It is said that actors should never work with children or animals or they’ll be upstaged. This is most definitely true of star/co-director Channing Tatum in “Dog.” But the good news is that the dog is so great that there’s plenty of room for Tatum to shine under his canine co-star. There’s no shame in Tatum being #2 to this dog, just like there’s no shame in “Dog” being #2 to “Uncharted” at the domestic box office for the second weekend in a row. That movie had over $100 million more in its budget, plus a ton of other advantages. Though if I had my way, “Dog” would be the better performer of the two. Tatum stars (well, he’s the human star) as Briggs, a broken-down former Army Ranger. He suffers from PTSD, he never sees his daughter, he works a dead-end job in fast food, and he can’t even bother to get his military ID updated. He’s one recommendation away from a job that pays $200K a year, but he’s not going to get that recommendation given his array of injuries and mess of a personal life. On top of everything, a fellow Ranger named Rodriguez just died under particularly saddening circumstances. Briggs is made an offer: transport Rodriguez’s partner Lulu, a Belgian Malinois, from Washington to the funeral in Arizona and he’ll get the recommendation he needs. The challenge is that Lulu also has PTSD and is super-needy and aggressive. She’s so out of control that immediately following the funeral Briggs is to take her to another base to have her put to sleep. He isn’t crazy about either part of the assignment, but the reward is too great to pass up. And so the pathetic mangy mess of a creature goes on a lengthy road trip with Lulu in tow. Briggs is so irresponsible that his first stop is a gun range – with a dog with PTSD that can clearly hear gunfire from the car. Lulu destroys her cage and chews up much of the vehicle. Briggs is shocked by this behavior, but he should really only be shocked that he was issued such a lousy cage by people who know the animal’s capabilities. Other adventures include a kidnapping by a pair of hippies (Kevin Nash and Jane Adams), a disastrous attempt to pick up women in Portland, an unsuccessful visit with Briggs’ daughter, a successful visit with Lulu’s brother, a stormy night spent watching “Grey’s Anatomy” in a tool shed, and a problematic attempt to score a free hotel room in San Francisco by pretending to be a blind man and his service animal. The pair probably could have gotten special treatment just by both being Army veterans, but Briggs has to be greedy. In the aftermath of this scene, I couldn’t help but wonder if someone could take Lulu to the funeral while Briggs deservedly rots in jail for fraud (though maybe not for a hate crime – long story), but this is a movie about dual redemption, so man and beast will either make it to the funeral together or not at all. I’m no dog person, and I strongly disapprove of some of Briggs’ choices throughout the journey, but I was surprised by how much I liked this movie overall. The tone varies wildly, but that’s because the characters are so wild (come would say “reckless”) that the subject matter can change in an instant. As a result, the movie has both light and heavy scenes that it pulls off very well without forced transitions. I mentioned earlier that neither Tatum nor the film’s box office should be ashamed of being #2. I believe I’ll give “Dog” the #2 letter grade. Grade: B “Dog” is rated PG-13 for language, thematic elements, drug content, and some suggestive material. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Organizations across Mississippi are advocating for the Mississippi Legislature to extend postpartum healthcare coverage to save the lives of Mississippi mothers. Forty-eight organizations are calling on the House Medicaid Committee Chair, Rep. Joey Hood (R-Ackerman) to take up Senate Bill 2033, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) to extend Medicaid postpartum care from 60 days to one year after giving birth and to allocate the funds necessary to give mothers lifesaving care during a critical time in their lives and the lives of their families. Organizations asking lawmakers to support policies to improve maternal health include: The Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects, The American Heart Association, The Mississippi Kidney Foundation, ACLU Mississippi, Coastal Family Health Center, Mississippi State Conference of NAACP, One Voice, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, Magnolia Medical Foundation, SPLC Action Fund, Six Dimensions, LLC, Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Women for Progress, Black Women Vote Coalition, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Mississippi Urban League, and Mississippi Section, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, S.T.A.N.D Coalition Founding Organizations: Alpha Kapp Alpha, Beta Delta Omega, Inc., American Association of University Women: MS, Jackson, Starkville, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, Mary Church Terrell Literary Club, Nation Council of Negro Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Rho Lambda Omega, Jackson Chapter Links, Inc, Jackson Chapter of Black Social Workers, MS Federation of Democratic Women, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, Jackson Alumnae, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc Central MS, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Beta Delta Omega, Inc., LeFleur Bluff