Voter ID

It now lies in the hands of Mississippi legislators to decide if voters have to show their IDs at the poll or not. On Wednesday, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a ruling that would have forced Mississippians to register party alliance to vote in primaries and show a government-issued I. D. when voting. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports.

Mississippi Troops Return Home from Iraq

One hundred fifty Mississippi national troops are flying into Gulfport this week after completing a year long tour of duty in Iraq. MPB’s Gary Michiels was their when the first wave arrived.

Job Fair Network

Mississippi's unemployment rate is 5 point nine percent. But a series of Job Fairs conducted by the Governor's Job Fair Network is trying to reduce that number. As MPB's Patty Davis reports, hundreds of job seekers and more than 70 employers gathered on the Hinds County Community College Campus this week.

Mississippi's Grammy Legacy

Mississippi's great musical heritage was on display at the second annual Grammy Legacy concert in Jackson. A star studded event, MPB's Ron Brown takes us there.

Train Crossing Safety

Cleanup and repairs are almost finished following Tuesday’s collision between a garbage truck and an Amtrak train near Crystal Springs.  MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports on how officials try to prevent these types of incidents.

State Job Market

Mississippi's job markets have changed dramatically over the last 50 years. As MPB's Patty Davis reports, elected officials are focusing on training a workforce that's prepared for the high tech jobs of the future.

Angel Boxes

Nearly 2,000 premature babies die each year in Mississippi. The state leads the nation in the number of still born babies and those who die before their 1st birthday. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on how volunteers are helping families cope with their loss.

Legislators have two new items to work on during the special session. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

FEMA Helps Residents and Businesses Prepare

Mississippi has seen numerous tornados and massive flooding this year, and the start of hurricane season is just days away. As MPB's Patty Davis reports, FEMA personnel are out in force this week, to  help residents and businesses protect their homes and property.

Fine Tuning Hurricane Plans

As the opening of the 2008 hurricane season approaches, emergency management agencies along the Gulf Coast are making final preparations. And as MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, emergency shelters are a top priority.

Antique Alley

For the past 11 years, there’s been a yard sale in Mississippi like no other.  It runs 502 miles starting in Meridian, all the way up to Bristol, Virginia on US Hwy 11.  MPB News contributor, Erika Celeste takes us on a road trip through Antique Alley.

Gallop polls suggest that only 28% of Americans know the true meaning of Memorial Day. But, as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports, services to honor fallen soldiers Monday, helped raise awareness.

Preserving  Important  Documents

As the 2008 hurricane season approaches, personal and business emergency plans should be completed soon. Federal and State officials are offering suggestions for those final preparations. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.

Mental Health Awareness

As we near the end of Mental Health Awareness Month and in today's Health News, we hear from Psychologist, Dr. Marty Allen on the most common types of mental illness, best forms of treatment and what keeps people from seeking help. 

D’Lo Remembers

D’Lo Mississippi is a small town just south of Jackson off Highway 49. During World War II no other town in the country could match it for patriotism. In a special Memorial Day report this morning, MPB’s Ron Brown takes us to D’Lo, the home of the brave.

Firewise Your Home

Every seventy-nine seconds in the United States, a family home fire occurs. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, many of these devastating events could be prevented if communities adopt “fire wise” prevention techniques.

Young American's Challenge Comes to Mississippi

The Duke of Edinburgh Award program recognizes outstanding young people around the world for hard work and community service. MPB's Patty Davis reports, Mississippi is now part of that global effort.

Day two of the Legislative Special Session saw the Senate hard at work. But as MPB's Patty Davis reports, there was no action on the House side of the Capitol.

IHL Tuition Takes a Hike

Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning have taken a first step in approving a 2009 resident tuition increase for all eight of the state's universities. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Designated Skippers Keep Boating Safe

Safe Boating week and Memorial Day are being recognized around the country this weekend. MPB’ Gary Michiels reports both are good reasons to take it easy on land or water if you are driving.

Piano Virtuoso

Someone once said "Life is like a piano... what you get out of it depends on how you play it." In this special report, MPB’s Ron Brown introduces us to a youngster in Columbia, Mississippi who has the world at his fingertips.

