Jan. 24 history: Ted Bundy

In 1848, James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of ’49.

In 1941, legendary artist Aaron Neville was born in New Orleans. With Black, Native American and European roots, he made a career of breaking through barriers and embracing a wide variety of music genres. On this day in 1941, Aaron Neville was born in New Orleans - Mississippi Today

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill concluded a wartime conference in Casablanca, Morocco.

In 1945, Associated Press war correspondent Joseph Morton was among a group of captives executed by the Germans at the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in Austria.

In 1965, Winston Churchill died in London at age 90.

In 1984, Apple Computer began selling its first Macintosh model, which boasted a built-in 9-inch monochrome display, a clock rate of 8 megahertz and 128k of RAM.

In 1985, the space shuttle Discovery was launched from Cape Canaveral on the first secret, all-military shuttle mission.

In 1989, confessed serial killer Theodore Bundy was executed in Florida’s electric chair.

In 2013, President Barack Obama’s Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the lifting of a ban on women serving in combat.

In 2018, former sports doctor Larry Nassar, who had admitted molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.

In 2023, the sci-fi indie hit “Everything Everywhere All at Once” led Oscar nominations with 11. (It would go on to win seven, including best picture.) (History.com 01/24/24)

Vet released from pre-trial custody

BATON ROUGE, La. - Edward Richmond Jr., an Army veteran from Louisiana, was charged with attacking police officers with a baton during a mob’s Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

But on Jan. 24, he was ordered released from pre-trial custody a day after his arrest here. A federal prosecutor had argued for this pretrial detention because Richmond had been convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting a handcuffed civilian in Iraq about two decades ago. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyman Thornton III said authorities found an AR-15 rifle and ammunition when they searched Richmond’s Geismar, La., home this week. Richmond was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his criminal history, the prosecutor said. 

Thornton said Richmond poses a flight risk, is a threat to the community.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes ordered Richmond's release from custody after a detention hearing. The judge said Richmond has community ties and "appears to be a loving father." 

Defense attorney John McLindon said Richmond hasn’t been “hiding or running” in the three years since the Capitol riot. 

Richmond was arrested Jan. 22 in Baton Rouge on charges, including civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding police with a dangerous weapon. 

Richmond, 40, was wearing a helmet, shoulder pads, goggles and a Louisiana state flag patch on his chest when he assaulted police in a tunnel outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit. 

Richmond was 20 when an Army court-martial panel convicted him of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced him to three years in prison in February 2004. Richmond also received a dishonorable discharge from the Army. (The AP 01/24/24)

It's gonna be wet week in MS

It's going to be a wet week in Mississippi. There are a couple of weather models showing the potential for strong storms, and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a risk area for severe weather.  

According to the Storm Prediction Center, southern Mississippi, mainly from a line from Natchez, Heidelberg, and Quitman stretching to the Gulf Coast, is now under a Level 1 risk from the afternoon and evening on Jan. 24.  The main risks are hail, damaging winds, and torrential rainfall. (Magnolia State Live 01/23/24) Mississippi Skies: Plenty of rainy weather this week. Now we have a chance for severe weather, too. - Magnolia State Live | Magnolia State Live

MS coalition files suit vs USACE

In a federal lawsuit filed Jan. 22, organizations affiliated with the Mississippi Sound Association is asking the U.S. District Court in Gulfport to declare the Army Corps of Engineers failed to get a permit from NOAA before the 2019 openings of the Bonnet Carre Spillway that allowed an "incidental take" - killing, injuring or harassing of marine life - as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 

The USACE failed to protect bottlenose dolphins and other marine life in the Mississippi Sound and Lake Borgne by opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway in 2019 without obtaining proper permits under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the lawsuit. 

The suit was filed by the cities of Biloxi, D'Iberville, and Pass Christian, along with Harrison County, the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association and Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United Inc. 