Chapter, Links Inc. and the S.T.A.N.D Advisory Resource groups: Children’s Defense Fund, Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, Commission on the Status of Women, MSU, Parents for Public Schools, MS Association for Justice, MS Center for Educational Innovation, MS Association of Community & Junior Colleges, MS Association of Black School Educators, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Clinics, and Hinds County Federation of Democratic Women, and the R.E.C.H Foundation, Mississippi Center for Justice, and the National Association of Social Workers Mississippi Chapter. These organizations will bring attention to this issue through a virtual town hall, free and open to the public, on February 24, 2022, from 11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. “The Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects is dedicated to reproductive justice and a mother’s right to a healthy, happy start for herself and her children. We fully support the passing of Senate Bill 2033. Supporting this measure ensures Black women we so deeply care for and fight alongside are receiving the protection and nurture they deserve,” said, Natalie A. Collier, founder, and president of the Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects. “Mothers across our state are dying during and after childbirth at an alarming rate,” said Angela Grayson, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator with The Lighthouse | Black Girls Projects. “Nearly 70 percent of pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. Access to medical care is imperative to improve health outcomes for moms, and I am glad we’re bringing this reality to the forefront of policy discussions this session.” Health experts recommend extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months post delivery because continuous access to healthcare reduces the prevalence of pregnancy-related deaths. In Mississippi, 86% of maternal deaths occur postpartum. The national maternal death rate is 17.4 per 100,000 births. However, Black women in Mississippi are experiencing maternal death at a much greater rate: 51.9 per 100,0000 births. Health issues facing new mothers include blood clots, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and many other preventable conditions with access to continuous healthcare available. “Cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause of death up to six months postpartum. With 61% of all births in Mississippi covered by Medicaid, not having access to continuous healthcare more than 60 days after delivery for mothers is very literally life and death,” said Kathryn Rehner-Sullivan, Mississippi government relations director for the American Heart Association. “Senator Blackwell’s bill will provide mothers with the care they need to live long healthy lives.” “Access to health care is important in all stages of pregnancy, but especially in the 4th trimester and beyond” said Jackson resident and Black Women Vote Coalition member Dr. Pam Scott “As a social worker and a mother, I know firsthand that health care can help with post-partum depression and decrease the risk of neglect and potential abuse. Senate Bill 2033 would expand health care access for mothers, giving them the opportunity to live long, healthy lives for themselves and their families.” If you are interested in joining the virtual town hall on February 24, 2022, at 11:30a.m., the event is free and open to the public. You can register for the virtual town hall at https://fcgworks.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GbNYeqXYSG-S_V1GDtM6zw

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson reported that the 57th Annual Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo was a record-breaking success. The Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest livestock event of its kind east of the Mississippi River, brings in millions of dollars to the state and local economy. This year’s Dixie National successes included record ticket sales for the Dixie National Rodeo, record livestock sales at the Sale of Junior Sale of Champions, and the completion of a new water well serving the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. “The 2022 Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo was marked with much success. I am pleased that rodeo fans purchased a record amount in tickets. We also had the largest ever Sale of Junior Champions, which benefits the 4-H and FFA youth. Additionally, the Dixie National Parade was bigger than ever, with spectators lining the streets by the thousands,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Newly added attractions such as the Spring Edition of the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo held by the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; Dixie National Rodeo Days; and the Dixie National Corral enhanced the overall experience of those that attended.” The 2022 Dixie National Rodeo schedule was extended to take place over two weekends giving rodeo fans more opportunities to experience the fun-filled family event. Ticket sales were at an all-time high, as fans gathered to watch as nearly 800 cowboys and cowgirls from across the U.S. and Canada competed for the more than $200,000 purse that was up for grabs. For over 40 years, the Mississippi Fairgrounds has partnered with Harper & Morgan Rodeo to bring the annual Dixie National Rodeo to spectators from around the country. Scotty Lovelace, CEO and Owner