BEEMS is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new football stadium! To mark this exciting occasion, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, September 3rd, at 4:45 p.m., just before the first home game. This new stadium represents a significant milestone for the school and community, providing a state-of-the-art facility for the BEEMS Rangers. All supporters, students, and community members are invited to join in the celebration and cheer on the Rangers as they kick off their season in their new home. BEEMS pride is strong! 💙🤍

By Kara Kimbrough Just when I thought I’d seen it all, an online group of over 250,000 fans of Carnation Breakfast Bars has joined together to share their love of a favorite breakfast go-to from the 1970’s and 80’s that was discontinued in 1997.  Recipes for copycat versions are shared among group members from around the world, along with reviews on similar copycats (none prove worthy) on today’s shelves. Similar “bring back my favorite product” groups can be found online and on social media. It made me realize that food and beverage items on which we grew up will always trigger nostalgic feelings and, in the the case of the Carnation fans, a deep longing for the past. I’ve shared my love for Welch’s Jelly Doughnuts that no longer available in the freezer case. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a favorite snack, Planter’s Cheese Balls, has been revived and brought back to supermarkets. Reviews are less than stellar, with reports that they “just don’t taste like the ones I remember…” I’ll be the judge after I purchase a can later today. I’d love to know which supermarket items you loved in the past that are no longer available. Drop me and email and I’ll check to see if there are any online support groups or copycat recipes for your favorite retro item. In the meantime, here’s a recipe for a cake baked almost weekly by my grandmother that has, for some reason, gone out of style. I’m not sure why, since it’s as easy to make and even better, delicious today as it was 50 years ago.  Try it and I’m sure you’ll agree that sometimes, like a can of cheese balls, reviving retro items makes good sense. Sock-It-To-Me Cake 1 (15.25 ounce) package butter yellow cake mix, divided 1 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 large eggs 1 cup sour cream ⅓ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup white sugar ¼ cup water  1 cup confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons milk      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 10-inch Bundt cake pan. Combine 2 tablespoons cake mix, pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl; set aside.     Place remaining cake mix, eggs, sour cream, oil, sugar, and water in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes.    Pour 2/3 of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with pecan mixture, then spread remaining batter evenly on top.    Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes. Cool in pan for 25 minutes; invert carefully onto a serving plate and let cool completely.   Blend powdered sugar and milk together to make a glaze; drizzle over cooled cake. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com .

By: Bob Garver With “Trap,” writer/director M. Night Shyamalan has given us a half-decent movie. By which I mean that half of it is… decent. The first half delivers the taut thriller we’ve been promised, and it’s not great or anything, but it’s reasonably suspenseful and enjoyable. And then the movie becomes garbage. Not the unique, crazy garbage that only Shyamalan can deliver, but uncreative garbage that no self-respecting filmmaker wants to deliver. At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to doting dad Cooper (Josh Hartnett). He’s taking his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by her favorite pop star, Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan). He learns from oversharing merchandise seller Jamie (Jonathan Langdon) that the FBI is monitoring the concert. They have a hot tip that a serial killer known as The Butcher is in the arena, and with the help of profiler Dr. Josephene Grant (Hayley Mills), they’re going to catch him. This makes Cooper very worried. He starts behaving erratically and evasively, and it certainly looks like he’s The Butcher… because he is The Butcher. Don’t buy into any of those ridiculous fan theories about how, say, preteen daughter Riley is really The Butcher just because “the trailers ‘imply’ Cooper is The Butcher, but they don’t flat-out say it.” I’m flat-out saying it. The suspense in this movie comes from whether or not Cooper will be stopped or if he’ll kill anyone along the way. If you come into this movie expecting a mystery about The Butcher’s identity, you’ll be disappointed by more than just the weak second half. The stuff about Cooper trying to weasel his way out of the arena really does work. The well-cast Hartnett is as