Come out and join the fun at the Bolton Library. There will be different games to play and prizes for the winners. For more information, call 601- 866-4247 or stop by the Annie T. Jeffers Library, 111 W. Madison Street, Bolton MS. website: www.JHLibrary.org Please wear a mask and observe social distancing for safety. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is closed on Fridays and Sundays.

By Delbert Hosemann Let me be very clear: failing to appropriate the one-time $1.8 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for infrastructure and recovery projects is not a rational option for our state. Yet, last week members of the state House of Representatives made public comments hinging the allocation of these one-time dollars on the passage of unrelated legislation. Meanwhile, the citizens and communities who elected us are in limbo, waiting for this critical funding to increase the number of available hospital ICU beds, extend broadband service to rural areas, support child protective services, and boost our economy through workforce development and tourism. As importantly, our cities, counties, and rural water associations are depending on millions of dollars in ARPA funds to rehabilitate our aged water and sewer systems across the state—a healthcare, economic development, and quality of life issue. A water catastrophe which must be addressed looms over Jackson, but serious problems stretch much further than the Capital City. DeSoto County is at risk of being cut off from the Memphis sewer system. A dozen water systems in Mississippi have been citied for maximum contaminant levels, the highest-level EPA violation. Four of the state’s larger cities, including Jackson, are under federal consent decrees related to the pollution levels in their sewer and wastewater systems. While December 31, 2024, the date the funds must be obligated, seems far into the future, economic and political uncertainties require us to act now. For example, leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives recently included a measure to claw back unallocated ARPA funds in an initial version of the appropriations bill. The language was taken out in a later draft but should serve as a cautionary tale not to drag our feet. Record-level inflation may be an even bigger problem. Every day we fail to spend these funds, the cost of construction goes up and the value of our ARPA funds go down. Finally, our state is one of four which have not begun obligating their funds. If we wait another year to appropriate ARPA, we have less time to complete the jobs and we have fewer available contractors, subcontractors, and civil engineers. All states will all be competing for the same labor pool and we will be the last to start. The Senate hit the ground running in January, having already met with stakeholders, held public hearings, and developed an initial ARPA plan before the Session started. This is because the clock is ticking. Mississippi does not have time to wait.

By Bob Garver Last year, the Japanese anime “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” racked up an impressive $49.5 million at the domestic box office. It even accomplished the rare feat of climbing to the #1 spot in its second weekend after opening at #2 (because “Mortal Kombat” was terrible and fell like a rock). Similarly, the anime “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” opened at #2 this past weekend behind the third weekend of “The Batman” and I would love to see it climb to #1 next weekend. That overstuffed cash cow could stand to be taken down a peg and this movie deserves whatever success it can find. The story follows teenager Yuta (Megumi Ogata, and I’m going by the Japanese version with English subtitles, rather than the English-dubbed version that is alternately available) as he struggles with a powerful curse he accidentally put upon himself as a child. The curse takes the form of a powerful monster named Rika (Kana Hanazawa) that pops up and attacks enemies whenever he gets too upset. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, and even contemplates submitting to an execution to rid the world of his curse, but blindfolded teacher Gojo (Yuichi Nakamura) tells him there is another way. Yuta can come study under him at a special secluded school and learn how to control the curse so that it benefits the world and even help rid it of evil curses. Comparisons to “Harry Potter” and “X-Men” are unavoidable, but the template is used to its full potential. Yuta has a hard time fitting in the school, but then again none of the other students fit in anywhere either. Maki (Mikako Komatsu) knows everything about curses and how to handle them with various objects, but is secretly inept on a very basic level. Toge (Koki Uchiyama) is an already-established warrior skilled in curse-speak, but limits his standard conversation strictly to ingredients in rice balls (“Tuna Mayo” is the new “I am Groot”). Panda (Tomokazu Seki) is… a panda… with the ability to turn into a bigger panda. He picks up on some attraction between Yuta and Maki. Because in 2022, where there are hormonal teenagers, there has to be a panda. Yuta and the school soon find themselves pitted against evil former student Geto (Takahiro Sakurai), now a powerful sorcerer with the creepiest smile you’ll ever want to see. He wants to rid the world of