Join us in Bolton, MS for a 5 session Financial Education Boot Camp! Starting Thursday, July 28 we are partnering with Mississippi Community Financial Access Coalition for an event where you'll have the opportunity to learn how to reduce debt, start saving, and identify community financial resources. This FREE event will be held Thursday nights from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Asbury Methodist Church. Refreshments will be provided and there will be door prizes! Follow the link for more details and register today!

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual Induction Weekend presented by Sanderson Farms and the Sanderson Farms Championship on Friday, July, 29th and Saturday, July, 30th. Members of the Class of 2022 include: All-American swimmer Maggie Bowen Hanna, basketball coach Kermit Davis, Sr., football coaches Bob Tyler and Willis Wright, baseball players Barry Lyons and David Dellucci, NFL receiving great Eric Moulds, and PGA golfer Jim Gallagher, Jr. The weekend’s events will kick off Friday night with the Drawdown of Champions at the Madison Healthplex from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. The evening will feature an introduction to the Class of 2022, a silent auction, and a $5,000 drawdown. Guests can enjoy food from restaurants across the metro area, as well as an open bar. The Hall of Fame will host a Meet the Inductees autograph session from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the Museum. The Class of 2022, as well as previously inducted stars, will be available to chat, take pictures, and sign autographs for fans. Regular museum admission will be charged. On Saturday evening, the Induction Banquet presented by Sanderson Farms and the Sanderson Farms Championship will take place at the Jackson Convention Complex. The eight members of the Class of 2022 will be available to the media for interviews at 5:00 p.m. From 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., inductees will be in the lobby reception to greet fans and supporters. At 7:00 p.m., the program and formal enshrinement will begin. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the museum offices or online at msfame.com

July 25th | Christmas in July | 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Join us for the final Magic Monday of summer and celebrate Christmas in July on Monday, July 25th at the Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM)! Christmas in July will include a special visit from Santa from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and festive holiday programming. Wear your favorite Christmas outfit and get your picture with Santa, plus give him your wishlist early this year. Parents, this is also a great time to start Christmas shopping and enjoy 25% off select merchandise in the MCM Trading Post. July 30th – Harry Potter's Birthday Join the Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM) as we celebrate Harry Potter Day on Saturday, July 30th from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. J.K. Rowling has inspired millions of young readers with series character, Harry Potter. During Harry Potter Day, children and adults will be inspired by the literary, fantastical world of Harry Potter and other characters! Festivities will include a Potions Class where guests will create Calming Drought Glitter Bottles, a Transfiguration Class where you will learn about Non-Newtonian Fluids, and a visit to Ollivander's Wand Shop where you can create a circuitry wand to cast Lumos! Costumes are encouraged. August 6th – Back to School Bash On Saturday, August 6 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., the Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM) will host a Back to School Bash to celebrate the beginning of a new school year with a luau themed party. Say goodbye to summer and aloha to a new school year at MCM's Back to School Bash. Wear your hula skits and leis and join us for the last luau before school is back in session. And don't miss our special guest author, Cindy Bell, as she leads book readings from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Her book will be available for purchase at the MCM Trading Post.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is responding to misinformation about the Mississippi State Board of Education’s policy update today regarding weapons on school campuses in the state’s public schools. MDE is offering this clarification in response to some media reports that misinterpreted the intent and effect of the State Board’s vote. The State Board has taken no action to allow guns in schools. The State Board’s action does not give school personnel the ability to carry guns in schools. Rather, the State Board’s vote today removed language from a policy that conflicted with Mississippi’s 2011 enhanced conceal carry laws. The policy update is part of an ongoing review of State Board policies to make sure all are up to date and in compliance with current law. Today’s State Board policy update still requires local school districts to establish policies regarding weapons on campus. In reviewing their current policies, local school districts should consult with their board attorney to ensure compliance with federal and state law. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

