Mississippi maintained its historic gains in 4th grade reading on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), while scores nationally dropped in all four NAEP subjects and grades. The 2022 NAEP results provide the first national measure of student learning since the start of the pandemic. Known as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP measures student performance in 4th and 8th grade reading and math in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The 2022 results show Mississippi 4th graders scored at the national average in both reading and math. Mississippi’s economically disadvantaged 4th graders achieved higher scores in reading and math than their peers nationally and in the South. This achievement holds steady among black, white and Hispanic students living in poverty. “The 2022 NAEP scores prove the resilience of Mississippi students and the ability of Mississippi educators to provide high-quality instruction despite the challenges of the pandemic,” said Dr. Kim Benton, state superintendent of education, interim. “While our state’s scores are encouraging, they also underscore the need to press forward to ensure all students achieve proficiency. In particular, we have more work to do in 8th grade reading and math to bring student performance up to the national average and then continue to improve.” In 8th grade, Mississippi scores dropped three points in reading and eight points in math, which matches the decline nationally in both subjects. Mississippi 4th graders dropped seven points in math, which is statistically equivalent to the five-point decline nationally. While pandemic disruptions are believed to have affected this year’s national decline on NAEP, scores have been falling over the past decade in most states. Despite this national trend, Mississippi is a leader among the few states that have shown improvements on one or more NAEP assessments over the past decade. Specifically: Mississippi achieved significant gains in 4th grade reading and math since 2011. Along with Washington D.C., Mississippi is the only state or jurisdiction that improved over a 10-year period in two of the four core NAEP subjects. Mississippi is one of only two states with improved 4th grade math scores over a decade and one of only three states with gains in 4th grade reading. In 8th grade, Mississippi scores remained flat in reading and math over the past decade while the average scores nationally dropped in both subjects. In short, over the past 10 years, Mississippi has improved significantly in reading and math in 4th grade and held steady in both subjects in 8th grade while scores nationally in both grades and subjects have declined. In 2019, Mississippi achieved the No. 1 spot in the nation for NAEP gains when 4th grade students made the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, 8th grade students outpaced the nation for growth in mathematics, and 8th grade reading held steady. Student achievement has increased significantly since 2013 after the statewide implementation of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, higher academic standards with aligned assessments, a strong accountability system, and a significant investment in professional development for educators. Pre-pandemic, student achievement steadily increased from the first administration of the state’s Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) in 2016 until 2019, when the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced reached a record high. After a decline in MAAP scores in 2021, student achievement rebounded in 2022 to pre-pandemic levels.

By Kara Kimbrough The following two sentences by Andrew Zimmern, acclaimed TV chef and creator of many other culinary-related endeavors caused me to backtrack and reread it: “I don't think there is a more soul satisfying meal than Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes smothered in homemade beef gravy. I like to brown the meatballs in butter first, before finishing them in the oven with a little chicken stock so they stay nice and moist.” Come on…if that doesn’t immediately conjure up a vision of a plate of comfort food at its finest, nothing will. I met or at least, attended an event at which Zimmern was hosting on the Gulf Coast several years ago. All I remember is that he and his film crew set up a seafood boil on the beach as I and a group of journalists watched as he was filmed for a TV special. Afterwards, we were invited to sit under a tent and dine on the dinner he created. I think fried crabs were involved, but I can't be sure. After that one brush with the famous chef, I haven’t followed his career closely, but his statement about meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy grabbed and held my attention. Zimmern’s lengthy recipe for the meal included instructions on how to make savory beef gravy. I didn’t make the dishes, which included chicken and beef broth. However, but it did send me in another direction and that was to make my own healthy broths. This is not a new idea. I’ve often hesitated to use the cartons of chicken and beef broth sold in the supermarket due to the high sodium content of both. Not to