The local governments and other organizations are all members of the Mississippi Sound Coalition. (NOLA.com 01/23/24) Corps didn't protect dolphins in LA spillway openings: suit | Courts | nola.com 

Lumpkin appointed judge of 15th Circuit Court

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Jan. 22 the appointment of Judge Richelle Lumpkin as 15th Circuit Judge for Place 3 following the death of Judge Claiborne "Buddy" McDonald IV on Jan. 1. 

Lumpkin is believed to be the first woman to serve as a judge in the 15th District, which serves Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Jefferson Davis and Lawrence counties.

She has served as a youth court trial judge for Pearl River County since 2011. Lumpkin was the first and only person to hold the position created by the Legislature in 2010 "to relieve a crowded Circuit Court and Youth Court docket." 

She also served as a youth court master and referee, municipal judge for the city of Picayune and a Pearl River County prosecuting attorney for 18 years. 

Lumpkin earned a juris doctorate from the Mississippi College School of Law in 1990 and a bachelor's degree in political science in 1987 from the University of Southern Mississippi. 

Her term will begin Feb 19 and will serve until a new judge is sworn in January 2025. Reeves set a special election for the position for Nov. 5. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of McDonald's four-year term. (Hattiesburg American 01/23/24)

Regional unemployment numbers

Unemployment rates were higher in December in 15 states, lower in one, and stable in 34 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. 

Statistics reported Jan. 23 saw 18 states and the D.C. had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 15 states had decreases, and 17 states had little change. 

[Alabama 2.6%; Louisiana 3.7%; and Mississippi 3.3% for December 2023] 

The national unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7% but was 0.2% higher than in December 2022. (Department of Labor 01/23/24) State Employment and Unemployment Summary - 2023 M12 Results (bls.gov) 

12 wintry deaths in Mississippi 

After a week of winter storms that featured everything from freezing rain to hail and from avalanches to widespread power outages, the death toll attributed to inclement weather conditions climbed to 92 on Jan. 22. 

All regions have been impacted by the Arctic blast. The state with the highest death toll was Tennessee with 26, followed by Oregon with 16, and Mississippi with 12. Many of the casualties were homeless who died from exposure.

At various points over the weekend, up to a million homes and commercial structures were without power around the country, but service has been restored to more than 80%. 

The national forecasts suggest that conditions will improve this week, but travel warnings are still in effect for drivers in Arkansas and Oklahoma. (Emergency E-mail & Wireless Network 01/23/24) 

Bill to prohibit adversaries for buying ag land in MS

Lincoln County (Miss.) Rep. Becky Curry has introduced a bill in the state House of Representatives to prohibit foreign adversaries from buying agricultural land. 

House Bill 348 bill would prevent certain foreign governments and aliens of adversarial countries from buying and owning agricultural land in the state. [Agricultural land is defined in the bill as any land used for farming, ranching or timber.] 

HB 348 will be referred to as the Mississippi agricultural land protection and foreign acquisition prohibition Act. 

HB348 was referred to the House Committee of Agriculture. 

“We wanted to strengthen our existing laws like ... You don’t want adversarial countries coming in and buying land” especially she said, "if we end up in a war." (Magnolia State Live 01/23/24)

Thompson Energy expanding

MEMPHIS - Thompson Energy Solutions, a division of Thompson Machinery, is expanding its team in the Memphis-North Mississippi region to develop customized packaged solutions for industrial engines. 

These industrial engines are used for a variety of applications, from rock crushing equipment to irrigation pumps. The market includes a broad array of categories that cover any off-road engine application.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) depend on a healthy supply chain of industrial engines, parts and components, engineering services, and a strong workforce to be successful. 

Many OEMs select Caterpillar engines and the worldwide Cat dealer network, including Thompson Energy Solutions, to ensure their products' longevity and high performance in harsh environments. 

West Tennessee is the "perfect logistics corridor" for design and distribution, especially for OEMs interested in relocating to the Memphis and Jackson, Tenn., area, says Jack McCown, Power Systems Sales Manager at Thompson.

