WHEN YOUR MOM GETS AN A IN CARPOOL
The Mississippi House of Representatives is in the midst of trying to pass a bill requiring teachers to grade not only students, but parents, too. Representative Gregory Holloway of Hazlehurst proposed the bill known as House Bill 4 or the Parent Involvement and Accountability Act. According to Fox News, the proposed bill requires a section to be added to every student’s report card where parents are graded on responsiveness to communication with teachers and their child’s completion of homework and attendance record. It looks like kids won’t be the only ones sweating when the report card comes in the mail.
SWEET POTATO OR SEWAGE CAPITAL… IT’S A TOSS-UP
Sweet potato isn’t the only “S” word buzzing around Vardaman, Mississippi. In fact, Vardaman Mayor James Casey was quoted this week saying, “If you’re not going to the sewage lagoon you don’t have much reason to come down here.” According to WTVA News, there is an erosion problem with the levees in the town where a small drainage ditch dumps sewage into a nearby river, which is connected to Grenada Lake. The problem is so severe Casey is afraid it will one day “lead to disaster.” The mayor and city leaders are currently working on a plan to stop the erosion and are asking for over half a million dollars to secure the solution.
IT MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER
The water at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Jackson has tested high in lead levels this week. The school sent out a letter to parents Monday and hired environmental engineers to test the water. The test showed lead in high levels above the drinkable level of 15 parts per billion. According to the Clarion Ledger, the school’s water fountains have been cut off and the school is taking major caution as they continue to fix the issue. Jackson Public Works has released a statement detailing that high levels of lead have been found in different sources of water besides the school, including homes and daycares.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
According to the Miami Herald, new figures have been released this week showing a 1.9 percent growth in Mississippi’s economy in late 2015. The report detailed that agriculture and forestry and retail trade were the biggest proponents of the state’s unexpected growth. The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis released the report on Thursday measuring the economic results of each state in the past year. The state has around a $108 billion economy which ranks No. 32 in growth among the states. Cash money in the bank.
– Lizzie McIntosh