By Kara Kimbrough Any untimely passing is sad but made even worse upon learning the person died tragically. Such was the story of Naomi Judd, beloved singer and actress, best known as the “dancing Judd” who harmonized with her daughter, Wynonna. What many don’t know is that Naomi was an amazing cook – so good, in fact, that she authored a cookbook in 1997 entitled “Naomi’s Home Companion” at the height of the Judds’ fame. Instead of focusing on the headline-making facts of her death, I reread the book filled with, as she described it, “favorite recipes, food for thought and kitchen wit and wisdom.” I purchased the book in 1997 after meeting her and her daughter at a pre-concert meet-and-greet backstage at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Wynonna was touted as the best singer of the duo, but that night, everyone’s attention was focused squarely on the diminutive Naomi. She was luminescent in a short, white dress featuring a twirly skirt and millions of sequins. When it was my turn to walk up to the mother and daughter for a group photo, I vaguely remember hearing “Aren’t you sweet!” and possibly, “Bless your heart!” as I awkwardly blurted out that she had a beautiful complexion. Besides her genuine warmth, she struck me as one of prettiest women I’d ever seen. I bought the cookbook primarily to see photos of Naomi’s celebrity kitchen but was soon enthralled by her stories of cooking favorite meals for her husband, Larry Strickland, former backup singer for Elvis, health tips (she was discovered while working as a nurse), tales of growing up poor in the south and pages and pages of down-to-earth and quite useful life tips. One that’s stuck with me over the years was her advice to “never let others tell you who you are.” After hearing of her death in April, I pulled out Naomi’s Home Companion and flipped through the pages filled with upbeat commentary and as stated, very practical advice on how to successfully navigate life. I’m not sure what happened in the years between 1997, when she and her daughter appeared on top of the world and her upbeat words inspired me and her decision a few months ago to end her life. I’m truly sad she felt alone and sad at the end. However, I’m happy that her words and especially her recipes will endure through her book. Here are three of my favorite "Naomi recipes" – hopefully they’ll spread love and positivity in your kitchen and in your home. Stuffed Pork Chops for Larry ¼ cup butter ¾ cup diced onion ¾ cup diced celery 1 teaspoon ground sage 1-3/4 cups water 1 container (6 ounces) stove-top stuffing 4 thick, center-cut pork chops (about 2 pounds) In a medium saucepan or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook stirring occasionally, until softened, 8-10 minutes. Stir in the sage and the 1-3/4 cups water. Bring to a boil and then stir in the stuffing mix. Remove saucepan from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir the stuffing with a fork to fluff. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9” baking dish. Meanwhile, cut a slit in the side of each chop to form a pocket. Stuff each chop with about ½ cup of stuffing. Place chops in the prepared baking dish and spoon remaining stuffing around the chops. Cover the dish with foil. Bake in 350-degree oven until chops are tender and no longer pink in the middle, about 40 minutes. Remove foil from the dish and bake another 10 minutes. Naomi’s note: “When Larry has a difficult day, he’ll call home and ask for (this dish), his comfort meal. The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Kara’s note: I don’t care for sage, so I substitute rosemary, thyme, oregano or other spice. Fresh Green Beans and Potatoes 8 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces 4 pounds green beans, trimmed and snapped or cut into bite-size pieces 2 big onions, (optional), cut into quarters Water as needed, about 3 cups 10-12 small new red potatoes, scrubbed and with skins, halved ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper In a large pot, cook bacon to render the fat and then remove the bacon to paper towels to drain. Stir in the green beans and onions, if using, and cook until beans have absorbed some of the fat and turned bright green. Then add enough water to come to within 1 inch of top of beans. Cover and cook over low heat until almost done, about 1 hour. Add the potatoes, salt, pepper and more water if necessary. Cook until the potatoes are done, about 15 minutes. If you want, scatter bacon pieces over the top. Naomi’s note: “Mama made this summer meal of green beans and potatoes, with sliced tomatoes, fresh corn on the cob and a pan of cornbread.” Wynonna’s Cherry Jell-O-O Salad 2 cups water 1 6-ounce box cherry-flavored Jell-O 1 small can fruit cocktail 1 banana, diced ½ cup chopped walnuts In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in the Jell-O until dissolved. Remove from heat. Stir in fruit cocktail, banana and nuts. Pour into an 8x8x2-inch square baking pan or 4-cup mold or bowl or 7 1/2 -cup molds. Refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours. If you want the fruits and nuts to be evenly distributed, first chill Jell-O-O without any additions, for 30-40 minutes. Naomi’s note: “Growing up, Wynonna loved Jell-O-O salad- she still does. One day I didn’t have her Jell-O-O salad on the second shelf in the refrigerator and she hollered at me, ‘Mommy, you don’t love me anymore!’ Isn’t it funny who we show love for each other and how we’re comforted by little things?” Recipes from Naomi's Home Companion, 1997. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver “Where the Crawdads Sing” is being pushed as one of those literary adaptations that kicks off a whole litany of adaptations. We had magic and fantasy with “Harry Potter,” supernatural romances with “Twilight,” dystopian ordeals with “The Hunger Games,” and that weird trend of relationships complicated by increasingly rare diseases with “The Fault in Our Stars.” I think this one is supposed to kick off a trend of adaptations of books about recluses. Or maybe about the South. Or murders and trials. Judging by this movie’s unimpressive critical reception and third-place box office finish in its opening weekend, I highly doubt that it’s going to be the start of any such movement. The movie opens with the discovery of a dead body in rural North Carolina – that of local (figurative) ladykiller Chase (Harris Dickenson). The police are baffled as to how he wound up dead, but suspect foul play, specifically by ex-girlfriend Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones). They come to Kya’s marshland shack to question her, and she flees, making her look even more suspicious. Kya is arrested and defended in court by angelic lawyer Tom Milton (David Strathairn, his Atticus-Finch-O-Meter turned up to 10). Milton makes mincemeat out of the incompetent prosecution’s case, but there’s still the matter of getting the jury on Kya’s side. Kya is something of a pariah in the community for her poverty and reclusiveness, and the jury is bound to be prejudiced against her. Frankly I found it a stretch that the pretty white woman was in too much danger from prejudice, but the movie insists that the town is ready to execute her because she lives off the beaten path. We follow Kya’s tragic life story through extensive flashbacks. Her abusive, alcoholic father (Garrett Dillahunt) drove away the rest of her family until one day he too disappeared. She had to learn to fend for herself from an early age, as she wasn’t welcome at the local school and didn’t want to live in a group home. But there were a few well-wishers like Milton, the couple that ran the general store (Sterling Mercer Jr. and Michael Hyatt), and the studious Tate (Taylor John Smith). Kya and Tate enter into a relationship, but he breaks her heart. As a rebound, she begins seeing eventual corpse Chase, who starts off pushy and mildly unlikeable and eventually becomes dangerous and deserving of his fate. These scenes are intercut with the trial, where it’s a wonder the jury doesn’t sympathize with Kya from day one. At the center of the film is Daisy Edgar-Jones’ star-making performance, and it’s a good one. I can’t say the movie does a great job of making her look like someone that has been beaten down by elements her whole life (similar to how I thought Ansel Elgort was too good-looking for his role in “West Side Story”), but everything she contributes to the performance, she nails. This movie isn’t quite good enough to shoot her to the top of Hollywood right away, but it’ll be enough to get her more leading roles that will get her to the top. Despite the strengths of Edgar-Jones, “Where the Crawdads Sing” is otherwise a mess. The balance of flashbacks and trial scenes is all out of whack, it’s hard to tell how much time is passing between flashbacks, and the whole thing is just too sappy for its own good, save for some horrific scenes of abuse. I’m not particularly happy that I had to see this movie, and I’m certainly not eager to see more like it. Going by its box office performance, neither is anyone else. Grade: C- “Where the Crawdads Sing” is rated PG-13 for sexual content and violence including a sexual assault. Its running time is 125 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo, hosted by The Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and presented by Southern AgCredit, will be held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds from Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7, in the Trade Mart. Joining the Expo will be the exciting Bulls, Bands and Barrels event, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, at the Mississippi Coliseum. Featuring rising country music star, Chase Matthew along with Justin Champagne and Cole Jones, Bulls, Bands and Barrels promises to be an unforgettable experience. World renowned championship cowboy Chris Shivers will be a featured guest participant at Bulls, Bands and Barrels. “Agriculture and the great outdoors go hand in hand, and the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo provides a great opportunity to bring ag and outdoor enthusiasts together at one event. We are excited to partner with the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Foundation and look forward to serving as the host location for this event once again.” said Andy Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. The Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo, the state’s premier outdoor show, will fill the 60,000 square foot exhibit floor of the Trade Mart with displays of tractors, implements, power equipment, boats, UTVs, rods, reels, lures, game calls, outdoor clothing and more, all available at special Expo pricing. Also taking place at the Expo will be an archery shoot, a petting zoo presented by Southern AgCredit and presentations by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Museum of Natural Science and the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. Sunday