Mississippi's Golden Triangle - between Columbus, Starkville, West Point and Tupelo - present OEM's seeking relocation with attractive options for an excellent workforce, logistics capabilities for just-in-time manufacturing and distribution.

With supply chain restraints and workforce challenges of recent years, it makes sense for OEMs to be located closer to their suppliers, customer base, and commerce corridors, explains McCown. (PR Newswire 01/22/24) Industrial Engines Rev Up in West Tennessee and North Mississippi (prnewswire.com)

Port NOLA expedites LTI project

NEW ORLEANS – The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) Board of Commissioners passed two resolutions to expedite the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor, an elevated roadway for St. Bernard Parish to connect the $1.8B Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) to the I-510 interstate system.

The board unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to the project, which would connect the future LIT in Violet with I-510 to create a new major artery in and out of St. Bernard Parish. 

Additionally, the board authorized Port NOLA’s President and CEO, Brandy Christian, to enter into a contract with global consulting firm WSP USA Inc. for consulting services to develop a public-private partnership strategy for the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor.

As part of this work, WSP will analyze potential financing structures, delivery methods, project governance, and stakeholder engagement. (Port NOLA 01/18/24) Port of New Orleans Hires Global Firm to Deliver St.… | Port NOLA

Second RS-25 hot fire @ Stennis

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA continued a critical test series Jan. 17 for future flights of NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket in support of the Artemis campaign with a full-duration hot fire of the RS-25 engine here on the Fred Haise Test Stand. 

Data collected will be used to certify production of new RS-25 engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, to help power the SLS rocket on future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond beginning with Artemis V. 

Teams are evaluating the performance of several new engine components, including a nozzle, hydraulic actuators, flex ducts, and turbopumps. 

The current series is the second and final series to certify production of the upgraded engines. NASA completed an initial 12-test certification series with the upgraded components in June 2023. (Stennis 01/18/24) NASA Continues Artemis Moon Rocket Engine Tests with 1st Hot Fire of 2024 - NASA

Jan. 22 history: Roe v Wade

In 1788, English poet Lord Byron is born

In 1901, Britain’s Queen Victoria died at age 81 after a reign of 63 years. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Edward VII.

In 1938, Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” was performed publicly for the first time in Princeton, New Jersey.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy.

In 1947, America’s first commercially licensed television station west of the Mississippi, KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, made its official debut.

In 1953, the Arthur Miller drama “The Crucible” opened on Broadway.

In 1973, Lyndon Baines Johnson dies in Texas

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision declared a nationwide constitutional right to abortion. (The decision was overturned in 2022.)

In 1995, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died at the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, at age 104.

In 1997, the Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as the nation’s first female secretary of state.

In 1998, Theodore Kaczynski pleaded guilty in Sacramento, California, to being the Unabomber responsible for three deaths and 29 injuries in return for a sentence of life in prison without parole.

In 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second highest in NBA history, in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors. (Wilt Chamberlain scored 100.)

In 2008, actor Heath Ledger, age 28, was found dead of an accidental prescription overdose in a New York City apartment.

In 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within a year. (The facility remained in operation as lawmakers blocked efforts to transfer terror suspects to the United States. President Donald Trump later issued an order to keep the jail open and allow the Pentagon to bring new prisoners there.)

In 2012, longtime Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who’d won more games than anyone in major college football but was fired amid a child sex abuse scandal that scarred his reputation, died at age 85.

In 2020, Chinese health authorities urged people in the city of Wuhan to avoid crowds and public gatherings after warning that a new viral illness that had infected hundreds of people and caused at least nine deaths could spread further. Health officials in Washington state said they were actively monitoring 16 people who’d come in close contact with a traveler to China, the first U.S. resident known to be infected with the virus. (History.com 01/22/24)

State police troop returning to NO

A newly re-established Louisiana State Police contingent, dubbed Troop Nola, is set to launch in New Orleans after Mardi Gras, with a goal of deploying 40 troopers to help police the city under a push by Gov. Jeff Landry. 