non-sorcerers, which would seemingly leave it with a population of about a few hundred people, but whatever. Geto rightly deduces that Rika is the most powerful curse in the world, and all he has to do is kill Yuta to absorb the curse and make him unstoppable. He unleashes a thousand curses in Tokyo and Kyoto to keep Gojo and the other students and faculty busy so he can attack an unattended Yuta back at the school. These urban battle scenes are filled with characters that barely appear elsewhere in the film, and I assume they are cameos from other arms of this franchise. The “0” in the film’s title indicates that it is a prequel to a supposedly-familiar, properly-numbered series, but outside of a few scenes where maybe the world-building was a little too ambitious, I thought this worked perfectly fine as an introduction. I found myself really getting invested in the culture of “Jujutsu Kaisen.” It doesn’t hurt that the creative curse/creature designs are incredible. They’re nightmarish, but I can’t get enough of them. This movie does have the same problem as “Demon Slayer” when it comes to battle sequences, where there’s a huge explosion every few minutes that should wipe out the entire setting, but often all participants will be okay, so it makes the action and stakes hard to understand. Still, I was eager to see what happens next with these characters. If “Jujustu Kaisen 0” is this engaging, I can only imagine what it’s like when the installments actually have value. Grade: B “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” is rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, language, thematic material and some suggestive references. Its running time is 105 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will host the second annual Mississippi Mudbug Festival on Wednesday, April 27, through Sunday, May 1. “We are excited to host the Mississippi Mudbug Festival again right here in Jackson,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Last year’s inaugural event was a huge success, and our Fairgrounds staff has worked hard to bring this popular festival back again and make it better than ever. We will have musical performances, fair rides and a crawfish boil like no other. I invite the public to come out with their families and friends to enjoy this new statewide tradition with southern-style crawfish and first-rate entertainment.” The Festival will include live entertainment featuring Blue Oyster Cult, Laine Hardy, Bobby Rush, Tip Tops, Shake the Bucket, Hannah Everhart and Sullivan’s Hollow; crawfish cooking and eating contests; amusement rides provided by North American Midway Entertainment with daily ride specials; and crawfish plates provided by The Back Porch restaurant. Admission at the gate is free and parking is $10 per car. Rides will begin when gates open each day and over 20 great fair rides will be offered. Coupon ride prices will be $1.50 per coupon, $25 for 22 coupons and $60 for 50 coupons, or the public can enjoy all rides for one low wristband price of $25. Advanced ride wristbands can be purchased online for $20 at https://tickets.authentigate.ca/store/#/NAME/658. The Tails and Ales area will be open daily with crawfish and beverages available for purchase. Crawfish will be provided by The Back Porch and sold for $15 per plate. Entry to the Mudbug Music Area will be $10 on Saturday, April 30. Entry to the Mudbug Music Area will be $5 on Friday, April 29, and Sunday, May 1. The Schedule for the 2022 Mississippi Mudbug Festival is as follows: Activities & Events for Wednesday, April 27, 2022 5:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 5:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 10:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Thursday, April 28, 2022 2:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 5:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 5:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Free admission. 7:00 p.m. – Tip Tops performance 10:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Friday, April 29, 2022 2:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 4:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 4:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Entry will be $5. 6:00 p.m. – Shake the Bucket performance featuring Hannah Everhart 8:00 p.m. – Laine Hardy performance 11:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Saturday, April 30, 2022 12:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 12:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 2:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Entry will be $10. 4:00 p.m. – Crawfish Eating Contest will begin 5:30 p.m. – Sullivan’s Hollow performance 8:00 p.m. – Blue Oyster Cult performance 11:00 p.m. – Gates and Mudbug Music Area close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Sunday, May 1, 2022 12:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 12:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Entry will be $5. 1:00 p.m. – Battle of the Crawfish begins 3:00 p.m. – Bobby Rush performance 7:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area closes 8:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information about the Mississippi Mudbug Festival, visit www.msmudbugfestival.com online and follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds page on Facebook.