mention, the numerous questions that always popped in my mind, mainly about the way the broths were collected in the first place. I’m sure (or at least hope) this isn’t the case, but visions of vats of broth filled with assorted chicken and cow bones always danced in my head as I pour the commercialized broth in soups, stews and other dishes requiring the addition of broth. I found several recipes for homemade broth – most of them rather lengthy. I settled on a happy medium by reducing some of the ingredients and using only those that could be recycled into other dishes. To make chicken broth, I boiled several chicken breasts (recipes call for chicken pieces with bones, but I chose not to use those) in a large stockpot along with stalks of celery, chunks of white onion and a few carrots. After seasoning the water with whole peppercorns, dried thyme and rosemary, I let it boil for 3-4 hours (you can boil longer) until the chicken was done and the vegetables were tender. Using a few cups of the broth, the now-cooked chopped chicken and vegetables and the addition of egg noodles, I had the makings of a satisfying chicken noodle soup. Even better, there was plenty of leftover chicken broth to freeze in individuals bags for later use. Beef broth was a little trickier, as most recipes call for “meaty stock bones cut to expose marrow.” My queasy stomach didn’t like the sound of that, so I substituted short ribs, which I boiled, also for 3-4 hours, with the same ingredients used for chicken broth. To season the broth, I used oregano, parsley and thyme. A rick beef stew was the end result of this endeavor. Making your own broth might seem a little extreme, but knowing the sodium content is much lower than anything you can buy in the supermarket easily makes up for the time spent making it. Plus, when you can recycle the ingredients into a hearty meal – and dispel and visions of bones and marrow – I promise it’s worth the effort. Easy Crockpot Beef Stew 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into small pieces ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt (substitute Mrs. Dash if you’d like) ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 ½ cups beef broth (make it yourself if you have time!) 4 regular carrots, roughly chopped or 8-10 baby carrots 3 medium potatoes, diced or half-bag of country-style hash browns (not shredded) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon minced garlic 1 bay leaf Use slow cooker liner or spray bottom with non-stick spray. Place meat in slow cooker, then mix flour, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Coat meat with flour/seasoning mixture. Add broth, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and bay leave; stir to combine. If you didn’t boil beef and vegetables to make stock, cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. If you did use the ingredients beforehand to make stock, the beef and vegetables are already cooked, so only cook on high around 1-2 hours, checking often to see if meat is completely tender and ready to eat. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

As the leaves begin to change color and we enjoy the many traditions of autumn, it can be easy to overlook the fact that winter is right around the corner. Atmos Energy reminds natural gas customers that now is the time to prepare for cold weather by performing household safety checks and implementing energy-saving measures, so you can stay warm while managing your winter heating bills. If you need natural gas service reconnected, contact us now to schedule an appointment before cold weather arrives. Atmos Energy is available at 888.286.6700 – Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time – or visit us online at www.atmosenergy.com During the appointment, you may choose to have an Atmos Energy technician enter your home or business to relight gas appliances that are accessible and are in a safe working condition. However, this is not a substitute for routine or manufacturer-recommended safety inspections and maintenance of your appliances and gas piping. Your gas piping and appliances are your responsibility and should be inspected periodically. A responsible adult 18 or older must be present during the appointment. Now is also a great opportunity to perform routine household safety checks like inspecting your home’s natural gas piping and appliances and ensuring smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are in working condition. Maintain Your Natural Gas Lines Customers are responsible for the maintenance and service of natural gas appliances and natural gas lines from the meter into their homes in all states we serve, except in Kansas. Customer-owned natural gas lines include all piping that goes from your natural gas meter to the appliances on your property. This also includes a pool or spa heater, barbeque, or other natural gas appliances. Monitor for Carbon Monoxide Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas emitted when fuel is burned in cars, trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, natural gas ranges, or furnaces, and it can be poisonous to humans if it builds up indoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends replacing your CO detector every five years and installing a battery-operated or battery backup CO detector in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home. The CDC also advises buying a detector with a digital readout to best detect the highest level of carbon monoxide concentration. This winter, as energy prices are elevated across the board, financial assistance is available to help customers manage costs: Budget Billing is a great tool to help manage your budget because your natural gas bill will be more predictable every month. In the winter, your bill can rise unexpectedly as the weather gets colder. However, with Budget Billing your costs are spread more evenly throughout the year, so you are not surprised by high winter bills. Visit www.atmosenergy.com/budgetbilling to learn more. Installment plans are available that spread out payments of your balance over time – with no charges or fees to do so. Call 888.286.6700 or visit www.atmosenergy.com/AccountCenter to establish a plan that meets your needs. We also offer an online tool that compares your current bill with a previous bill so you can better understand how the weather, billing days, and charges impact your bill. Log in to the Account Center and select “Billing and Usage” to use the bill comparison tool. If you need help paying your natural gas bill, financial assistance is available from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program as well as Atmos Energy’s Sharing the Warmth funds through local assistance agencies. Visit atmosenergy.com/assistance to find an energy assistance agency near you. Colder weather directly impacts the amount of natural gas that is consumed and your monthly bill. Using energy wisely and making a few household changes can make a big difference in how much you spend on natural gas and other energy bills. Plus, you will lower your home's carbon emissions when you use less energy. Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees. Water heating accounts for as much as 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home. Change or clean your heating and air conditioning unit filter regularly and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Your equipment will use less energy if it ‘breathes’ more easily. Unplug electronic devices and turn off lights that are not in use. Reduce your shower and bath time. Showering and bathing can account for 40 percent of your home's hot water use. Operate your clothes washer, dryer, and dishwasher only when fully loaded. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Leaving the damper open is like keeping a window wide open – warm air goes right up the chimney! If you have a pool, do not use the pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing. Atmos Energy offers rebates for high-efficiency natural gas appliances, energy-saving devices, and weatherization upgrades for customers in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Texas. Visit www.atmosenergy.com/rebates for details. For home safety tips and to learn more about customer-owned natural gas piping, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/home-safety, and for more energy-saving tips visit www.atmosenergy.com/energytips.

As of Sunday, October 23, 2022, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported a total of 17,693 absentee ballots requested, 16,884 absentee ballots sent, and 10,186 absentee ballots received in the state of Mississippi for the 2022 General Election. Click here to view county reports. As a reminder, the requested total reflects the number of Mississippi voters who have requested an absentee ballot through their local Circuit Clerk's Office. The sent total reflects the number of absentee ballots sent to voters from Circuit Clerk Offices. The received total reflects the number of completed absentee ballots returned to Circuit Clerk Offices. Additional Reminders All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 8) and received within five business days of Election Day in order to count. The Resolution Board can begin processing absentee ballots at the opening of the polls on Election Day (7 a.m.). County election officials can tabulate ballots at the closing of the polls on Election Day (7 p.m.). Our office will not announce unofficial election results. As always, we will only announce and post certified election results submitted to our office by the counties. Counties have ten (10) calendar days from Election Day to file certified results with our office. All certified election results from the 2022 Election Cycle will be posted here on our website. Counties may announce unofficial totals as the results come in from each precinct on Election Day and as absentee ballots are tallied on Election Night. While these results are generally reliable, it is important to remember any results reported the night of the Election are not considered official, certified election results. For questions regarding absentee voting, please contact our Elections Division at ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov, call the Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786, or visit YallVote.ms.