The State Police superintendent, Col. Robert Hodges, recently named a pair of leaders for the new troop, which is staffing up and equipping a home base with a planned launch in March.

The new troop tracks a campaign pledge by Landry to tackle crime in New Orleans from the state level, after a three-year surge in violence that began to wane before election day. (NOLA.com 01/21/24) Louisiana State Police to launch Troop Nola in New Orleans | Crime/Police | nola.com 

Small biz assistance program extended

The Restore Louisiana Small Business Program is extending the deadline for Acadiana businesses and nonprofits to apply for assistance through June 30. 

The program provides partially forgivable, 0% interest loans for non-construction expenses to eligible small businesses and nonprofits affected by eligible 2020-21 disasters - hurricanes Laura and Delta. 

Four partner lenders throughout Louisiana administer the loan program; however, businesses and nonprofits who apply during the extension need to submit their applications to the South Central Planning and Development Commission. 

Information on submitting an application and program guidelines is available at restore.la.gov/SBLP. For more information, call (337) 482-6312. 

Louisiana SCORE will hold a free virtual seminar on the basics of business finance for a start-up company from 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 23. 

DeSantis suspends presidential campaign Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign on Sunday, ending his 2024 White House bid while endorsing his rival, Donald Trump. But as some Trump critics cheered, DeSantis nodded toward Trump’s primary dominance — and attacked Haley — in the exit video he posted on social media. This the scenario Trump’s foes in the Republican Party have long sought, raising the stakes for this week’s contest as the party’s last chance to stop the former president who has so far dominated the race. (The AP 01/21/24)

What are La. lawmakers drinking?

WASHINGTON – In Baton Rouge, newly-elected GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, a Trump supporter, is backed by veto-proof Republican supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature, has sped through legislation likely to make the reelection of Republican U.S. Rep. Garret Graves untenable. 

In Washington, House Republicans who hold a majority that is currently just a single seat (219-218) over the minimum are wondering what Louisiana legislators are drinking. 

The bill that would dump Graves got approval on Jan. 19. 

The Capital region, which Graves represents, would be split between four congresspersons. 

The current boundaries of Graves' 6th Congressional District would grow west to pick up enough Black voters to turn it into a second majority-minority district – likely making Graves short-lived. 

The rush is ahead of Chief U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick, of Baton Rouge, who will hold a trial on the merits of the existing congressional district map, which resulted in the election of five White Republicans and one Black Democrat, before conceding to a district that likely would elect a second Democrat. 

The judge already has opined that a second district was needed. Graves says he doesn’t think the courts will approve the new map. (NOLA.com 01/21/24) New Garret Graves district befuddles U.S. House Republicans | Local Politics | nola.com

Seeks lawmakers' help w/ health

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi has improved some of its poor health outcomes, but residents are still more likely to die unnecessarily than residents of any other state, state Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney told legislators on Jan. 19.

Edney implored lawmakers to work with health officials to improve Mississippi’s status as the nation’s unhealthiest state, ranking at the bottom of virtually every health-care indicator and at the top of every health disparity.

“If we choose the right policies for our people, we will see us move off the radar of having the highest rate of preventable death,” Edney said at a news conference inside the Capitol. 

Mississippi ranks worst for infant mortality, with Black infants nearly twice as likely as whites to die over the past decade, according to a report unveiled by the Mississippi State Medical Association.

While the state’s obesity and diabetes rates have declined recently, they remain among the nation’s highest, with heart disease still the state’s leading cause of death.

Increasing access to health care coverage for working-class Mississippians is key to improving outcomes, Edney said.

Mississippi is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage to people working in jobs that provide modest wages but no private health insurance. 

The debate has stalled because of Republican opposition who refer to Medicaid as “welfare.” 

But new Republican House Speaker Jason White says he wants legislators to consider Medicaid expansion as a way to bring up to $1B of federal money each year to the stat. White has not come out in full support of expansion.