The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office is seeking high school seniors with a passion for leadership and state government to apply for the agency's newly-created Student Ambassador Program. The program aims to increase voter education and registration among youth and encourages students to engage in Mississippi civics. Components of the program include: A fall summit in Jackson focused on the state's elections process. A spring summit in Jackson focused on the state's legislative process. Virtual trainings and educational sessions with Secretary of State (SOS) representatives and various government officials. Participation as a poll worker on Election Day. “The SOS Student Ambassador Program is a great opportunity for young leaders to cultivate their affinity for public service and expand leadership skills," said Secretary Michael Watson. "We are excited to take part in the development and growth of the next generation of Mississippians and look forward to providing a greater understanding of one of our greatest liberties, the right to vote.” To be considered for the SOS Student Ambassador Program, students must meet the following criteria: High school senior during the 2022-2023 academic year Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above Proven satisfactory behavioral conduct Strong interest in state government and service The deadline to submit an application is May 15, 2022. Applications may be submitted via email to ExternalAffairs@sos.ms.gov, hand-delivered, or mailed to the Secretary of State’s Office at 401 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS 39201 to the attention of the External Affairs Division. Click here to download the application.

Representatives of the Community Outreach Ministry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bolton recently paid a visit to the Annie Thompson Jeffers Library. They came bearing gifts. The Community Outreach Committee had recently raised funds which were used to purchase books, games, puzzles and bean bag chairs for Bolton’s library. Visitors to the Library are enjoying the new items! James Anderson had this to say, "A little bit of trivia: back in the day, the library for Bolton was located in St. Mary's church, in the room adjacent to our church kitchen. When I was a child, that's where I checked out books. In fact, once, when someone from the library system was traveling to a meeting in Bolton, they Googled it, and they landed at St. Mary's!" And he added, "We love our library. It is very important to our community." For more information, call 601- 866-4247 or stop by the Annie T. Jeffers Library, 111 W. Madison Street, Bolton MS. website: www.JHLibrary.org Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library is closed on Fridays and Sundays.

By Kara Kimbrough This isn’t an essay on rising food prices. For one thing, it’s not fair to pick on one area when costs are skyrocketing in almost every segment of the economy. However, it's a fact that food prices are climbing. The rising cost of bread is part of the equation. I’ve found a way to counteract this disturbing trend: make your own. With my simple recipe (or a bread machine) it’s easier than you might think. First, there’s one exception to my new plan. I refuse to give up store-bought Ezekiel 4:9 Bread. It’s my bread of choice for morning toast (covered in my homemade jelly, of course) and a quick snack throughout the day. Found in the freezer case, this amazingly healthy and tasty bread is crafted in the likeness of the Scripture verse Ezekiel 4:9 - "Take also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils and millet, and spelt and put them in one vessel…" Made with six grains and legumes, each slice is also packed with amino acids, fiber and other vitamins. And it still manages to taste good without flour, GMOs, sugar or other artificial additives or preservatives. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but I consider the splurge on something this healthy (and good) to be well worth the extra cost. However, I draw the line at paying $3 (or more) for a simple loaf of bread often lacking in taste and any nutritional value. When prices began rising a few weeks ago, my search for a bread machine in stores and online began. Unfortunately, I gave mine away years ago in a purging spree I’ve since regretted. I quickly realized that thousands of other Americans are also looking for bread machines, creating ridiculous prices even on models that appeared to be past their prime. As a result, finding an easy-to-make bread recipe was vital. One of the prevailing comments from many of the cooking and frugal living sites I follow is that homemade bread is too time-consuming and in the case of those with arthritis and other ailments, difficult due to the kneading process. Luckily, I found a recipe for a quick homemade bread with a kneading time that should be doable for most. Cooked in an enclosed Dutch oven, the bread emerges with a delicious, crispy crust and soft interior