US News

The Mississippi legislative redistricting process appears to be headed to court, now that the legislators have ended their session without voting on new districts. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports that it is not uncommon for courts to be involved in state redistricting.

A 10-year study on the possible health effects of the BP oil spill has been launched by the National Institutes of Health. MPB’s Rhonda Miller reports the study is looking for 55,000 people to participate.

If federal lawmakers cannot find a compromise on the budget by the end of the Day, the federal government could shut down. Mississippi is especially vulnerable to a federal government shut down because of the state's heavy reliance on federal funds. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports on how much the state brings in and where it goes.

The family of a man found hanging from a tree near Greenwood is calling for a federal investigation into their son's death. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports the family believes they now have evidence indicating his death was a murder. 

Black Mississippians are three times more likely than whites to go to prison on drug charges, even though drug use rates are virtually identical. That's according to a new report released by the American Civil Liberties Union Of Mississippi . MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on efforts to stop what some call the vicious cycle of incarceration. 

The catastrophic earthquake and tsunami has brought some Japanese businesses to halt operations. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports on what it could mean for auto manufacturing in Mississippi. 

The United States Senate agreed last week to yet another fiscal band aid until April 8 to keep the federal government from shutting down. Meanwhile, as MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports from Oxford, Mississippi Congressman Alan Nunnelee is getting frustrated with the Senate’s approach to the looming budget crisis 

Much has changed with health care in Mississippi since the Affordable Care Act became law, but what hasn't changed are the ardent opinions of supporters and opponents. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports on what they have to say, and how the law affects Mississippi after it's first year. 

Kenneth Feinberg, the claims administrator for the Gulf Coast oil spill, says fishermen with documentation are being paid as fast as possible. But MPB’s Rhonda Miller reports some Gulf Coast fishermen are not satisfied. 

Mississippi charter boat captains are having a tough time bouncing back from the BP oil spill. MPB's Rhonda Miller reports that to top it off, captains are annoyed at seeing Louisiana boats working from a Biloxi marina. MPB’s Rhonda Miller reports. 

Some school districts in Mississippi are seeing up to 46 percent of high school seniors at risk of being unable to get their diploma. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports standardized tests may hold some students back. 

There’s been a spike in the number of students volunteering in Mississippi during Spring Break this year. MPB’s Rhonda Miller reports that public service and warm weather are an attractive combination. 

In the first tourist season after the BP oil spill, officials are hoping the Gulf Coast will bounce
back from the millions of tourism dollars lost as a result of the disaster. MPB's Rhonda Miller reports that with Spring break and warm weather, there are signs this might be a good year on the Mississippi coast. 

Japanese Americans living in Mississippi are closely watching the devastation unfold from Japans killer earthquake and tsunami. MPB's Lawayne Childrey spoke with two of those families and has this report. 

Five more dolphins have washed up on the Gulf Coast in the last four days. MPB's Rhonda Miller reports that researchers continue to investigate the cause of the unusually large number of dolphin deaths.