As the new chairwoman of the House Medicaid Committee, Republican Rep. Missy McGee would play a big role in any push for expansion. She helped lead a successful effort last year to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to a full year. (The AP 01/19/24) Mississippi Leads Nation in Preventable Deaths, Official Says (mississippifreepress.org)

Jan. 21 history: Carter pardons

In 1793, one day after being convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the French National Convention, King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine in the Place de la Revolution in Paris.

In 1924, Vladimir Lenin, the architect of the Bolshevik Revolution and the first leader of the Soviet Union, dies of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 54.

In 1950, Accused spy Alger Hiss convicted of perjury

In 1968, one of the most publicized and controversial battles of the Vietnam War begins at Khe Sanh, 14 miles below the DMZ and six miles from the Laotian border. Seized and activated by the U.S. Marines a year earlier, the base, which had been an old French outpost, was used as a staging area for forward patrols and was a potential launch point for contemplated future operations to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. 

In 1971, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. In total, some 100,000 young Americans went abroad in the late 1960s and early '70s to avoid serving in the war. Ninety percent went to Canada, where after some initial controversy they were eventually welcomed as immigrants. Still others hid inside the United States. 

In 2009, Toyota officially passes GM as planet’s biggest car maker. (History.com 01/21/24)

Taxpayers fund private jet travel

Private jet travel has surged in the US over the last few years and now accounts for one-in-six flights handled by the Federal Aviation Administration's air-traffic controllers.

But this form of travel, enjoyed by the wealthy, is hugely subsidized by average American taxpayers. 

Private jet travelers pay just 2% of the taxes used to fund the FAA, according to a report published in May 2023 by the Institute for Policy Studies and Patriotic Millionaires. 

Commercial flyers pay a tax on every ticket equivalent to 7.5% of the fare price. But private flyers only pay jet-fuel tax. 

Plane tickets have increased in price but jet-fuel costs have stayed steady, meaning commercial travelers are ponying up an increasing portion of the taxes. 

Jet fuel taxes made up $186M of more than $8B in tax revenue allocated to the AATF in FY2021 - about 2% of the fund's total tax revenue, the report indicates. 

But more than 50% of the AATF's tax revenue ($5.32B) came from passenger taxes.

Private jets use almost 3,000 of the country's smaller airports nor used by commercial airlines but are funded in part by the FAA. So, taxpayers are subsidizing infrastructure that commercial flyers don't use. 

The funds the FAA sends to these general aviation airports are generated in large part from taxes on commercial travelers.

Chuck Collins, a coauthor of the report, said this means average Americans are not only suffering from adverse environmental impacts of private jets, but subsidizing that harm. 

The report recommends implementing a "short hop" surcharge on private flights shorter than 210 miles and a higher tax on private flights shorter than 100 miles. 

But Collins warns of steep opposition from powerful, well-funded industry lobbyists. (Business Insider 01/17/24) The ultra-wealthy who fly private are costing average flyers who won't ever use a private plane a lot of money (yahoo.com)

Cyberinfrastructure project @ MSU

The National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $6M to Purdue, Indiana, and Mississippi State universities to fund a collaborative program aimed at fortifying the cyberinfrastructure (CI) workforce within research communities. 

The project, known as CyberInfrastructure Professionals InnoVating and brOadening the adoption of advanced Technologies (CI PIVOT), is funded under NSF’s Strengthening the Cyberinfrastructure Professionals Ecosystem (SCIPE) program. 

SCIPE’s goal is to advance the Cyberinfrastructure Professional (CIP) workforce throughout the nation. CI Pivot will help accomplish this by recruiting individuals with domain-specific expertise and training them to be CI facilitators, making advanced CI accessible and effective for all.

“This effort aligns well with current research and training activities taking place on (the MSU) campus as we look to maximize the impact of our extensive computational ability,” said Mike Navicky, director of MSU’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory and co-principal investigator on the project. 

CI PIVOT aims to provide resources to focus on CIP development in underserved research areas - specifically, it will target social, behavioral, and economic sciences, geosciences, and engineering, domains the team felt were well-positioned to receive the most benefit. 