Berry Executed

State corrections officials carried out the execution of 49-year-old Earl Wesley Berry last night, for the 1987 murder of Mary Bounds. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

 Complying With E-Verify

The Mississippi Employment Protection Act goes into effect July first. This new law requires Mississippi employers to verify immigration status of newly hired employees using the federal E-Verify system. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Gaming Revenue Glitch

Casino gaming on the Gulf Coast has been setting revenue records since they re-opened after Hurricane Katrina. But last month gaming revenues dropped by more than ten million dollars. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports that dip may have been caused by the price at the gas pump.

Asthma Season

May is Asthma Awareness Month, and in today's health news, MPB's Karen Brown talks with Dr. Ann Yates, a specialist in allergies, asthma and immunology, about the condition itself, prevention, and the latest treatments.

Mississippi legislators will be back at the capitol today in a special session to deal with at least eight items including employment security, toll roads and other key issues. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Berry Execution

Earl Wesley Berry is scheduled to be executed today for the murder of 59-year-old Mary Bounds in 1987. This will be the first execution in the state since the US Supreme Court ruled lethal injection constitutional last month. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

American Federation of Teachers Survey

The Mississippi American Federation of Teachers has released the results of its first survey of the state’s school system. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports on the strengths and weakness the report discloses.

Childers Sworn In

Its official - Travis Childers is now a Congressman. He was sworn in at the US Capitol after winning a special election in Mississippi’s first district. Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

Airport Ups and Downs

Additional airline services, higher fuel prices and cancelled flights are some of the ups and downs getting the attention of airport officials in Mississippi. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.

Diabetes Related Amputations

One of the grimmer aspects of having diabetes is that the rate of diabetes related amputations are increasing every year. In today's Health News, MPB’s Karen Brown talks with the President of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. Dr. Rick Carlton stresses the importance of prevention so that amputations never have to become a reality.

Affordable housing on the Gulf Coast remains the number one problem in recovery from Hurricane Katrina. MPB’s Gary Michel reports on a controversial housing plan that could be a solution.

Trail of Honor

Just off Interstate-55 in South Jackson, the grounds of the Harley Davidson headquarters have been transformed into a tribute to American soldiers. MPB's Patty Davis has more in this report.

*The Trail of Honor is open all day today, with special guests, including veterans of Pearl Harbor and Medal of Honor recipients.

Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall

Once again Mississippians who lost friends and loved ones in the Vietnam War were able to pay their respects, when the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall came to Jackson.  MPB's Patty Davis has more in this report.

*The annual Trail of Honor ends today on the grounds of the Harley Davidson Headquarters in South Jackson. It's a tribute to American soldiers thru every military conflict since the Revolutionary war.

Teens Mentoring Teens

This fall, one school district in the Delta is going to try a novel mentoring program that’s shown success at schools across the state line in Memphis. MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports from the small Delta town of Shelby, just south of Clarksdale.

Navy Seals on the Pearl River

Stennis Space Center in Hancock County is best known for its contributions to space exploration. But, MPB’s Gary Michiels reports, there’s a new addition to the Center is training naval personnel for river patrols in countries around the world.

Mississippi’s Mystery Musician

He’s an art teacher by day and a piano pumping Wild man by night.

MPB's Ron Brown tells us about the McComb, Mississippi musician whose outrageous alter-ego is gaining national attention.

After losing the first district congressional seat on Tuesday Republicans in Washington are looking for ways to regain it in November. Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

MDES Needs Authorization

Workforce training and unemployment payments for thousands of Mississippians could stop if the legislature does not reauthorize the Mississippi Department of Employment Security before July 1st. As MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports, house lawmakers met yesterday to discuss the fate of the agency.

Navy Boat Ops in Pass Christian

A new Navy Boat Operations Branch at the Pass Christian Harbor has a major role in national defense and international shipping. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.

Bringing the Environment Into the Classroom

Educators from across the US, Japan and Mexico are in Mississippi this week learning how to bring the environment INSIDE the classroom. MPB's Patty Davis has more on Mississippi Project Learning Tree.

Alzheimer’s

It's a disease that's on the rise simply because people are living longer.  In today's health news MPB’s Karen Brown talks about Alzheimer’s, with UMC Geriatrician, Dr. Rick DeShayzo.