engaging a lead as this movie could have, and Shyamalan expertly keeps the tension steadily growing. This being a Shyamalan film, it’s also important to note oddball supporting characters like Jamie and the mother (Marnie McPhail) of a girl that doesn’t get along with Riley. These characters effectively add to the suspense, and they’re completely unaware of it. I complained about these types of scene-stealers in my review of “Longlegs” a few weeks back, but this movie isn’t as obnoxious about trying to make everyone quirky. The good times don’t last. Eventually the action leaves the arena and goes back to Cooper’s house, complete with wife Rachel (Alison Pill) and son Logan (Lachlan Miller). The perspective even shifts from Cooper to someone else for a little while. The venue change isn’t exactly where things start going downhill for this movie, but it’s soon after. The real turning point is when Cooper has to drop the façade and start behaving like a stereotypical bad guy. I was digging scared, desperate Cooper, but when he’s The Butcher, he’s neither scary nor interesting. Then, of course, there’s that interminable ending. Cooper manages to fool the FBI more than once, which is all the FBI should be permitted. The agents are all dumb as bricks. Cooper should have just taken his chances with being questioned at the concert and he probably would have gotten away. He makes some annoying mistakes too, but I can somewhat chalk those up to mental instability. More problematic than the plausibility of the characters’ decisions is that the timing and energy are all off, like Shyamalan’s inspiration just ran out of gas. I guess he was so dead-set on getting the concert scenes right that he considered everything else expendable. The pop music of Lady Raven is a good enough metaphor for “Trap.” It isn’t disastrous, like previous efforts from the Shyamalan family. I was relieved when Saleka proved to be a better singer and actress than her nepo-baby credentials would suggest. But at the same time, I couldn’t imagine any of these unmemorable songs becoming major hits. Just like I can’t picture “Trap” being anyone’s favorite thriller or Shyamalan movie. Here’s hoping you can easily get out of the theater.   Grade: C-   “Trap” is rated PG-13 for some violent content and brief strong language. Its running time is 105 minutes.   Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, Opera Mississippi will be holding general auditions. These auditions are for (1) open roles in the opera's spring production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, (2) the Opera Mississippi Chorus, (3) our young artist program and (4) our children's opera production. These in-person auditions on Saturday, August 24, 2024, will be from 11:30 AM - 6PM at the Arts Center of Mississippi, (Large Rehearsal Hall) 201 E Pascagoula St. Jackson, MS 39201. The mainstage production of The Magic Flute will be performed in Jackson on April 26, 2025, and in Natchez, Miss on May 2, 2025. In addition to our mainstage production, college students and local young singers are encouraged to audition to be a member of Opera Mississippi's Young Artist Program which also provides artist development opportunities such as master classes, coaching, and paid-performance opportunities. Singers who have sung with Opera Mississippi Chorus in previous productions, and wish to do so again, do not need to re-audition but are asked to complete the registration/audition form in order to register their interest for next season. There is no registration, audition, or pianist fee, and auditions are open to local and regional singers who live within driving distance of Jackson. Also, a pianist will be provided, or you may bring your own pianist. No a capella auditions, please. Opera Mississippi performances and rehearsals take place in Jackson, Natchez, Hattiesburg, Meridian, and other Mississippi cities. Community members and local singers, regional professional and young artists, college music students, and advanced high school music students are encouraged to audition. Visit www.operams.org/auditions  to register for an audition time. In lieu of a live audition, singers may also submit video recordings via the online application. For show details, application instructions, and requirements, interested singers should visit www.operams.org/auditions . Auditioners should prepare two contrasting songs in a vocal style that best reflects their level of study, vocal ability, and interest. Selections in all musical genres–opera, art song, musical theatre, gospel, jazz, pop, country, etc.–are welcome. Singers should bring sheet music for the pianist (see the website for more details) or may also sing to a recorded instrumental track/accompaniment. Please no a capella auditions. For more information and to apply, visit www.operams.org/auditions . For questions, please contact Alicia Bell at alicia@operams.org  or call 601-960-2300. You can also register  here .