Professionals from each of these research fields will be hired and trained in a variety of CI areas.

Recruiting and hiring CI facilitators for the CI PIVOT project will begin soon. If you or a researcher you know within the research fields of social, behavioral, and economic sciences, geosciences, and engineering are interested, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/RW77zrze9H5uCxEV9.

HII STEM grants for 24 schools

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Global all-domain defense provider HII announced Jan. 19 its Ingalls Shipbuilding division here awarded $100,000 in grants to 24 STEM-related initiatives from schools and educational organizations located in Mississippi and Alabama.

In the past decade, Ingalls has awarded more than $1.1M for teacher training and projects allowing for continued support of STEM in the local education systems. The funds go toward STEM-related equipment, such as lab supplies or software, to be used in hands-on research. 

The Ingalls’ STEM awards attracted nearly 80 applications this grant cycle from the region. The next application cycle will open in August. (HII 01/19/24) HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Awards $100,000 in STEM Grants - HII

Clock ticking on MUW rebrand

Last week, officials at the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) caused a firestorm of controversy over its gung-ho announcement that the institution was changing its name to Mississippi Brightwell University. 

While most critics aren't against the rebranding overall, the bulk of opposition found the proposed name change a poor choice. The name wasn't even on a list of proposed names received from the name-changing task force. 

Nora Miller, the president of MUW, admitted her mistake during a recent episode of The Gallo Show, and displaying genuine candor. 

Now, Miller has pushed Mississippi Brightwell aside and has called for the task force to come up with a handful of different options. 

While Miller stands by the decision not to use compass points or historical names, she did admit that the task force’s decision to try to protect the school’s storied “W” may have been a misstep. 

But the clock is ticking. Since the school is publicly funded, it will have to present a final name, have it approved by the Institutions of Higher Learning, and be written into a bill in the Mississippi Legislature by the Feb. 14 deadline. 

If the bill is passed, Gov. Tate Reeves will be expected to sign it into law and MUW can officially open a new chapter in its history ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. (SuperTalk Mississippi 01/19/24) Mississippi University for Women president 'confident' new name will be agreed on by Feb. 14 legislative deadline - SuperTalk Mississippi

Politix: Groceries & ballots

Mississippians continue to battle the highest grocery tax (7%) in America. 

A report from HelpAdvisor shows just how much U.S. households spend weekly. 

According to the report, Mississippi pay the third-most in the U.S. for groceries, spending a little more than $290 every week. The national average is $270.21. The only other states paying more are California ($297.72) and Nevada ($294.76). 

After multiple failed bills during the most recent session of the Mississippi Legislature, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann is planning to have another proposition introduced and passed to reduce the burden on residents at the grocery store. (Su[erTalk Mississippi 01/18/24) Lawmakers to discuss tax reduction as Mississippians pay third-most in U.S. for groceries - SuperTalk Mississippi 

Congressional ballots are set

The ballot is set for Mississippi’s upcoming congressional elections with the qualifying deadline passing this weekend. The following list features all candidates already approved by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office, meaning they will be included in party-held primary races on March 12. The general election will then take place on November 5. (SuperTalk Mississippi 01/19/24) Here are the candidates running for Mississippi’s congressional seats - SuperTalk Mississippi

MS making big strides in grad rate

Mississippi continues to make major strides in its K-12 education system.

This past week, the Mississippi Department of Education announced that the state's dropout rate fell to 8.5% during the previous school year while the high school graduation rate rose to a record-breaking 89.4%. 

For the past decade, the graduation rate has been improving from its rate of 74.5% in 2013. That year, the dropout rate was 13.9%. 

Mississippi’s recent graduation rate is higher than the national average of 86.5%, which was reported from the 2019-20 school year by the National Center for Education Statistics. 

Graduation rates for students with disabilities also saw an increase, up to 70% in the 2022-23 school year. Dropout rates for that category were recorded at 17.7%.

