Mississippi Edition Shows

As legislators prepare to wrap up this portion of the legislative session, we’ll get a wrap up as well. What’s been done, what’s left to be done and what issues might be left for another year? Guests will be Republican Senator Terry Burton and Democratic Representative Cecil Brown.
Congressman Bennie Thompson will join us to talk about stimulus money for Mississippi and doing business with the Department of Homeland Security.
And Mississippi Edition movie reviewer Anita Modak Truran tells us about Monsters Versus Aliens.

We focus on public education and the challenges faced such as a teacher shortage, a high drop-out rate and trying to climb out of the cellar academically when compared to other states. A conversation with State Superintendent Dr. Hank Bounds. Then a conversation with two teachers from opposite ends of the state on how they, their students and their schools are faring under some deep budget cuts.

Spring is officially here...Which is generally the time of year that home buyers begin looking in earnest. Plus interest on 30-year fixed rate mortgages dropped below 5% last week. So, is this the best time to buy your dream home? We’ll talk with Betty Temple of the Mississippi Home Corporation and Margaret Bird of Mortgage Connection about that very question. And then we’ll check in with Dee Harris of the Internal Revenue Service about who can take advantage of the First Time Homebuyer’s Tax Credit and other pertinent tax information.

What is the state of higher education in Mississippi and how will colleges and universities weather the recession? In part one of a two part series we’ll hear from Dr. Martha Saunders, President of the University of Southern Mississippi and Dr. John Hilpert, President of Delta State University about the challenges faced. It’s Flood Awareness Week and we’ll talk with Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney about flood insurance options and recommendations. And in our Mississippi Edition book club we hear from Greenwood's Turnrow Book's Jamie Kornegay.

Easy access to public records isn’t always that easy in Mississippi. Because this is Sunshine Week, there's a national initiative to talk about the importance of open government, we’ll talk with an attorney who focuses on issues involving freedom of information : Leonard Van Slyke.
We’ll find out about a program for some Mississippians to weatherize their homes.
And on this St. Patrick’s day, a wee bit of the blarney and history from a Catholic priest from Biloxi, Father Paddy.

The NAACP has filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of 208 black troopers. We’ll talk about the allegations, the investigation and why black officers asked to testify before a state panel have not done so.
We’ll also talk about an online well-being study about the general mental and physical health of Mississippians. Plus, Anita Modak Truran will be here to review the remake of a Disney favorite - “Return to Witch Mountain.”

Stem cell research funding has gotten the green light from President Obama. Just what does that research entail, who benefits and what about the moral questions related to such research. We'll discuss with University of Mississippi neuroscientist and professor Ken Sufka.
And...Daylight savings time usually signals two things...That spring is on its way and golf season is here. Golf is not only a fun physical outdoor activity to get kids hooked on...It also provides valuable life lessons. We are joined by Jackson State University golf coach Eddie Peyton for some tee talk.

We focus on President Obama’s plans for universal health care and what that might mean for Mississippians. My guests are Eddie Foster with the Mississippi Hospital Association and Dr. Warren Jones with the Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health.
And in his weekly sports commentary, MPB’s Jay White on something he thinks needs changing in high school basketball – “stall ball.”

Take the money and run. Democrats support it. Republicans don’t. The fight over accepting all federal stimulus dollars continues and we’ll talk about it with Republican Senator Terry Burton and Democratic Representative Tyrone Ellis.
And basketball reigns in Mississippi starting today. Our own sports commentator, Jay White and MPB’s Thomas Broadus will give us the lowdown on who to watch and when for the MHSAA championship games.

The recession has come home to Mississippi. Tax collections were down 9 million dollars in February alone. What’s the short term outlook? What’s the long term outlook? And when and how will stimulus dollars begin to flow into Mississippi? We’ll talk with State Auditor, Stacey Pickering and State Treasurer, Tate Reeves.
And we’ll take a look at Delta Magazine which celebrates and tells the stories of “the most southern place on earth.”