According to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office the number of people reporting acts of domestic violence is on the increase. And as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports, law enforcement officials and advocates working in the field of domestic violence are learning how to effectively respond to those complaints.

Meetings Gauge Public Opinion on Health Insurance

About 20 percent of Mississippians don’t have health insurance, one of the highest rates in the country. One group is hoping information from a series of dialogs with citizens can help influence officials to reduce that number. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

Officials Fight Cheating at the Pumps

Soaring gas prices are putting a squeeze on U.S. consumers.  And with no end in sight to the high prices, MPB News Contributor Randy Bell takes a look at what Mississippi officials are doing to keep you from being cheated at the pumps.

President Jimmy Carter Addresses Gulf Coast Housing Needs

Habitat for Humanity volunteers are working furiously to build more than two hundred and thirty homes on the Gulf Coast by the end of the year. But as MPB’s Gary Michiels reports more than ten times as many homes are needed.

Ethics Law Signed

Public records will soon be more accessible for many Mississippians. A new law that increases the openness of government was signed yesterday by Governor Haley Barbour. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

Health News on Speech and Hearing

May is "Better Hearing and Speech Month." In today's Health News, MPB’s Karen Brown speaks with Dr. Brett Kemker, Chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi. He says, it's what you're hearing now that may determine what you won't be hearing later.

The Mississippi river has receded below flood stage in most areas of the state, which leaves victims cleaning up and trying to return to their lives. With last weeks federal disaster declaration in four counties, many of these people are hoping the federal government will be able to help them. But as MPB's Stephen Koranda reports, there may be stumbling blocks for some people.

President Carter’s Habitat for Humanity Project

A former US President and thousands of volunteers from around the world are working with hammers and saws on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this week. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports on the twenty-fifth Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter work project.

Ole Miss Journalism School Faces Controversy

Secrecy can be an essential part of business transactions. But in the case of the yet-to-be-formed  School of Journalism at the University of Mississippi -- that very secrecy threatened to undermine the plans for the school before it even got started. MPB's Sandra Knispel reports from Oxford.

Facebook Joins Other Social Networking Sites, in Online Safety Efforts

Thousands of Mississippi teens have registered with Facebook. Soon parents will have a safety tool to monitor what their children are doing on the social networking web site. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

To the Moon and Beyond

Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi was instrumental in developing rocket engines that put man on the Moon. The center is now testing engines that will take exploration back to the moon and on to Mars. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.

Discovering Skin Cancer

Doctors believe at least 116 thousand new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed next year. MPB's Lawayne Childrey examines one of the most common forms called melanoma.

Mississippi Delta Hosts Blues Awards

The blues were born in the Mississippi Delta, but the music didn't become world famous until the greatest blues artists had moved on.  MPB’s Ron Brown reports, the same highway that took the blues out of state years ago brought the music back last night.

Teens Rally for Abstinence

Mississippi has one of the highest percentages of births to teens in the nation. To help curb the problem the Mississippi Department of Human Services hosted an abstinence rally on the steps of the capitol yesterday. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Gamming Summit

Competition from Native American casinos is one of the topics of discussion today among hundreds of casino operators from around the county at a gaming summit on the Gulf Coast. MPB’s Gary Michiels reports.   

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

In our health news this morning, MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports on the crippling effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Mississippi's soldiers returning from war.

As the beginning of the 2008 hurricane season approaches, Red Cross volunteers on the Gulf Coast are updating and expanding their disaster response skills. One of the most critical positions being examined is the Emergency Shelter Manager. MPB’s Gary Michiels has this report.

Bank Robberies Spike

A recent spike in bank robberies throughout Mississippi has police and bank officials fighting back. At least 10 banks have been robbed in the last month. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

Fighting Mosquitoes

The mosquitoes are biting again and two Mississippi counties are gearing up for the battle. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Officials have started investigating an explosion at the International Paper mill in Warren County, that left one man dead and 17 others injured. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

Night Time Road Construction

Night time Road construction will be increasing as the Summer months approach. And as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports Mississippi Department of Transportation Officials are urging motorists to take extra precaution.

Preventative Medicine Worth a Pound of Cure