You stepped out there and thoroughly blew it, and you knew it. All you could do was apologize. Knowing you were wrong you went ahead…you said “I’m sorry.” But the apology you have offered seems to fall way short of the mark. Somehow it just doesn’t have your intended effect– restoring the relationship that was damaged by your actions. ‘Somebody’s’ nose still seems way out of joint. Why? Does the other party have forgiveness issues? Grudge-holding is one of their favorite hobbies that they could easily turn into a profession? Where they could rank at the very top? Or maybe your victim doesn’t believe you meant one word of your apology, and therefore refuses to let bygones be bygones? In their eyes, you have used the phrase ‘I’m sorry’ so many times, that those words seem to hang in the air around you like a smelly smog. Could be either of those problems. Or, it just might be something else. It might just be that you did indeed mean your apology. You know you were in the wrong, and you owned up to it with those two little words. But your listener is still stiffly regarding you like you’re a skunk that stalked in and proceeded to set up shop in their living room. Why? Because they need more than your two words of regret. They need you to openly talk. They’ve been hurt by you. And they want you to say that you understand how badly they’ve been offended. A real acknowledgment from you of what you did. And then, they need to hear you actually say that you will do differently from now on. Do you feel the hackles rising on the back of your neck reading this? The reaction you’re experiencing is basically, “Hey, c’mon! I said I’m sorry. I certainly don’t need to fall on my knees and grovel. Ain’t doin’ it!” Yeah, you can certainly stand on that. But just be prepared for a change in the relationship. A cooler, more distant climate when you are around them. Your choice. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can do a lot better job of owning your mistake than that. And when you do, you will stand a whole lot better chance of having a good relationship with that person. Plus, you will not only have a shot at getting your relationship back on track, but very likely you will be able to look at yourself in the mirror much easier.

On Monday, August 19, 2024, Attorney General Lynn Fitch will host the Inaugural Mississippi Women's Summit at the Oxford Conference Center. This free event will include several panels of women leaders from all over Mississippi who will share their experiences as women running businesses and charitable organizations or as women in public service, law enforcement, and the military, and will also feature a vendor area of women-owned businesses from across Mississippi. For more information on the 2024 Inaugural Women's Summit, click HERE. This event is open to credentialed members of the media. Please RSVP to Maryasa.Lee@ago.ms.gov. For day of questions call or text MaryAsa Lee at 601-988-3731. Event Details: What: Inaugural Mississippi Women's Summit When: Monday, August 19, 2024 | Media Call Time: 8:00 am-8:30 am and 2:40 pm-3:10 pm. Where: Oxford Conference Center (102 Ed Perry Blvd, Oxford, MS 38655) Reserved parking available upon request Who: Attorney General Lynn Fitch Sarah Thomas (First Woman Referee for the National Football League) Paula Scanlan (Former Collegiate Swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, Advocate for Female-Based Rights) Rachel Duffy (Host of America's #1 Rated Cable News Morning Show, FOX & Friends Weekend)

By Kara Kimbrough As much as we’d like to be able to enjoy hearty bowls of chili, gumbo, taco soup and beef stew year-round, it’s just too hot to survive the heat that fills the kitchen when we’re cooking and stirring these dishes. And who needs their body temperature to rise even more through eating one of these hot and steaming dishes when the temperature is 90-plus degrees? But it’s impossible to survive solely on cold salads and sandwiches until the weather cools down, especially when that won’t happen until around Thanksgiving. My solution for hot weather cooking is to rely on the Crockpot, often seen as a cold weather appliance. That doesn’t make sense when you consider the fact that no heat is dispersed into the kitchen while the interior thoroughly cooks just about anything you can imagine. So don’t leave it on the shelf until it’s time for the afore-mentioned chili, beef stew and soup. Here are two of my favorite summertime (and any time, really) meals that’ll allow you to fix it, forget it and come home at the end of a hot day to a delicious meal – and a cool kitchen. Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce 2 pounds ground chuck ½ pound bacon Extra-virgin olive oil 5-15-ounce cans tomato sauce 3-6-ounce cans tomato paste 1 cup water 1 onion, sliced and diced into small pieces 1 carrot, sliced and diced into small pieces 3 tablespoons each of dried oregano and dried parsley 1 tablespoon each of salt and ground black pepper Brown ground chuck in large skillet with olive oil until meat is no longer pink. Drain and set aside. Fry bacon until brown and crisp; remove from pan and set aside on paper towel-lined plate. Crumble into pieces when cool. In bacon grease in bottom of pan, cook diced onions until they're soft and brown. Place meats and cooked onions into a lined six-quart Crockpot. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and cook on high 6-8 hours. Serve over cooked pasta. Crockpot Pepper Steak 1-1/2 pounds flank steak, cut into strips Salt and ground black pepper 1 large red bell pepper, sliced 1 large green bell pepper, sliced 1 medium white onion, sliced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed 1 cup low-sodium beef stock 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 3 tablespoons sesame oil 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional) Cooked rice, for serving Season flank steak thoroughly with salt and black pepper. In a large Crock Pot combine steak, bell pepper, onions and garlic. In a mixing bowl, combine beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper before adding into the Crock Pot. Cover and cook on high for 3-1/2 hours to 4 hours or on low for 5- 6 hours, until the steak is totally tender. Serve over rice. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The BEAD Map challenge process begins today! The Challenge Process allows residents of Mississippi a chance to provide feedback to help BEAM update the Mississippi Broadband Map. This updated map will allow BEAM to make the most of upcoming broadband funding and ensure every location in the state will soon have access to high-speed internet. Find out if you need to Challenge by viewing the BEAD MAP and entering your address. If your address is represented by a gray dot and you do NOT have access to high-speed internet you should submit a challenge. For those who do need to Challenge: visit RESIDENT CHALLENGE to take you to the resident Challenge Portal. A demonstration of the resident Challenge Portal is available by accessing the CHALLENGE PROCESS WEBINAR. BEAM can be reached at 601-359-5029 or info@beam.ms.gov with any questions. More resources for the Challenge Process, are available at www.beam.ms.gov/bead.