is “Kids Day” and children 12 and under will receive free admission. “This show will highlight the incredible hunting, fishing, agricultural and outdoor spirit of our great state,” said Don Brazil, CEO of The Foundation. “The Foundation is proud to be a part of this show, and we look forward to the great time we will have together in August!” Over 100 different vendors will be exhibiting thousands of products. Admission tickets for the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo are available for purchase at the Mississippi Coliseum Ticket Office. Adult tickets are $12.00, kid’s tickets are $6.00, and children 5-years and younger will be admitted for free. Bulls, Bands and Barrels will present its high energy, non-stop action, heart pounding fun at the Mississippi Coliseum, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6. Fans will not want to miss entertainment by rising country music star, Chase Matthew along with Justin Champagne and Cole Jones. World renowned championship cowboy, Chris Shivers will be a featured guest/participant at the event as well. Tickets can be purchased at www.BigTickets.com. Adult tickets start at $30 ($5 increase, day of event) and kid’s tickets are $15. For more information, visit BullsBandsandBarrels.com or visit Bulls, Bands and Barrels on Facebook. “Central Mississippi has fantastic people who are among the greatest fans of the type of product we produce. We have been looking at coming here for a while,” said Hunter Price, President and CEO of Bulls, Bands and Barrels. “When we were presented with this opportunity to work with the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo, hosted by The Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, we couldn’t pass it up. We knew we’d found the right blend of location, great people to work with and great fans. We look forward to pulling out all the stops to help make the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo weekend one for the books.” Ag and Outdoor Expo Dates and Ticket Info: Show Hours 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Friday, August 5 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Saturday, August 6 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Sunday, August 7 Tickets Adults – 13 years & older … $12.00 Kids – 6-12 years old ………. $6.00 Kids – 5 years and under ….... Free Bulls, Bands and Barrels Dates and Ticket Info: Saturday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m. Adult tickets start at $30 ($5 increase on the day of the event) Kids tickets are $15 Buy your tickets at www.BigTickets.com For more information on the Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo, visit www.mississippioutdoorexpo.com.

Like so many of us, I have a lot of my family and friends’ birthdates in my phone’s calendar, and I have it set to notify me when a loved one’s birthday is on the horizon. I prefer to tell myself that “I have so many family members now, and combined with all my friends, I can’t possibly remember all those birthdates anymore.” But truthfully, probably just getting too lazy and too dependent upon my phone reminding me. Tend to take the easy way out when it is available. Recently, it faithfully did its job and sent me a birthday reminder. One of my sisters was turning a year older the next day. So, knowing I might forget to call if I waited until then, I immediately called and told her “Happy birthday a day too early! I am calling you today, ‘cause I might not remember to call you tomorrow.” Did this sweet lady laugh at me? Let me off the hook and tell me she understood completely and has been known to do that also, for the exact same reason? Oh yeah, she laughed at me and remarked that she completely understood, but then this is what she went on to say. “You’re not calling me a day too early! Today is my special day! When I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to become a year older. And then when I was almost twenty-one, I thought being only twenty was going to drag on forever. But some years ago when I - ahem- turned that dreaded corner that heads towards old age, I decided to quit celebrating the first day of being a year older. Nowadays, I recognize and celebrate the very last day of being only ___. Who in their right mind wants to celebrate and acknowledge that they have to add a number to their age?” This dear lady has decided to thumb her nose at the tradition that says we are to rejoice and party on the official day of getting a year older, even though most of us hate the idea of aging. So, she decided it made better sense to celebrate the last day of still being able to say she is that young. Quote, “Cause after today, being able to say I’m ___ ain’t never gonna roll around again!” What a great way of looking at life! Celebrate where you are today, right now – instead of where you are headed. Do your best to enjoy exactly where God has placed you. No, I realize that not everything is enjoyable in your life at the present, but deliberately look for the good stuff. Life can be so much better for you, if you decide to search for the hopeful and happy. Instead of deliberately staring at the dark and depressing. Both exist in your world. Choosing which one to stare at - that is for you to decide.

Hello Parents: Here’s a heads up while you begin your school shopping. ONLY CLEAR BACKPACKS will be permitted this year. Please be sure to add a CLEAR backpack to your list!