due to the steaming process that occurs inside the heavy pan. The recipe results in a flavorful bread that should please even the pickiest eater. But, word of caution: it won’t resemble smooth bread maker-bread or store-bought. Bottom line, it may not be Instagram-worthy. The good news is, it’s filling, healthy and when topped with butter and toasted or covered with homemade jelly, results in a delicious breakfast treat or covering for your favorite sandwich ingredients. Inflation 2022 Homemade Bread 3 cups bread flour (can substitute all-purpose, but use bread flour if you can find it) 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt 2 teaspoons dry active yeast 1-1/2 cups warm water (use thermometer to make sure it reads 104 degrees (or very close to this before adding) Lightly grease a glass bowl and mix all ingredients together. Place dough on a floured surface and lightly knead for a few minutes (preferably at least 10) then gather sides to the center to form a ball. Place back in the glass bowl, cover with a clean cloth and let rise for three hours. Preheat oven to 400 degrees; 30 minutes prior to cooking, place Dutch oven in oven to get warm. Place dough on a large piece of parchment paper (not wax paper) and place both paper and bread in the Dutch oven. Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 15 additional minutes. Remove, cool and slice! Tips: 1. To test if bread dough has been kneaded enough, tear a piece off and stretch it out. It should be strong, soft, elastic and smooth. It should not rip at the first instance of stretching. If it is not ready, knead again for another 3 minutes and try again. 2. After letting dough rise, poke the dough with a wet finger. If it springs back immediately, give it longer to rise. The dough is ready when the poke leaves an imprint that stays for 3 seconds before it bounces back. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

● Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet (MMB) presents a new production of Charles Maple’s “Wizard of Oz” on April 2 and 3 at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center in Jackson. Featuring Maple’s inventive choreography, exquisite costumes and dynamic sets, this presentation of the classic story is sure to please audience members of all ages. Maple is a former soloist with American Ballet Theater and principal dancer with Basel Ballet in Switzerland. During his performing career he worked with such choreographers as George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and Jerome Robbins. He has danced with and been coached by such greats as Baryshnikov, Fernando Bujones and Rudolf Nureyev among others. Students of Maple have competed as finalists in prestigious competitions including the Prix de Lausanne, The Jackson International Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix. In 1992 Maple began creating his own works and has created over 75 ballets, including “Alice in Wonderland,” which MMB produced in 2019. MMB artistic director Jennifer Beasley is pleased to be working with Maple again. “Charles’s choreography represents a diversity of dance styles, yet it is rooted in the traditions of classical ballet,” says Beasley. “It is an excellent fit for our company. There are strong roles that challenge our principal dancers and soloists. The roles created for younger dancers offer significant stage time and provide them with the opportunity to hone their performance skills. It has taken a tremendous amount of hard work as well as lot of brains, heart and courage to bring this ballet to the stage. We cannot wait to present it to our community.” Over 80 members of Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet will perform in the production that follows Dorothy from Kansas to Munchkinland and along the Yellow Brick Road to Oz, where she meets the Wizard. Accompanied by her smart, loyal and brave companions, and assisted by Glinda the Good Witch, Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch and learns there is no place like home. The role of Dorothy will be danced by MMB soloist Hallie Young of Brandon. MMB principal dancers Madeline Page of Madison and Brelyn Binkley of Brandon will appear as Glinda and the Wicked Witch, respectively. Eleanora Ellis of Brandon will fill the role of the Tin Man. Rebecca Trowbridge of Ridgeland will dance the role of the Lion, and Hart Maley of Jackson will appear as the Scarecrow. Ellis, Trowbridge and Maley are all soloists in the company. “It’s been wonderful working with Mr. Maple again,” says Trowbridge, who performed the role of Tweedle Dum in 2018. “He’s been involved in every aspect from auditions to zooming with us during rehearsals. The choreography is fresh and challenging. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to strengthen my technique, and we are working hard to bring his vision to life.” Trowbridge is excited about dancing the role of the Lion in part because her character’s development through the ballet is analogous to dancing with MMB. “The Lion starts out being timid and worried about making mistakes. As the ballet progresses he gets more confident; he relies on his friends to give him courage. We all start off unsure when we are first learning a dance, but through hard work and support from fellow dancers, we persevere and create a performance for everyone to enjoy.” Maley comments that MMB real-life friendships strengthen the on-stage friendships between Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. “This cast is very tightly knit. We are all very good friends. So, it makes it easy to act and to really engage the audience in the performance.” Following the performance, young audience members may step into Dorothy’s red shoes and travel to the Land of Oz. Young visitors to Oz will meet Dorothy, Glinda and other ballet characters for on-stage photo ops. Each young visitor will also receive a souvenir and light refreshments. Land of Oz tickets are sold separately from performance tickets. Accompanying adults receive complimentary admission to the Land of Oz. Tickets for the ballet “The Wizard of Oz” are $30-35. Land of Oz event tickets are $15. On Saturday, April 2, the ballet performance will begin at 3 p.m. followed by the Land of Oz at 5 p.m. On Sunday, April 3, the ballet performance will begin at 2 p.m. with the Land of Oz following at 4 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit msmetroballet.com. MMB is a pre-professional ballet company based in Madison, Mississippi. Members of the company are selected through audition from the over 500 students of Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy, the official school of MMB. Season sponsors for 2021-2022 include the Mississippi Arts Commission; Jackson Optimist Club; Gertrude C. Ford Foundation; Ergon; Eventful; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi; Larry and Michael Johnson Family Foundation; Harper, Rains, Knight, and Company; The Pig & Pint; and Hilton Garden Inn Madison/Jackson.

By Bob Garver Back in January, when COVID numbers were raging and another lockdown seemed imminent, Disney made the decision to make Pixar’s “Turning Red” a Disney+ exclusive. But soon after holiday tourism died down, so did the COVID numbers, and theaters are fully capable of showing this movie. In fact, restrictions here in New York have eased so much this was the first weekend where I wouldn’t have needed so much as a mask to go see a movie. But I guess the decision to move the film to Disney+ was an irreversible one, or maybe the studio just didn’t want to compete with the second weekend of “The Batman.” I usually reserve this column for theatrical releases, but I’ll make an exception because there were no other major releases this weekend, no carryovers are begging to be covered, and this first-class movie “should” have gone to theaters. The story follows 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian Mei (Rosalie Chiang) as she undergoes bodily changes tied to strong emotions. Specifically, her human body changes into that of a 10-foot-tall red panda. Based on the film’s advertising, I thought that the panda stuff would be a cutesy workaround for actual biological changes, but surprisingly the symptoms, manifestations, and treatments of biological changes are addressed within the film and very much in play. This movie, though deservedly PG, plays to a more mature audience than the usual Pixar fare. Mei is horrified to be changing into a wild animal. She had a good thing going with her school and friends and a job as a temple caretaker. Sure, her mother Ming (Sandra Oh) could be a bit overbearing, and it was becoming harder and harder to hide how stupidly boy-crazy she was, but literally transforming into a giant beast was not in her carefully-planned schedule. My only real problem with the film comes in Mei’s reaction to becoming a panda. She’s freaked out, which is understandable, but her instinct is to try and hide it. Even in a world where magic and transfiguration are possible, it still comes off as unnatural. To her knowledge, she’s the first person in all of human history to undergo a change in species, and she’s still concerned with her social status? At the very least, this calls for an immediate talk with her family. Or a scientist. Or a doctor, either a pediatrician or veterinarian. But no, apparently the movie just wants to give us a sequence of shenanigans and comical misunderstandings. Fortunately this is Pixar, so they’re funny shenanigans and misunderstandings, but the motivation behind them is questionable at best, distracting at worst. At first Mei can only see the downside in sporadically turning into a panda (in that it’s not normal), but she soon sees an upside: people love pandas. Her friends want to hug her at every opportunity and classmates are willing to pay money to take pictures with her and have her appear at parties. If she really plays her cards right, she and her friends might even be able to parlay her panda powers into going to a concert to see their