of Harper & Morgan Rodeo said, “The Dixie National Rodeo was a huge success! The refurbishment of the Coliseum and grounds, the new Trade Mart, the rodeo suites, the updated signage and the date change to two weekends, all contributed to the Commissioner and Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company seeing our vision come to fruition. I would personally like to thank the staff of both the Mississippi Ag Department and the Mississippi Coliseum, along with Harper & Morgan Rodeo company’s personnel for all their dedication and hard work. A huge thank you to all of our partners and sponsors, from the largest to the smallest, in particular Southern AgCredit, Mississippi Ag and Ram Rodeo. The Dixie National fans are the best and their support resulted in record breaking attendance at the 2022 Dixie National Rodeo.” This year 1,538 Mississippi 4-H and FFA youth exhibited 2,262 head of livestock during the Dixie National Junior Livestock Round-up. Forty-six of the animals were sold during the Sale of Junior Champions grossing a total of $448,500. This set a new record sale total over the 53-year history of the Sale. Additionally, the Sale of Champions Promotion Committee awarded 39 scholarships totaling $61,500, bringing the total scholarship money awarded since 1993 to nearly $1.1 million. The open livestock shows were also a success this year. A record number of participants from across the U.S. showed over 1,100 head of livestock. One year ago, a one-hundred-year ice storm occurred during the 2021 Dixie National leaving no water on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds for thousands of livestock and visitors. Shortly following, the Fairgrounds began drilling a water well to avoid this issue in the future. The well, which serves the State Fairgrounds, was completed in February. This kind of project typically takes two to three years from concept to completion, but less than a year after approval the twelve-inch valve was opened on the new fully-operational deep well water system supplying fresh well water across the State Fairgrounds. “We drilled the well, made improvements and additions to our water distribution system, put in a water treatment process and pressurized tank, and added additional and expanded electrical infrastructure which will include a backup generator. As a result, this year’s Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo had fresh, reliable water with greater pressure than the same event one year ago. According to our well operator, we pumped an estimated half a million gallons of well water in a period of ten days during the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo,” said Commissioner Gipson. Much work goes into planning and coordinating the month-long event, which includes a variety of livestock and equine shows along with the Dixie National Rodeo. The Dixie National Rodeo was recently named a Top 5 Medium Indoor Rodeo of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and was broadcast nationally on the Cowboy Channel. “I am proud of the success of the 2022 Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo. None of this would have been possible without the support of our many sponsors including our Title Sponsor Southern AgCredit, Harper Morgan Rodeo, and our loyal fan base and supporters. Coordination of an event of this magnitude and caliber takes much planning and work. The Mississippi State Fairgrounds staff, led by Director Michael Lasseter, is to be commended for working the long hours it takes to ensure all of the details came together. I want to thank everyone who made this year’s record breaking Dixie National a success,” said Commissioner Gipson. The dates for the 58th Dixie National Rodeo will be held February 10-18, 2023. For additional information as it becomes available, visit www.dixienational.org and follow the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Following last week’s column on chicken and dumplings and other old-school dishes and kitchen skills, I was surprised to hear from so many who had never tried most of the kitchen skills everyone should “learn or at least attempt.” Many that responded were quick to tell me they “can” make dumplings, just not old-school ones made with flour, buttermilk and Crisco. Popular substitutions included sliced tortillas, canned biscuits and the frozen variety from the supermarket. These do count and can be quite good, but I hope skeptics will at least attempt to make the old-fashioned variety using what I consider to be an easy, tried-and-true recipe. Believe me when I say I’m not attempting to portray myself as a fearless cook, game for any kitchen challenge. During the height of the pandemic, a scaled-down Thanksgiving celebration created the need to cook the first turkey I’d even attempted. Using Ina Garten’s recipe, I produced a golden-brown turkey that was actually edible. Admittedly, I experienced a few anxious hours, primarily when trying to get the large bird defrosted and oven-ready while worrying about salmonella. I have a funny story about giving the turkey a water bath in a dish pan placed in my bathtub, but I’ll save that for a later date. The point is, even when you’ve never tried something, the result can be confidence-inducing and yes, edible. One often-intimidating item I left off last week’s list is fried chicken. For some reason, the thought of producing perfectly fried chicken in a skillet of bubbling oil is oft putting for many. It wasn’t