By Bob Garver It makes perfect sense to cast Dwayne Johnson as a superhero. Actually, it might make too much sense. Like, it’s a little too on-the-nose. Here’s a guy that is tremendously built and athletically gifted, with a seemingly unlimited arsenal of charisma, money, and fame. Heck, the guy spent years convincing arenas full of people that he could hurt his wrestling opponents just by taking off his elbow pad, doing a silly little dance, bouncing off the ropes, and falling on them elbow-first. He practically has superpowers already. So “Black Adam” has to do something special in the script department to make this movie stand out from every other Dwayne Johnson actioner. The good news is that it does. The bad news is that what it does do differently, it doesn’t do very well. In a nutshell, Teth-Adam (he isn’t called “Black” Adam until late in the movie) is an ancient warrior from the kingdom of Kahndaq, imbued with powers from the same council of wizards responsible for Shazam in the DC Extended Universe. Entombed for 5,000 years, he is awakened by Dr. Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi), under life-threatening orders from henchmen of the evil Ishmael Gregor (Marwan Kenzari). In his disoriented state, Adam doesn’t know who he can trust, but it sure isn’t the goons pointing weapons at him. He sets about on a killing spree, taking out immediate threats, then their reinforcements, then those people’s reinforcements, and so on until he’s a threat on a global scale. Adam soon attracts the attention of the Justice Society of America. A team led by Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) is dispatched to Kahndaq to neutralize the threat, even though they have little understanding of who they’re up against or how to deal with him. Other members of the team include the brainy Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), mammoth Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and prophetic Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan). The JSA assume they’re the white knights to Adam’s…blackness, but he operates more in a world of gray, and so do they, even if they don’t want to admit it. The real threat comes from Ishmael, who means to harm Tomaz’s son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui) if he doesn’t get what he wants. Perhaps a team-up is in order? Adam, like most superheroes, comes with a ton of emotional baggage, largely related to his son Hurut (Jalon Christian/Uli Latukefu). The movie spends an exhausting amount of time on Adam and Hurut’s backstory, and even more time on unnecessary characters. Cyclone and Atom Smasher are only in this movie to fill out the JSA’s numbers and provide some unwelcome comic relief. Johnson alone is all the comedic talent this movie needs. The same can be said for Dr. Tomaz’s electrician brother Karim (Mohammed Amer). I’ll let Amon skate (literally), but the movie could have toned down the character’s 90’s-style obnoxiousness and fanboy tendencies. Adam’s distinguishing characteristic is that he’s eager to kill people, a trait usually seen from “heroes” on the fringes of the big franchises and not from main members of the Avengers or Justice League (it is implied that the latter is in Adam’s future). For a character this homicidal to work, the movie really needs R-rated violence, not PG-13 toothlessness. I know it would cost this movie its teenage audience to go with an R rating, but fans can sniff out a neutered R-rated property a mile away, and the results are often disastrous. Johnson carrying a superhero movie makes for a surefire hit, but did it have to be this plodding, overstuffed, sterilized, frankly uninteresting take on “Black Adam”? Grade: C-

The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts is seeking bilingual speakers to interpret courtroom proceedings. An Ethics and Skill Building Seminar will be held Nov. 2-4 at the Gartin Justice Building, 450 High Street in Jackson. The registration deadline has been extended to Oct. 31. The registration form is at this link: https://www.courts.ms.gov/aoc/courtinterpreter/forms/2022Registration%20Form.pdf. The $125 registration fee includes the seminar, snacks on Wednesday afternoon and a box lunch on Thursday and Friday. The seminar will introduce bilingual speakers to requirements for court interpreting. Participation in a court interpreter orientation seminar is the first step in the program which will train, test and certify individuals who wish to serve as interpreters in Mississippi courtrooms. Candidates to become interpreters must already be fluent in English and a second language, and must develop an understanding of court proceedings. The seminar will provide an introduction to court proceedings. The program will introduce participants to the role of the court foreign language interpreter, ethical requirements, modes of interpretation and credentialing requirements. Participants should arrive by noon on Wednesday, Nov. 2 to sign in. The Nov. 2 presentation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Class on Thursday, Nov. 3 will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Friday, Nov. 4 class will be from 9 a.m. to noon. AOC will administer the written exam for interested participants on Friday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. Additional fees are required. Participants may wait to take the exam. The AOC developed the Mississippi Court Interpreter Credentialing Program to assist state courts in their endeavors to provide equal access to justice for people of limited English proficiency (LEP). AOC provides all state courts with a roster of foreign language interpreters who have demonstrated proficiency in interpretation of court proceedings. Deenie Miller, who joined AOC in July, is AOC’s first full-time Language Access Coordinator. She is in charge of educating judges, court staff and attorneys about requirements for providing court interpreters for people of limited English proficiency as well as recruiting, training and certifying language interpreters. Miller said, “When a person of limited English proficiency is involved in a legal proceeding, it is imperative that they be provided a qualified court interpreter. A court interpreter is not only for an LEP to understand the proceedings, but also so a judge can effectively administer justice.” Data from the National Center for Immigration Studies shows that from 1980 to 2018, the population of people who speak a language other than English at home grew by 140 percent in Mississippi. Miller said that 3.8 percent of Mississippi’s population is people of limited English proficiency. For more information, please contact Deenie Miller at 601-359-4469 or deenie.miller@courts.ms.gov.