By: Bob Garver If nothing else, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is Disney taking a victory lap for acquiring 20th Century Fox and the Marvel properties it controlled. We got a taste of this last year in “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” when the advertising bragged about bringing in Patrick Stewart’s Professor X from the X-Men and then the movie threw in John Krasinski as Reed “Mr. Fantastic” Richards from the Fantastic Four just because it could. This time, two former Fox characters are front and center for a Disney release, and they’re bringing some very un-Disneylike mannerisms with them. Wade “Deadpool” Wilson has fallen into a funk since we last saw him. He was turned down for a job with The Avengers, broke up with his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), and now does a lousy job selling cars. It’s hard to believe that a highly-skilled assassin with regenerative superpowers wouldn’t be able to get a better job even without The Avengers, but whatever, he’s in need of a comeback. He’s sought out by Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), who runs a clandestine organization dedicated to preserving timelines. Wade’s timeline is about to end because of the death of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in 2017’s “Logan.” In fact, Paradox is just a few days away from deleting the timeline himself with a device that will erase the world painlessly. Wade isn’t giving up on preserving his universe, so he kidnaps a Wolverine from another timeline to replace the one that his world is missing. Paradox finds the replacement insufficient and banishes both Deadpool and the new Wolverine to The Void, a desert world reserved for entities that Paradox and his organization want to sweep under the rug. The Void is ruled by Nova (Emma Corrin), the heretofore unknown twin sister of Professor X.  She wants to kill the heroes, and they ironically need her help to return to Wade’s timeline to stop Paradox. The bad news is that neither Deadpool nor Wolverine can hope to succeed on their own, or even together for that matter. It doesn’t help that the two don’t like each other, with this version of Wolverine wanting nothing more than to wallow in self-pity and Deadpool insisting that he put aside his failures and help save a timeline that isn’t his own. The good news is that there’s help out there in The Void. Remember, multiple-timeline and multiverse rules are in effect here. I will say that there are other versions of Deadpool played by Reynolds and other versions of Wolverine played by Jackman. Are there versions of these characters not played by Reynolds and Jackman? Will anyone else from the “X-Men” universe show up? Maybe some even stranger bedfellows? The appeal of “Deadpool & Wolverine” lies in its ability to elicit laughter and gasps. The kind of gasps I can talk about here relate to crude humor and creative violence, which tie into the laughter anyway, so really the appeal of this film is its humor. Obviously this movie isn’t going to appeal to audiences that want their Marvel movies at the PG-13 level or tamer. But it also isn’t going to appeal to people that don’t like Deadpool or are sick of Deadpool. It’s hard to imagine anybody not falling for the charm that Reynolds and Jackman bring to their characters. It’s easier to imagine that people are tired of this schtick after eight years, with all the “shock” and meta-humor and excitement over silly things like ill-fitting pop songs. For me, there was just enough juice left in the tank for me to give this movie a recommendation, but I suggest seeing this movie early while the screenings are still a party, because I don’t think this movie is going to age well once the novelty wears off. Grade: B- “Deadpool & Wolverine” is rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references. Its running time is 128 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By: Mika Hartman If given the opportunity to take away my sons extra chromosome, I would not. If given the opportunity to remove some of his ailments due to his extra chromosome, I absolutely would. To make his life easier and healthier, that’s our daily goal, our “everyday” mission. I keep Hudson in a bubble, outside of therapy and doctors appointments, for the most part. If the bubble is popped, it is to give him the opportunity to enjoy the life we pray for him. I, more often than not, can look at my own Life360 and see that I haven’t left the house in 7 days or more. This is a protection measure that we happily take to keep Hudson away from unnecessary germs, all of our own doing; a simple cold could hospitalize my son. He already has fear of