until the hit movie, The Help, produced a cooking class in 2012 utilizing the recipes used by the food stylist that I attempted to learn to fry chicken. I adopted an attitude of complete confidence as I stood next to other class members as we dipped coated chicken pieces into cast-iron skillets filled with hot oil. Keeping a close eye on the instructor, I dipped, turned and ultimately removed crispy chicken pieces from my skillet and onto dinner plates bearing homemade mac and cheese, greens and the best biscuits I’d ever made (or tasted) in my life. The biscuit recipe is a bit lengthy to print, but if you’d like it, just drop me an email and I’ll send it to you along with any of the other recipes. In the meantime, get out your cast iron skillet (or purchase one) and fry some chicken. As one of my cooking class members joked the night we all mastered the skill: “Unless you know how to fry chicken, are you really even a Mississippian?” * Minny’s Fried Chicken 1 (3- to 4-pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces (or use your favorite chicken parts, i.e., equal pounds of breasts, legs, thighs, etc.) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 2 cups buttermilk 1 cup self-rising flour Vegetable oil Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, then place pieces in a zip-top plastic bag and add buttermilk. Seal bag and chill at least two hours. Remove chicken from buttermilk (do not reuse buttermilk; discard) and dredge chicken in flour to coat. Pour oil to a depth of 1 ½ inches in a deep skillet or Dutch oven and using a cooking thermometer, make sure oil is heated to at least 350 degrees. Turning with tongs every couple of minutes, fry chicken on both sides. Adjust heat to maintain a steady temperature of 300-325 degrees, until skin is deep golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165 degrees. (Cooking takes about 10 minutes for wings and 12 minutes for legs, thighs and breasts.) Place a cooling rack inside a rimmed sheet pan and transfer chicken pieces to rack to drain. Serve hot. *Recipe varies a little from the book and from the movie The Help. Crisco was used instead of oil, so feel free to use that if you prefer. Also, Minny placed chicken and spices in a paper bag to coat.

Solving puzzles is fun. Watching other people solve puzzles is less fun. Watching entire movies built around fictional characters solving puzzles (where the filmmakers have already decided whether or not the characters will ultimately solve the puzzles) is even less fun. It’s why I could never get into those “Escape Room” movies. Frankly I’m questioning how much I’m going to enjoy Batman doing battle with The Riddler in two weeks. But I do know that I didn’t have much fun at “Uncharted.” Tom Holland stars as Nathan Drake, a descendant of explorer Francis Drake, who dabbles in studying history and artifacts when he’s not stealing small treasures from bar patrons. He’s recruited by treasure hunter Victor Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to find a stash of lost gold belonging to Ferdinand Magellan. Sully was working with Nate’s brother, who went missing and is presumed dead (feel free to roll your eyes at that presumption). Nate received a series of postcards from his brother, which may be a clue as to where the treasure can be found. Sully really just needs Nate for that one clue, but he also sees that the kid can be useful as a consultant, a decoy, or a temporary ally, but certainly not as a partner or a friend. Of course there will be an arc where the two become uneasy partners and friends. Also after the Magellan treasure is Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas), a wealthy banker obsessed with finding the fortune he feels is his birthright (Magellan reportedly double-crossed one of Moncada’s ancestors). Moncada leads a rival search party along with henchwoman Jo Braddock (Tati Gabrielle), herself a jilted former partner of Sully’s. I know the movie needs an excuse to have action sequences, but it doesn’t make sense that Nate/Sully and Moncada/Jo don’t just team up. Nate and Sully have all the clues and know-how, and Moncada and Jo have the resources to actually obtain the treasure. Also in the mix is Chloe Frazer (Sophia Ali), a clue possessor in business for herself, though she’ll form temporary alliances with both sides since she’s presented as a master manipulator, when in fact she has neither side’s strengths. She’s so out of her depth that the movie can’t think of a convincing way to include her in the film’s climactic action sequence. The treasure hunt stuff is lame, the jokes are mostly unfunny, how are the action sequences? Passable. I like the idea of the cargo plane sequence from all the advertising more than I liked the sequence itself, where gravity isn’t factoring in naturally as the characters climb bulky boxes hanging from strained cables. The same can be said of the climactic sequence involving two boats and two helicopters. Great idea in concept, not so much in practice with choppy editing and unnatural special effects. The film is based on a video game, and I’m sure the action works better in that setting, where everything is computer-generated and the world can have its own rules of physics. But in live-action, where the characters need to play by the same rules as the rest of us, this movie isn’t pulling it off. The opening graphics of “Uncharted” indicate that we’re at the dawn of some sort of PlayStation cinematic universe, similar to Marvel’s. Two mid-credits sequences indicate that we’re going to get at least one sequel to this film. I’m fine with the latter, this movie has done well enough on a holiday weekend to justify a follow-up commercially, if not creatively. But the PlayStation people are getting way ahead of themselves if they think they can do what Marvel is doing. Just because they have Tom Holland doesn’t mean they have Spider-Man. Though shooting and swinging from webs makes more sense than some of the climbing in this movie. Grade: C- “Uncharted” is rated PG-13 for violence/action and language. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced Senate Bill 3167 today, which would provide a boost of $300 million to the state’s Emergency Road and Bridge Repair (ERBR) Program. “Right now, we have millions of dollars in federal relief funds flowing through our economy. There is no better way to spend one-time money than to put it in the ground,” Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann said. “Our cities, counties and constituents have asked us to dedicate our resources to better maintaining our infrastructure. We are listening and hope to send this legislation to the Governor posthaste.” Enacted in 2018, the ERBR Program is administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation upon the advice of an advisory board made up of industry and local government leaders. The program was initially funded with $250 million in bonds. The Legislature appropriated an additional $89 million during the 2021 Legislative Session. The third round of funding in Senate Bill 3167, which is expected to be taken up on the Senate floor on Wednesday, would come from the Capital Expense Fund. “Now is the time to invest in our state. Safe and reliable roads and bridges are a key economic driver. They help our children get to school and our goods get to market,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson, who authored the bill. “We can take a bold step this Session by dedicating significant resources to projects in our communities which will make a difference for our children and grandchildren.” Senate Transportation Chairwoman Jenifer Branning agreed. “The ERBR Program provides a way to address our infrastructure needs using neutral criteria, prioritizing the most critical projects in the state,” said Branning, who has advocated for additional funding to the program for the past year. “When infrastructure funding is well-planned out, it’s generational. This bill is instrumental in achieving the ERBR Program’s original goals.” For more information about Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, visit www.ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S., causing more than 600,000 deaths every year. Early detection and prevention is key and the importance of knowing one’s risk factors begins with making – and keeping -- a yearly checkup appointment with a primary care provider. “A regular annual physical exam allows us to find and prevent diseases before they occur,” says Morgan Miller, MD, family medicine physician at Merit Health Medical Group in Byram. “The results can key us into problems that may be arising and allow us to work with patients on correcting issues before they become a bigger problem, such as reversing high blood pressure before it leads to congestive heart failure.” A vital part of the conversation centers around the importance of knowing the patient’s cardiovascular and stroke risk factors and numbers, including cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, activity level and family history. Symptoms such as fatigue and headaches should also be communicated. Fear has led many people to delay regular checkups and screenings, which would normally be a priority. “The COVID pandemic has definitely had an impact on my patients’ overall health, more so because of the emotional and psychological toll that it has taken,” adds Dr. Miller. “Many of my patients are working toward catching up with their preventive exams.” In terms of heart and cardiovascular disease, other health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, genetics, depression, smoking and kidney disease play a role in worsening heart function. Conversely, consistently practicing good habits, including regular exercise and eating healthy foods also decreases the risk of cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease while improving digestion, mood and mental function. “We as a society need to maintain a good, consistent exercise regimen,” adds Qasim Cheema, MD, interventional cardiologist at Merit Health Medical Group in Jackson. “Exercise is highly underestimated. It improves blood flow through the body and thereby the function of all our other organs. Exercise is free medicine.” Knowing the numbers that indicate the prevalence of heart disease is essential to developing a successful prevention and/or treatment plan. “We know low blood pressure readings are beneficial over time and indicate a decreased risk for a cardiovascular event,” explains Dr. Cheema. “I inform my patients being treated for hypertension to strive for an average blood pressure of 130/80 or lower. And remember, a couple of the most important behaviors that negatively impact the heart are smoking along with excessive alcohol use.” Talk with your physician about your risk factors and develop a prevention plan. If you need a primary care provider or cardiologist, call 844-MSMERIT or visit MyMeritDoctor.com.