Mississippi State Fire Marshal's Office K9’s Ralph and Ringo will receive bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Ralph and Ringo’s vests are sponsored by Leah Beale of Oklahoma City, OK and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Leah A. Beale”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 4,789 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations. The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718

By Kara Kimbrough “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it." Last week, this somewhat-flippant saying came to mind on a couple of occasions. A trip to the Gulf Coast’s mammoth eight-day event, “Cruisin’ the Coast,” and the discovery of innovative recipes courtesy of…don’t judge…TikTok, opened my mind and broadened my horizons to new experiences I’d previously overlooked. First, as much as I love visiting our amazing Gulf Coast, I've pointedly steered clear during the annual extravaganza highlighted by cars and trucks from a bygone era. I’ve never been a car aficionado, as evidenced by the fact that I drive vehicles until the wheels fall off. But a chance to check out a new restaurant (review will be forthcoming) in an historic hotel happened to coincide with Cruisin’. So I headed down, all the while reminding myself to “avoid the old cars” and “stay out of traffic.” Both goals were dashed pretty soon upon arrival. I realized there was no way to steer clear of increased traffic or the more politically-correct term, vintage vehicles. Close to 10,000 cars and trucks of a bygone era were registered in this year’s event. But surprisingly enough, as I zoomed along U.S. 90, I thoroughly enjoyed cruising side by side a fire engine red truck, flashy silver Corvette and a flawlessly restored Model T with a melodic horn. According to event organizers, cruisers from 44 states, Canada and England convened on the Coast to show off their restored vehicles, many worth thousands and thousands of dollars. Most impressive to me (besides the fire engine red truck) were the crowds of friendly and yes, very happy, people gathered in parking lots in every city and town along the Coast. Blue skies, sunshine and balmy breezes enhanced the good-time feeling and camaraderie that flowed between vehicle owners, locals and tourists who’d gathered for no other reason than to admire beautiful vehicles made in every decade since the early 1900's. To say this event has a monumental economic impact on the Coast – and the entire state as well, as Cruisers cross Mississippi from all directions on their way to the Coast – wouldn’t be an exaggeration. After returning from my Cruisin’ adventure, a friend told me about a TikTok recipe I HAD to try. I have a TikTok account, but rarely access it. TikTok has received negative publicity for unsavory content, but there are ways to filter out the “bad stuff.” I have my account set to only allow videos from certain categories (cooking, food, decorating and DIY, to name a few) to appear on my page. Searching for “most popular TikTok recipes” unearthed a wealth of interesting, creative and delicious-looking recipe videos I immediately “pinned,” or saved for a later date. Baked spaghetti - the video/recipe mentioned by my friend – is a glorious combination of melted butter, heavy cream, marinara sauce, ground beef, cheese and pasta. The end result is a mouth-watering dish filled with some of my favorite things. If you’d like the complete recipe, drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. The Italian grinder salad sandwich, a “viral” sensation on the internet, was pinned as my #1 video to watch. It’s the perfect combination of salad/sandwich for tailgate parties at football games, for watching football at home or served to a hungry crowd at your dinner table. After making it, I can attest that it’s undeniably delicious and can feed the multitudes. Even better, it proved that TikTok, like Cruisin’ on the Coast, has more than a few redeeming qualities. TikTok Italian Grinder Salad Sandwich Salad ingredients: ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup Italian dressing ½ tablespoon red wine vinegar ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ⅓ cup Pepperoncini peppers ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese 3-4 cups Iceberg lettuce, shredded. Sandwich ingredients: 1 large loaf crusty Italian bread 4 ounces