doctors and needles, so we try our best to keep any additional trips to the ER to a minimum. Our ER visits can rapidly move to hospital stays. So, when we burst the proverbial bubble, it is super-duper fun we seek. Hudson is a thrill junkie that LOVES rollercoasters and rides that spin fast. Life has to be more than therapy and medical appointments. His smile in a theme park is priceless. And I can tell you that the theme parks do an amazing service for Hudson and others who face challenges while in the parks. What are his challenges in a theme park? Well, our favorite theme parks are hot, crowded and can get wait times that are hours long. Yes, these are hard for anyone; but, a person with a disability, like Hudson, make these challenges impossible to partake in the fun. Not to mention, its expensive to be there, so being best prepared to make it worth it is important; this makes it  a full long day. The parks are huge and spread out. The lines are not only long, but many lines are in really dark spaces. Hudson uses a wheelchair for his safety and for long distance. He can walk, but at 54 pounds, we can’t carry him as far as we used to. Hudson eats by a g-tube and needs special feeding equipment and food; therefore, we don’t travel light. My son is also daily and lactose intolerant, we have to carry milks or pay crazy prices for cups of almond milk inside the parks. And Hudson is six and we are still working on potty training, but still carry a full diaper bag. My point in sharing all of this is to tell you that going places is harder than staying home. We do it so Hudson can have a life he enjoys and one we can enjoy as a family, together. When we find ourselves seeking disability passes for Hudson, it is for a great reason. When we are in a line for 3 hours to justify why he can’t wait in this lines is ridiculous. The parks do an amazing service for families like mine; to be able to experience a fun like this with our loved ones in a way that helps us and removes stress. When a system is abused to the point that a 3 hour wait to even talk to guest services, it is broken. I have heard of the reasons people seek a disability pass over many years. What a frustrating thing this is for those who are abusing the system, When everyone is disabled, no one is. If you had to pack and plan for the worst case scenario before entering the park, you’d have a better idea of what families like mine go through to be there. If you could hear Hudson’s heavy breathing of panic in the dark, you’d understand why we seek this. Listen, the program is good and needed. When a door is open to making the experience better, of course some will try to meet the requirements to receive it, That does not make it right. Be thankful you don’t go through the hurdles to be there. It’s no different than pulling in a parking lot and all the disabled spots are filled with cars. My least favorite ones are the corvettes or the ones where you can actually see them entering or exiting the car and no one appearing to need that spot. Come on. Do better. Be thankful you can walk or that you won’t need to rush to your car for extra medical equipment that is stored in all the cubbies. Or that you don’t have to load and unload a wheelchair. Or that you don’t have to change your six year olds diaper on the back gate because he is terrified of bathroom changing tables and too big anyways. Things have been designed to make the world more accessible, to give the freedoms to live life to the best of each individuals abilities. If you have to lie or over exaggerate your ailments to get the same pass as Hudson, then shame on you. I am tired of sugarcoating all we go through. Hudson is perfect, but life has challenges. The journey is ours and we should be able to easily provide what Hudson needs to feel included. Services like Universal or Disney offer are to encourage us to be there. It’s not a bonus, it’s a need. The whole “see something, say something” applies here. I have lost friendships over knowing the truth about the abuses to a good system. It is not okay to pretend you deserve what Hudson is offered. I am the first to understand that not all disabilities are visible; yes, many need the same service Hudson does and this was created for them, too. This is not a blanket assessment, I understand temporary disabilities, also. Yes, this system is good and needed. Just think about Hudson and the lengths we go and the hoops we jump to be there… if you don’t need this service, don’t ask for it. Be happy it is there for those who do. If it goes away, we can’t take Hudson anymore. It is EXTRA obvious why a service like this is exists and it is EXTRA obvious who they meant it for. Period.