The statistics do not account for students who received a GED or certificate of completion but does account for students who entered high school as a freshman during the 2020-21 school year.  

Gov. Tate Reeves called the education gains in Mississippi “unprecedented.” (Magnolia Tribune 01/19/24) Graduation rate rises, dropout rate falls in Mississippi - Magnolia Tribune

La. teen dies in Israeli-West Bank

A Palestinian-American teenager, who grew up in Gretna, La., was reportedly killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, according to the president of a mosque called Masjid Omar, located in the greater New Orleans area of Harvey. 

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Newsweek via email on Saturday that a U.S. citizen civilian in the Israeli-occupied West Bank died on Friday. 

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family," the State Department said. "We are working to understand the circumstances of the incident and have asked the Government of Israel for further information. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment."

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the death, but the Israel Defense Forces told Newsweek via email that it received a report "regarding an off-duty police officer and a civilian who fired toward a Palestinian individual suspected of hurling rocks in the area of Al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya." 

The Israel Police have opened an investigation into the incident," the IDF added. 

The teen who died was identified by the local mosque president as 17-year-old Tawfic Abdel Jabbar of Gretna. 

Jabbar and his family moved to the West Bank for his senior year of high school after finishing the 11th grade last May. He had plans of returning back to the U.S. to attend college at the University of New Orleans, according to the mosque president. (Newsweek 01/20/24)

Jan 20 history: COVID-19 in US

In 1841, Hong Kong ceded to the British  In 1937 and 1945, FDR inaugurated for 2nd and 4th term. In 1961, JFK inaugurated president.  In 1980, President Carter calls for Olympics to be moved from Moscow  In 1981, minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration as the 40th president of the United States, the 52 U.S. captives held at the U.S. embassy in Teheran, Iran, are released, ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis.  In 2020, First confirmed case of COVID-19 found in U.S.

MS Mardi Gras, Pearl sailor returns

Mississippi Mardi Gras kicks off across state

Mardi Gras events across Mississippi are kicking off as the countdown to Fat Tuesday begins, with the majority of the fun taking place on the coast. A list of parades, parties, and special events at Mardi Gras in Mississippi: Parades & Events - SuperTalk Mississippi.

Coming home at last from Pearl Harbor

A sailor who died aboard the USS Oklahoma when it was bombed at Pearl Harbor in 1941 is finally coming home. Advancements in DNA testing have helped make the ID and allowed a Slidell man to solve a long mystery. 

La. legislature provides mixed bag for governor

The Louisiana Legislature adjourned its special session on Jan. 19, delivering new Gov. Jeff Landry a mixed bag on remapping election districts and returning the state to closed party primaries. (NOLA.com 01/19/24)

Bernard protestors vs Port NOLA

About 40 St. Bernard (La.) Parish residents opposed to the Port of New Orleans' proposal to build a $1.8B container terminal at Violet stepped up their protest Jan. 18 even though their leaders admit they face an uphill fight to block the project. 

"We don’t deny this is a David and Goliath battle," lawyer Sidney Torres III, who has been leading the opposition's efforts through the courts, told NOLA.com. 

Widely opposed in the parish, the project has broad state-wide support. 

The plan calls for a container ship terminal that backers say is well overdue to compete with rival Gulf South ports. 

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, the first state government official not from the parish back the opposition, spoke in support of the protestors. 

St. Bernard Parish Council commissioned veteran port planning consultant John Vickerman for a report, which argues that the Violet, 83 miles upriver from the mouth of the Mississippi River, would have safety issues for large container vessels. He concluded that a terminal closer to the mouth of the river would be a better option for Louisiana. 

Port NOLA dismissed Vickerman's report as "illegitimate," specifically rejecting his criticism that alternative sites were not properly studied. (NOLA.com 01/19/24) St. Bernard residents step up effort to block port terminal | Business News | nola.com

Technical difficulties on Friday. Sorry.

 Had technical difficulties on Friday. Sorry. Trying to resume blog today.