favorite boy band. Ming forbids it, with or without the dangerous panda element, but what’s a little thing like parental permission when a teenage girl is in love? At the center of “Turning Red” is the increasingly-unstable relationship between Mei and Ming. Mother-daughter relationships aren’t often explored in Disney movies, especially given the studio’s track record of letting parents see the second act of their stories. The only other one that did it on this level was 2012’s “Brave,” another movie where a character turned into a bear, come to think of it. Sandra Oh absolutely steals the movie as the mother trying to reel in her out-of-control daughter as she’s closer than anyone realizes to losing control herself. I have never seen a Pixar movie I didn’t like, and the “Red”-hot streak continues here. Grade: A- “Turning Red” is available for streaming exclusively on Disney+. The film is rated PG for thematic material, suggestive content, and language. Its running time is 100 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

New high-dosage tutoring services in math and English Language Arts will be available to students in grades 3-12, educators and families at 121 school districts, which includes four charter schools, that recently opted in to receive the services at no cost. In February, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced plans to use $10.7 million of its American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to purchase tutoring services from PAPER, a company that provides on-demand educational support. PAPER was selected through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. To see a complete list of Mississippi school districts and charter schools that opted in as of March 9, visit Districts with High-Dosage Tutoring. The tutoring services will be live, online and available 24/7 with a live person. Teachers and administrators will have access to real-time data through a data dashboard to assign activities, monitor student progress and schedule one-on-one or small group tutoring sessions during the school day. Parents may also schedule tutorial services for their child(ren) after school hours and on the weekend. These services will also be available for English learners and students with special needs. MDE sought high-dosage tutoring services, which is a strategy to close achievement gaps, to mitigate any impact COVID-19 and school closures had on learning and instruction and as a way to accelerate student learning. “Besides giving educators more tools to manage instruction and gauge students’ needs and progress, these tutoring services allow parents and students to get help with homework from a tutor any time of the day,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Whether it’s writing an essay or solving math problems, students can get immediate assistance to complete and better understand assignments.” Online training and support sessions for teachers, administrators, parents and students in participating districts will start in the coming weeks. All districts will begin receiving personalized training by the end of the month. ESSER III funds cover costs of the tutoring services until Sept. 30, 2024. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

A new health and school safety platform will be available at no cost to 135 Mississippi school districts that recently opted to receive the service to create a safer and better learning environment for students, teachers and staff. In February, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced plans to use $14 million of its American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to purchase the web-based nSide health and school safety platform. ESSER III funds will cover the costs of the platform and cameras until Sept. 30, 2024. School districts had to opt in by Feb. 28 to receive nSide. To see a complete list of the districts go to List of Districts with Health and Safety Platform. The platform boasts several features to aid districts, including the following: One surveillance camera for the district central office and up to five school-based surveillance cameras with the ability to detect and notify of crowd congestion Access to a 360-degree live, virtual walkthrough of a school to provide situational awareness in emergencies A system to create detailed campus maps and building floor plans with georeferenced images that give first responders precise locations of individuals A portal to upload emergency operation plans Mobile app for notification of emergencies and to notify staff and emergency responders Assistance with creating and managing emergency operations plans that meet state and federal requirements Among the 135 districts, 10 opted to receive the platform without new surveillance cameras. However, the platform may be compatible with those districts’ existing cameras. Two school districts – Lee County School District and Rankin County School District – were using nSide prior to MDE purchasing the platform. Districts