Congratulations to Mrs. Yolanda Bell who teaches at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School for being named Teacher of the Year for the Hinds County School District! Mrs. Bell teaches pre-K students at BEEMS and has been with the District for five years.

The State Board of Education (SBE) today voted to approve a $17.6 million grant to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to create a telehealth delivery system within K-12 schools to provide remote healthcare and healthcare provider access to students. MDE expects UMMC to deliver on-demand urgent care and telebehaviorial health during school hours. UMMC services to students will include urgent care, mental health, remote patient monitoring and specialty consultation healthcare. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to cover the grant. The grant period is from July 1, 2022 through Sept. 30 2024, with a liquidation period ending Dec. 31, 2024. UMMC plans to begin project implementation March 1 of this year. Clinical implementation will begin July 1 in four school districts and will be completed in all districts by July 1, 2023. MDE’s goals for the telehealth services program are to: Provide Mississippi school districts and charter schools that currently have a school nurse on staff or contract with the equipment needed to effectively implement and manage the delivery of telehealth services to students. Improve the overall healthcare outcomes of students in Mississippi by increasing student access to primary, acute and specialty healthcare providers. Expand healthcare offerings to Mississippi students beyond diagnosis and treatment to include services that focus on health maintenance, disease prevention and health education for students, families and school personnel. “Healthy students learn better. Implementing this telehealth program for Mississippi’s K-12 students will better ensure health issues are identified and treated,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “This program can potentially reduce absenteeism, help parents and guardians get quicker access to services for a child and even save lives.” UMMC’s Center for Telehealth, which has more than 200 sites in 73 of Mississippi’s 82 counties, currently implements a comprehensive telehealth program in various settings that address healthcare needs of Mississippians and others. UMMC plans to leverage resources of its Center for Telehealth to: Create a telehealth delivery infrastructure for all eligible schools in Mississippi. This includes need assessment of individual school districts/schools and delivery, setup, maintenance and training of all nursing staff on the required telehealth equipment and clinical workflows for the delivery of telehealth services. Engage stakeholders at all levels to include MDE leadership, school district administration, parents, school nurses, teachers and other staff, local providers and community resources to identify common goals and key performance metrics to measure success of the program for each individual community. Operationalize and implement telehealth delivery services in the following key areas: remote urgent care, remote behavioral health, promotion of dental health via education of school nurses by providers from the UMMC School of Dentistry, and lifestyle coaching of students at risk for developing diabetes. Undertake continuous quality improvement that will include ongoing evaluation of the program in terms of quality outcomes and monitoring process measures such as use and student enrollment.

The State Board of Education (SBE) today voted to approve a $17.6 million grant to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to create a telehealth delivery system within K-12 schools to provide remote healthcare and healthcare provider access to students. MDE expects UMMC to deliver on-demand urgent care and telebehaviorial health during school hours. UMMC services to students will include urgent care, mental health, remote patient monitoring and specialty consultation healthcare. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to cover the grant. The grant period is from July 1, 2022 through Sept. 30 2024, with a liquidation period ending Dec. 31, 2024. UMMC plans to begin project implementation March 1 of this year. Clinical implementation will begin July 1 in four school districts and will be completed in all districts by July 1, 2023. MDE’s goals for the telehealth services program are to: Provide Mississippi school districts and charter schools that currently have a school nurse on staff or contract with the equipment needed to effectively implement and manage the delivery of telehealth services to students. Improve the overall healthcare outcomes of students in Mississippi by increasing student access to primary, acute and specialty healthcare providers. Expand healthcare offerings to Mississippi students beyond diagnosis and treatment to include services that focus on health maintenance, disease prevention and health education for students, families and school personnel. “Healthy students learn better. Implementing this telehealth program for Mississippi’s K-12 students will better ensure health issues are identified and treated,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “This program can potentially reduce absenteeism, help parents and guardians get quicker access to services for a child and even save lives.” UMMC’s Center for Telehealth, which has more than 200 sites in 73 of Mississippi’s 82 counties, currently implements a comprehensive telehealth program in various settings that address healthcare needs of Mississippians and others. UMMC plans to leverage resources of its Center for Telehealth to: Create a telehealth delivery infrastructure for all eligible schools in Mississippi. This includes need assessment of individual school districts/schools and delivery, setup, maintenance and training of all nursing staff on the required telehealth equipment and clinical workflows for the delivery of telehealth services. Engage stakeholders at all levels to include MDE leadership, school district administration, parents, school nurses, teachers and other staff, local providers and community resources to identify common goals and key performance metrics to measure success of the program for each individual community. Operationalize and implement telehealth delivery services in the following key areas: remote urgent care, remote behavioral health, promotion of dental health via education of school nurses by providers from the UMMC School of Dentistry, and lifestyle coaching of students at risk for developing diabetes. Undertake continuous quality improvement that will include ongoing evaluation of the program in terms of quality outcomes and monitoring process measures such as use and student enrollment.