MUW name change process paused

Last week, Mississippi University for Women President Nora Miller announced a proposed name change for the historic school to Mississippi Brightwell University. 

Originally set to go to the Mississippi Legislature for approval and into effect July 1, the process was reportedly paused following an outcry of opposition mainly from alumni due to a lack of transparency and failure to keep active alumni informed. 

Miss W 1989 and Monroe County native JerriLynn Patriquin promoted the university’s history during her reign and was actively involved in the alumni survey name change process.

She recalls giving detailed input during the process, but that Brightwell was not on the list of names presented. 

Brightwell was inspired by MUW’s motto – “We study for light to bless with light.

Other names considered were Callaway State University, Weathersby State University, the University of North Mississippi, Williams State University, West Appalachia State University, the University of Central Mississippi, the University of East Mississippi and Northern Mississippi University. (Monroe Journal 01/17/24) MUW alumni react to proposed name change to Brightwell | News | djournal.com

Jan. 18 history: Southern Univ

In 1778, English navigator Captain James Cook reached the present-day Hawaiian Islands, which he named the “Sandwich Islands.” 

In 1911, the first landing of an aircraft on a ship took place as pilot Eugene B. Ely brought his Curtiss biplane in for a safe landing on the deck of the armored cruiser USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Harbor. 

In 1919, in Paris, France, some of the most powerful people in the world meet to begin the long, complicated negotiations that would officially mark the end of the First World War. Leaders of the victorious Allied powers would make most of the crucial decisions. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson struggled to support his idea of a “peace without victory” and make sure that Germany was not treated too harshly. On the other hand, France and the UK argued to punish Germany adequately. Wilson compromised in order to push through his pet project, an international peacekeeping organization called the League of Nations. 

In 1943, during World War II, Jewish insurgents in the Warsaw (Poland) Ghetto launched their initial armed resistance against Nazi troops, who eventually succeeded in crushing the rebellion.

In 1961, officials at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. - under pressure from the state - closed its doors after students protested those kicked out of school for taking part in sit-ins. State police occupied the campus to try and end these protests, and when SNCC field secretary Dion Diamond tried to meet with students, police jailed him on charges of criminal anarchy for “attempting to overthrow the state of Louisiana.” 1962: Southern Unniversity of Baton Rouge closes after protest - Mississippi Today  

In 1975, the situation comedy “The Jeffersons,” a spin-off from “All in the Family,” premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1991, financially strapped Eastern Airlines shut down after more than six decades in business.

In 1993, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 states for the first time.

In 2005, the world’s largest commercial jet, the Airbus A380 “superjumbo” capable of flying up to 800 passengers, was unveiled in Toulouse, France. 

In 2012, President Barack Obama rejected the Keystone XL project, a Canadian company’s plan to build a 1,700-mile pipeline to carry oil across six U.S. states to Texas refineries.

In 2013, former Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was indicted on charges that he’d used his office for personal gain, accepting payoffs, free trips and gratuities from contractors while the city was struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. (Nagin was later convicted and released from prison in 2020.) 

In 2020, ahead of opening statements in the first Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, House prosecutors wrote that Trump had “used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain,” while Trump’s legal team denounced what it called a “brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election.” (History.com 01/18/24)

Bank overdraft fees targeted @ WH

The cost to overdraw a bank account could drop under a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposal to combat fees it says pose an unnecessary burden on American consumers, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck. Read more.

Overdraft fees have been a financial bonanza for the banking industry, with the CFPB estimating that banks collected $280B from these fees in the last 20 years. The banking industry is expected to fight the new regulation vigorously to protect its revenue. CFPB research has shown that overdraft fees overwhelmingly impact the poor and households of color. The White House has made the elimination of “junk fees” one of the cornerstones of its economic agenda, while banks have argued that government regulations on overdrafts could cause them to eliminate the service altogether. (The AP 01/18/24) Overdraft fees could drop to as low as $3 under new Biden proposal | AP News