STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE’RE HERE
Mississippi does not have the best reputation when it comes to the health of its children. According to the Washington Post, the state holds the highest rates for low-weight newborns and infant mortality. However, one category where Mississippi healthcare reigns is in its vaccination rates for school-aged children. In fact, last year “99.7 percent of kindergartners were fully vaccinated” and only “140 students in the state entered school without their required shots.” Mississippi holds strict vaccination legislation in which parental choice is outdone by public health laws. In the wise words of LMFAO, “Shots shots shots shots shots everybody.”
TSDS: THAT SCHOOL DOWN SOUTH
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, politician Mitt Romney spoke in Starkville at Mississippi State. He discussed what went wrong in his 2012 campaign, the potential for a third presidential run and his current concerns for the country and the Republican party. Two days following his speech, Romney bowed out of the 2016 presidential race in hopes of helping the “next generation of Republican leaders.” In an interview with the Washington Post, Romney stated, “I am convinced that we could win the nomination, but I fully realize it would have been a difficult test and a hard fight.” Maybe he is taking one for the team, or maybe he just heard a little too much cowbell last week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/us/politics/mitt-romney-plans-college-speech-as-sounding-board-for-presidential-topics.html?_r=0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-bows-out-of-2016-race-after-a-3-week-test-run/2015/01/31/6b68c014-a922-11e4-a162-121d06ca77f1_story.html
BRING BACK THAT LOVING FEELING
During the Super Bowl this Sunday, McDonald’s released a “Pay with Lovin’” commercial, which has now launched as a campaign for the company. From Monday, Feb. 2 to Saturday, Feb. 14, customers who enter participating McDonald’s locations all over the United States will be randomly chosen as participants. Those lucky customers will have the option to pay for their order with “an act of lovin.’” Whether that is a fist bump or a dance move, customers are asked to be creative. This play by McDonald’s gives a new spin to their “ba da ba ba ba, I’m lovin’ it” slogan. According to WXXV, the McDonald’s on Jackson Avenue is participating. It is the month of love, after all.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/McDonald-s-Shares-Lovin-with-Biloxi-Gulfport/VhJXej1cGkGlEfA9IZea5w.cspx
http://www.clarionledger.com/videos/news/local/2015/02/03/22766411/
JAILHOUSE ROCK
In the last year, Mississippi’s prison population has declined by almost 3,000 prisoners. According to WTVA Tupelo and Columbus, on Jan. 25 of last year, the state’s inmate population was around 21,000; on the same date this year, the population was around 18,000. The Mississippi Department of Corrections claims that this staggering decrease in numbers is due to the discharge of more nonviolent inmates and the placement of others on house arrest. The state of Mississippi has been steadily ranked second in the nation for prison population, but this decrease in numbers should allow the state to meet its budgetary obligations in the correction department for this year. More people may be trading in their jumpsuits this year; maybe orange isn’t the new black for 2015.
http://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi/story/Mississippis-prison-population-dropping/KgpXYv1ZA0WB39DX4LAQDQ.cspx
SHELL SHUCKED
According to WTVA, The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is looking to revive the state’s oyster industry. According to the department, the oyster harvest in Mississippi has had a decline of more than 80 percent over the past ten years. This devastation of the industry can be attributed to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina along with manmade disasters. The department of marine resources is researching ways to improve the industry, including a possible oyster hatchery or relaying oysters from other reefs. This hope for rebounding the industry is not just for the sake of economic prosperity, but also for saving jobs and preserving the rich culture of Mississippi food. Look to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to get involved in this endeavor—if for nothing but the sake of the half-shell.
http://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi/story/State-looking-at-ways-to-revive-Mississippi/WPiBmpQ2bk6Hy2dnPT0OKg.cspx
