup

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 11:30 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Development Authority:

The Mississippi Development Authority invites qualified teams that are developing new products or services in the energy and agriculture technologies to participate in the “Pitch in the V-Quad” competition to be held on Aug. 26.

Each pitch must include elements that cover the team’s level of technology readiness, market readiness, team members’ competencies, use of funds and business strategy. The competition is limited to 15 teams. MDA will award three teams venture development grants totaling $25,000.

Students participate in class during the first day of school at Neshoba County Central Middle School on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

Teachers union calls on Reeves to mandate masks in schools

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brandonsup

Mon, 07/26/2021 - 01:48 PM

The state’s teachers union is calling on Gov. Tate Reeves to mandate masks in schools in the fall.

The Mississippi Association of Educators cited the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the state’s low vaccination rate and reports of children with the virus in the intensive care unit in a letter to Reeves on Monday.

Annalyn Swan is an official panelist in this year’s Mississippi Book Festival on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy Annalyn Swan.

‘The more quirky and eccentric the person, the better’: How Annalyn Swan fell in love with biographical writing

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brandonsup

Mon, 07/26/2021 - 09:18 AM

‘It’s not an individual decision’: Parents sound off on mask, vaccine requirements in schools

278

brandonsup

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 05:24 PM

Florance Bass of Brandon kept her kindergarten son home last year.

Nicholas, who has Down syndrome and a repaired congenital heart defect, wasn’t able to participate in virtual school because of vision issues, but he did receive about one hour of instruction a day via Zoom.

Bass was determined to get her son back in a school building this year as he repeats kindergarten. But the rise of the Delta variant, recent surge in COVID-19 cases and woefully undervaccinated status of the state has her increasingly concerned — and angry —for her high-risk child.

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July 29, 2021

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