sliced Pepper Jack cheese 4 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese ¼ pound of salami ¼ pound of ham, thinly sliced ¼ pound sliced pepperoni ¼ pound honey roasted turkey breast, thinly sliced 1 medium tomato ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, thinly shaved 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced into rings (optional) Salad Assembly: In a large bowl add the dressing ingredients - everything except lettuce. Stir until combined. Next, add the shredded iceberg lettuce and using tongs, toss until the salad is thoroughly coated with dressing. Refrigerate until later use. Sandwich Assembly: While salad marinates, prep the sandwich by preheating oven or air fryer to 425 degrees. Slice the bread lengthwise and open sides to lay flat. On one side, layer pepper jack cheese and top with slices of salami, ham and pepperoni. On the other half, add sliced turkey and top with mozzarella cheese. Toast for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and bread is toasted. Remove from heat and add sliced tomato on top of the baked deli meats and cheeses; season tomatoes with a little salt and pepper Top the seasoned tomatoes with the salad, grated parmesan and onions, if using. Last, fold the top of the bread over the grinder sandwich and press down to meld all ingredients. If taking to an event, wrap well in wax paper and keep cool until serving. Note: ingredients can be adjusted “up or down” to your taste. And, add other favorite ingredients if you'd like. Everything “works” in this versatile salad/sandwich! Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Growing up in a large family, with very little income, usually doesn’t create a kid who is spoiled by having all the finer things in life. In fact, sometimes it can mean that a child lives without having some of the physical essentials of living – food, water and shelter. Growing up in poverty certainly creates a distinct outlook on life. An adult who lived that way as a child doesn’t take having those essentials for granted. He will work to provide them for himself (unless that adult simply decides “I can’t provide for myself, therefore I won’t really try.”) But that point is not the focus today. Today it’s the opposite - the kid who is indulged with everything he could possibly want. And there are several negative sides to that. Self-centeredness, difficulty accepting they must work, instant self-gratification issues, dissatisfaction with what they have, and lack of empathy for those with less, are some real possibilities. Being a parent who loved my children, I too am acquainted with the temptation to indulge their every whim. After all, the love of your own child makes you want to give them the moon when you can. Your resolve to not give in to their pleas can melt away like milk chocolate left in the sun in July. Oh yes, you really do want your child to eventually become a responsible, others-focused, successful adult. But as you stare into hopeful young eyes as they eagerly beg for so-and-so, somehow your determination to give them only what they need as a child - and not just want - fades into the horizon of “But they want this so badly!” But being a good parent doesn’t just mean loving them, providing the essentials in life, and being there when they need you. It also means saying “No” sometimes. Making yourself look beyond what they are wanting - and you’re wanting to give - and seeing if you are creating a responsible adult later on. Fun stuff? Nope, not really. We parents like to indulge our kids. And denying them all the best toys and experiences really isn’t that enjoyable. Kids are good at pouting, getting mad, and accusing us of abusing them when we withhold unnecessary things. After all, they are just kids, and bad-mouthing seems to be a part of being immature. But we are the adults, we don’t have the luxury of making bad choices and pampering every whim. On the contrary, we hold the responsibility of teaching them to become functioning adults in a few years. And that means letting them learn how to deal with “No. For your own good, my love.” Oh, yes, you will be yelled at and disliked - you can take that to the bank. But years later, you stand a lot better chance of proudly hugging a strong, independent, hard-working adult. One who looks at you with understanding and appreciation of your sacrifice long ago.