Commissioner Brent Bailey announced today, on behalf of the Commission, the completion of the Public Service Commission’s Public Utility Infrastructure Review Report. The Commission launched a comprehensive review of the Magnolia State’s public utility infrastructure in February 2021 following the extreme winter storms. The report is being released during the one year anniversary week of the historic weather event. “Our jobs as regulators charge us with the responsibility to ensure utilities provide reliable services across a resilient infrastructure network,” Commissioner Bailey said. “New challenges for our utilities statewide were presented during the unprecedented 2021 winter storm event which we felt should be examined. Icy roads, downed vegetation, ice on utility infrastructure and other effects of the long-term, bitterly cold temperatures caused thousands of customers to go without power and/or water for several days.” The Commission sought information regarding the actions being taken to ensure reliable operations of electric, gas, water and telecommunication utilities in anticipation of other future extreme weather events and conditions. The report reflects the responses received from scores of utilities which were compiled and analyzed by resiliency specialists to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each sector and to provide recommendations on improvements. “Mississippi is no stranger to extreme weather events. I commend our utility partners across the state for their continuous work to improve and sustain the resiliency of systems that deliver critical, essential services to Mississippi’s utility customers,” said Commissioner Bailey. “Utilities spend millions and millions of dollars each year to maintain the safety and reliability of utility delivery systems. Those prudent expenditures are what keep the electricity, gas, water and communications flowing in times of extreme weather or other natural events.” The report was prepared by staff members of Del Sol Consulting, Inc. (Del Sol), a disaster recovery consulting firm specializing in expert consultation and staff augmentation to clients facing the daunting tasks of pre-planning for potential natural disasters, and effectively implementing long-term recovery strategies. Del Sol was supported by Royal Engineers and Consultants, LLC, a full-service engineering and consulting firm with significant experience in the management of disaster recovery programs.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) expanded its Licensure Call Center Feb. 1, with longer hours and additional customer service representatives to better assist prospective and current educators. The Licensure Call Center now has 15 representatives available from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays to assist educators seeking information or inquiring about the status of a licensure application. Previously, four representatives took calls from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The MDE began onboarding the new representatives Jan. 5. The State Board of Education (SBE) approved a $1.8 million contract with a staffing agency at the Dec. 16, 2021 board meeting to hire the customer service representatives. The contract term is from Dec. 29, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2024. The MDE is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and ESSER II funds to pay the agency. During peak season, the number of calls received by representatives in the MDE Licensure Call Center ranges between 6,000 to 15,000 calls monthly. The goal of the expanded center is to reduce the impact of the calls. “I am aware of the frustration some educators have experienced when contacting the MDE with licensure inquiries,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Now that the Licensure Call Center has expanded, I anticipate a more efficient process and positive experience for educators.” A self-service, automated and interactive voice response system will become active in the coming weeks to further improve the Licensure Call Center experience. By March 1, all educators will be required to create a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), which they will need to set up in their Educator Licensure Management System (ELMS) account. The PIN is an added security feature that will permit educators to speak to a customer service representative and/or obtain information on their ELMS account through the automated system. The phone number to the Licensure Call Center is (601) 359-3483. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.