You grew up together. Fought over who got to ride the newer bicycle and who would have the bigger bedroom. Laughed at the same old TV cartoons while inhaling your morning ration of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes with sweetened milk. Made fun of each other unmercifully. Griped to one another about all of Mom and Dad’s stupid rules. Told lies to help each other escape punishment for breaking those same rules. Or, with unbridled glee, deliberately tattled on the rule breaker in order see them suffer the penalty from Mom or even worse, (gulp) Dad. Sound familiar? But then. Everybody grew older, graduated high school and went their own way. And, as is true way too often, going their own way involved walking away from each other. Too busy with work, family, or higher education to find the time to stay connected. Or, unfortunately, it could have been a totally different reason. A reason that could be titled, I HAVE NEVER LIKED YOU, AND I SEE NO REASON TO TRY NOW. Subtitle? “Jealousy, Hurt Feelings, and Long-Buried Anger.” There are a lot of angry memories in many adult siblings. We can own the memories of elephants when recalling our childhood battles. And also be stubborn as mules when it comes to acting like adults and working out those things that happened thirty+ years ago. We hold on to our “I know I was right!” with self-righteous coldness. As if that is going to punish our sibling to the point that one of these years she is going to come to her senses and fall down on her knees to beg forgiveness. Probably not gonna happen, folks. And it won’t matter how long you stay in your corner of the world and wait. Because most likely, your unlovable mule/sibling is holding on to her version of the same fight, and feeling the very same, “I know I was right!” that you are. Waiting on you to fall down on your knees and beg her forgiveness. And meanwhile, the years roll by. While both of you play the same waiting game. While both of you get more cynical and bitter with each passing day. But when one of you bites the dust before the other, I doubt that the one remaining will triumphantly stand in your living room and be glad that you held to your principles and made yourself wait it out. That’s when you probably will realize the harsh reality that it’s forever too late to pick up the phone and say, “Hey, it’s me. Can we talk?” Too late to try and see each other’s point of view. Make the first step. Even if your sibling refuses to take your calls, refuses to be even try to discuss the past, at least you tried.  And who knows? Maybe one of those phone calls will jostle the stubborn mule into actually talking it out with you. One of these days...or years. Or decades. Give it a shot anyway.

Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson proudly acknowledges the completion of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This vital initiative addresses the long-standing discrimination experienced by farmers and ranchers in USDA loan programs. The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) was created under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Congress allocated $2.2 billion for the program, instructing the USDA to provide financial support to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who faced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs. Today, over 43,000 individuals nationwide will receive aid through the program, including over 23,000 current or former farmers receiving up to $500,000 and over 20,000 prospective farmers receiving up to $6,000. Mississippi leads the nation with the highest number of recipients. A total of 13,283 individuals will receive $521,830,460 in financial assistance, including 5,892 current producers and 7,391 planned producers. “This program is crucial for Black farmers in Mississippi and across the country, who have historically faced systemic discrimination,” said Rep. Thompson. “As the only member of Congress from Mississippi to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, I am proud to see the positive impact this legislation is having on our farmers and ranchers. These awards are a significant step in the right direction, but our work towards equity must continue.” “Farmers and ranchers work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s land. But for too long, many farmers and ranchers experienced discrimination in farm loan programs and have not had the same access to federal resources and support,” said President Joe Biden. “I promised to address this inequity when I became President. Today that promise has become a reality. My Inflation Reduction Act took a bold step to address the effects of discrimination in farming and ranching, and today’s action will enable more farmers and ranchers to support themselves and their families, help grow the economy, and pursue their dreams.” “The completion of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is an important moment in USDA’s history, and in our journey to becoming a department that truly serves everyone who wants to participate in agriculture. While this financial assistance is not compensation for anyone’s losses or pain endured, it is an acknowledgement. My hope is that this will ensure that many farmers can stay on their farms, contribute to our nation’s food supply, and continue doing what they love,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I am also immensely grateful to USDA’s many partners in this effort, including the organizations who helped spread the word and offer technical assistance to applicants. This process, and the information contained in the applications, will help USDA as we fine tune our efforts to make USDA programs accessible, inclusive and equitable to all.” Learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program here. View the full list of award distributions announced today here.