December 2009

The 2010 Mississippi Legislative Session begins Tuesday, and state lawmakers have a lot of work they want done in the next 90 days. MPB's Carl Gibson reports on some outside-the-box thinking from legislators in both houses.

More than 2,700 people have been killed by drunk drivers on Mississippi roads this decade. As MPB's Carl Gibson reports, the New Year holiday has advocacy groups emphasizing the dangers of drunk driving.

When a Nigerian man allegedly tried to detonate a bomb on an airplane Christmas Day, airport security around the country went on high alert. But as MPB’s Ron Brown reports, Mississippi’s airports are reporting business is getting back to normal.

The recession is bearing down hard on Mississippi. Retail sales are down, tax revenues are falling, and the unemployment rate has risen to around 10 percent. MPB's Lawayne Childrey looks back at the 2009 job market in Mississippi and what could be in store for 2010.

Mississippi leads the nation in teen pregnancy rates, and lawmakers are considering changes in the states abstinence-only sex education program. MPB's Carl Gibson reports on how public school students and parents are perceiving potential changes.

Governor Haley Barbour's recommendation to consolidate some of Mississippi's 152 school districts will soon get a thorough examination from some of the states brightest minds. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

If you are planning to buy a new car, truck or motorcycle you may qualify for a federal income tax break if you purchase it before December 31. MPB's Lawayne Childrey has more.

Even with new unemployment figures showing Mississippi to be better off than nearly half of the country, the state's job market is still a long way from recovery. MPB's Carl Gibson explains.

As the national health care reform bill prepares to move toward final negotiations, it still won't have the support of one Mississippi democrat. As MPB's Carl Gibson reports, Mississippians are still weighing the pros and cons of the current health bill.