will begin receiving welcome packets to nSide next week. In the coming weeks, the 135 districts will be onboarded to the nSide platform with drills, trainings and a review of best safety practices. The School Safety Act of 2019 requires school boards of each district, with assistance from MDE’s Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, to adopt a comprehensive local school district school safety plan and to annually provide a plan update. By offering the nSide platform to districts, a more consistent development and implementation of safety plans is anticipated. “With nearly every school district in the state choosing to use this innovative health and school safety platform, Mississippi schools will now have a more uniform approach to keeping students, teachers and staff safe,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “MDE is confident this platform will be beneficial to districts by helping them prevent and mitigate crises.” Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

Opera Mississippi presents “La voce d’angelo” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2022 and an Opera Happy Hour beginning at 6:00pm at Duling Hall, 622 Duling Ave. The fifth installment of the Duling Hall Cabaret Series sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi stars Betsy Uschkrat, soprano, and Michael Bunchman, piano. Tickets may be ordered online at operams.org for $30. Remaining tickets will be on sale at the door for $35. “La voce d'angelo”' celebrates the centennial birthday of one of the greatest operatic voices of all time, Renata Tebaldi, who performed with Opera Mississippi during its 28th season in 1973! “We are so excited to honor this legendary singer. I hope that our current and new patrons will join us for Opera Happy Hour, enjoy a special cocktail in honor of Ms. Tebaldi, and then experience some of the most powerful music they’ve ever heard!” “Renata Tebaldi was deemed ‘the voice of an angel’ by the great Italian conductor Toscanini and her career spanned over 30 years,” says New Orleans based guest soprano, Dr. Betsy Uskrat. “In our concert, you’ll experience the music and stories of her life: Beginning with her difficult childhood to her infamous rivalry with another operatic legend Maria Callas, Tebaldi is a life celebrated both in her time and still today, one hundred years later!” Known for her impressive vocal range and artistic versatility, soprano Betsy Uschkrat continues to enthrall audiences across the United States with companies such as New Orleans Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Shreveport Opera, Opera Idaho, Pensacola Opera, and Opéra Louisian. Audiences have adored her performances of classical, musical theatre, and the great American Songbook repertoire. The New Orleans Times-Picayune describes her as a “vocal powerhouse,” and her roles include Pamina in Die Zauberflüte, Sharon in Masterclass, Julie Jordan in Carousel, Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and title roles in Manon, Susannah, Romeo et Juliette, and L’elisir d'amore. Dr. Ushkrat currently serves at Musical Theatre Voice Instructor at Loyola University in New Orleans. Dr. Ushkrat will be joined by collaborative pianist Dr. Michael Bunchman who maintains an active performance schedule with numerous singers, musicians, and chamber ensembles across the United States. As the Director of the Collaborative Piano Program at the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Bunchman mentors the next generation of collaborative pianists and regularly conducts collaborative masterclasses around the US. He has spent five seasons as a principal coach and pianist for Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater and has held appointments with the Natchez Festival of Music and Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra. Bunchman regularly collaborates and performs with companies such as Opera Mississippi, Santa Barbara Opera, Opera Saratoga, the Princeton Festival and El Paso Opera, Ridgefield Symphony, Breckenridge Music Festival, Antara Ensemble in New York City, the Utah Festival Opera Orchestra, and the National Repertory Orchestra. And he had the honor of performing with “A Prairie Home Companion,” hosted by Garrison Keillor, on their multi-city European cruise. For more information on tickets to this and the entire Opera Mississippi season, visit operams.org or call 601.960.2300. DULING HALL COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL: Effective August 30, 2021, for the health and safety of our patrons, staff, and artists, entry to Duling Hall will require either proof of a full course COVID-19 vaccination, with their final dose at least fourteen days prior to the event or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the prior 72 hours. Accommodating this temporary policy will allow artists to earn a living, our staff to be employed, and live music to have a place in society again. We will keep everyone posted on any changes moving forward. PURCHASE TICKETS