Governor Tate Reeves has declared October 17-22, 2022, Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi. “When it comes to a severe storm, preparation could be the difference between life and death,” said Governor Tate Reeves. I encourage you to dedicate time this week to learn how to better prepare your family in order to keep them safe.” Seventy-six tornadoes touched down in Mississippi in 2021. Mississippi usually sees significant storms during this secondary severe weather season from November through December. In February of 2021, snow and ice hit Mississippi in a way seldom seen, closing down its capital city of Jackson, causing a city-wide boil-water alert, and causing multiple power outages. “Mississippi can see multiple types of extreme weather during the fall and winter months. We urge residents to prepare for the upcoming secondary severe weather season. Prepare by checking insurance policies, building a disaster supply kit, and reviewing emergency plans with your family,” says MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney. To promote severe weather preparedness, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the National Weather Service and the Mississippi Department of Transportation to highlight different types of hazards and ways to prepare ahead of the upcoming secondary severe weather season. Here is the list of this year’s featured topics: Monday, October 17 Warning Reception Methods Tuesday, October 18 Severe Thunderstorms Wednesday, October 19 Tornado Safety – A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:15 AM weather pending Thursday, October 20 Flash Flooding Friday, October 21 Snow and Ice Saturday, October 22 Mobile Home Safety Each day of the week, MEMA will share messaging on these topics on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Your National Weather Service offices will also share additional severe weather information. Four National Weather Service offices cover Mississippi: Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans, and Mobile. A copy of the Governor's proclamation can be found here. More severe weather preparedness tips can be found on our website: www.msema.org.

The G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center (GVSMVAMC) is scheduled to host a Drive-Thru Food Pantry and Vaccination Event on Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. at the main facility. The facility is located at 1500 E Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS. The Drive-Thru Food Pantry and Vaccination Event, spearheaded by the GVSMVAMC Center for Development and Civic Engagement, formerly known as Voluntary Service, and GVSMVAMC Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program, is designed to provide perishable and non-perishable goods and offer annual immunizations through the convenience of a drive-thru. The event is scheduled to function as a drive-thru, with GVSMVAMC employees volunteering to distribute pre-loaded bags to Veterans, caregivers, and other eligible individuals who will not have to leave their vehicles. Clinical staff will also be on-site to administer vaccinations, as requested. Veterans will be required to show proof of identification – a Department of Veterans Affairs or retired military identification card – to GVSMVAMC employees during the event. “We typically host a drive-thru food pantry for our Veterans every third Saturday of each month,” GVSMVAMC Chief of Center for Development and Civic Engagement Tony Bailey said, “but now that we are approaching flu season, we thought it would be a great idea to offer vaccinations this Saturday as well.” The facility will offer multiple immunizations during the drive-thru food pantry and vaccination event, including influenza, Bivalent COVID-19 booster, Pneumonia, Tdap, and Shingrix vaccines. “Getting a flu shot protects you, your family and your community, and if needed, you can safely get vaccinated for COVID at the same visit – one visit, two vaccines,” said Dr. Tawana Tucker, the GVSMVAMC Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program Manager. Community members interested in donating are encouraged to contact GVSMVAMC’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement at 601-364-1391. The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC and the Columbus, Greenville, Hattiesburg, Kosciusko, McComb, Meridian, and Natchez VA Clinics are all part of the VA Jackson Health Care System which is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, and provide a variety of medical outpatient services to more than 54,000 Veterans. For more information, visit www.Jackson.va.gov or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

By Congressman Bennie Thompson "Student loans have been mounting for decades. Borrowers are mired in debt. Students are leaving college with insurmountable student loan debt. President Biden vowed to offer student loan debt relief to working and middle-class families, and he has kept his word. Last month, President Biden stated that there will be up to $20,000 in debt cancellation for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation for Non-Pell Grant recipients." Borrowers who earn less that $125,000 per year receive a portion of their debt cancelled. The Biden administration's proposal to reduce student debt will help a lot of Mississippians, as well as many others, who now face the possibility of starting loan repayment. According to data from the Institution of Higher Learning, the median income for a Mississippian with a bachelor's degree was around $43,500 in 2019, while the median income for those with a graduate degree was about $55,500. According to the United States Census Bureau Quick Facts, Mississippi reflected 22.8% of citizens with a bachelor's degree, 19.4% in poverty, and a median income of $46,511 as of July 2021. With these staggering statistics, this debt relief program is one of the best programs aimed at students. Mississippi is a great state, but also ranks low in salaries when compared to other states. The student debt relief program will decrease expenses for many and possibly improve credit ratings for some. The program will also provide more disposable income for those who were struggling with their expenses before the pandemic relieved payments. In support of the Biden-Harris Administration debt-relief and student loan forgiveness program, I will continue to work diligently in my district to disseminate information and announce pertinent information about the programs.