As food prices continue to increase, Mississippians over 60 years old can easily connect to services that provide socialization, nutrition, and contribute to the overall health and well-being of older individuals. The Mississippi Department of Human Services Senior Nutrition Program aims to reduce older Mississippians' hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Through the agency's Division of Aging and Adult Services, senior adults can access home-delivered meals and congregate meal locations across the state. Home-delivered meals are meals provided to eligible homebound persons in their homes. Congregate meals are served in community settings such as senior centers, churches, or senior housing communities. Meal sites offer an opportunity to meet friends and engage in social activities while having a nutritious meal. Services are provided in all 82 Mississippi counties through the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). To connect to the AAA in your county, please visit Area Agencies on Aging - Mississippi Department of Human Services (ms.gov). Another program known as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) offered by MDHS can supplement the diets of older Mississippians by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. MDHS provides the food to local food banks, which distribute the items to over 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters across the state. For more information or to locate a food pantry, soup kitchen, or homeless shelter near you, visit - My Resources (ms.gov) *Food pantry services are available to all eligible Mississippians regardless of age. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) shortens the interview with a case manager, making the verification process much easier. Eligibility workers use data matching to verify an applicant’s information from other government data systems without all of the paperwork of the traditional application process. Once submitted, the eligibility worker sees that the application fits ESAP; it is moved immediately into the ESAP status. ESAP households will not be given a fixed certification period. However, such households will be required to return an interim report provided each year for reporting changes in household income or household size. Everyone in the household must be at least 60 years old and have no earned income to qualify for the Elderly Simplified Application. The benefit amounts are based on income and household size. To determine eligibility for SNAP benefits or to apply, please visit the Pre-Assessment Pre-Assessment | Common Web Portal (ms.gov).

Mississippi Public Broadcasting has won a 2022 Southeast EMMY® award for its popular children’s education show, “Ed Said,” and the broadcast agency’s news team has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for outstanding achievement in continuing coverage and newcast. Interim MPB Executive Director and News Director Teresa Collier said the recognition is a reflection of the agency’s commitment to its mission to inform, educate and entertain. “Recognition for MPB's work is always humbling. I’m honored to work alongside this professional staff and so proud of what the news and television teams have accomplished. These awards highlight their dedication to providing MPB’s statewide audience with reliable, thorough, and balanced news coverage, as well as engaging educational resources.” The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast Chapter recently announced the Southeast EMMY ® winners during a ceremony in Atlanta. MPB received the Emmy for Outstanding Children/Youth/Teen – Short Form Content: “Ed Said – The Roots.” Producers were Taiwo Gaynor, Keri Horn, Ezekiel Bandy and Ed Foose. “Ed Said” is an “edutainment” program featuring a character who uses rhymes and rap to teach youth the importance of being healthy. The Emmy-winning song can be found here. The news team received regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association for coverage of the water system failures in Jackson, Miss., and the Oct. 4, 2021, 7 a.m. newscast. The water system failures coverage also received a Division B second-place award from the Public Media Journalists Association. For more information on MPB, visit www.mpbonline.org. Find all MPB press releases here.

With the rising summer temperatures come rising energy bills. Don’t let the summer heat get you beat Mississippi; get the help you need with LIHEAP. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to eligible households for managing costs associated with: · Home energy bills · Energy crisis · Purchase, repair, or replacement of air conditioners and heaters To be eligible for LIHEAP, an applicant's household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income (approximately $27,906) to qualify for these programs. “Rising temperatures and fuel costs are having an impact on Mississippians,” said Robert G. (Bob) Anderson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. “For many, LIHEAP and the Power to Care programs serve as a lifeline. Connecting these important resources to our neighbors is critical to our mission of offering Mississippians young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.” For residents who do not meet the eligibility criteria for LIHEAP, The Mississippi Department of Human Services works with utilities to provide energy assistance to low-income households across the state. Entergy Mississippi’s The Power to Care Program, administered by the Salvation Army, provides bill payment assistance to low-income elderly and disabled customers. Employees and customers contribute to this fund. Their donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by Entergy shareholders up to $500k. "By giving to The Power to Care, donors are providing relief for people in our communities who need it most," said Valarie Mabry, Entergy Mississippi public affairs representative. "Helping build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities is an important part of Entergy's mission and our goal to become the premier utility." Entergy also offers level billing for customers of any income level. Level billing gives the option to spread out the annual cost of a utility bill over 12 months so that no one will be surprised with higher bills in the summer due to the heat. This service is excellent for budgeting. Energy-efficiency tips are also offered to Entergy customers. These tips will help customers manage their energy use, and most tips are low to no cost. Examples of these tips range from letting customers know the ideal temperature to set their a/c on to save money and be comfortable. MDHS is working with Entergy and other energy providers to ensure that the people of Mississippi have access to affordable utilities and assistance with budgeting. For more information or to register for utility assistance through MDHS, please visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/energy-assistance-programs-benefit-mississippi-families/ or call 601-359-4500.