Our Central Hinds Varsity and JV Cheerleaders absolutely rocked the house on the final day of UCA Camp at Ole Miss!! Varsity: 1st in Cheer 2nd in Camp Dance Routine 3rd in Sideline Junior Varsity: 1st in Cheer 1st in Camp Dance Routine 2nd in Sideline

By Toni Miles Mississippi’s sales tax holiday is just around the corner and just in time for the 2023-2024 school year, giving local parents and guardians a much-needed break on the cost of school supplies and clothing. The sales tax holiday takes place from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 28, to midnight on Saturday, July 29. It’s a temporary sales tax weekend, when the Mississippi Department of Revenue allows certain items to be purchased sales-tax-free at participating retailers within the state. The Mississippi sales tax holiday was passed during the state’s 2009 Legislative Session and was amended in 2019. During the holiday, sales tax is not due on the sale of articles of clothing, footwear, or school supplies, if the price of a single item is less than $100. The price of an individual item determines whether the buyer saves on the sales tax, not the total bill. This is good news for thousands of people throughout the state, as parents seek to save money on back-to-school shopping as the new school year begins. The tax holiday does not apply to sales of any other items not defined as clothing, footwear, or school supplies, nor does it apply to rentals. In addition, articles that are normally sold together, such as a pair of shoes or a uniform, must continue to be sold as a set or a single unit. Components of the unit cannot be priced separately and sold as individual items in order to qualify for the holiday. Likewise, if a retailer advertises a pair of pants as “buy one, get one half off,” with the first pair of pants priced at $120 and the second pair half off, then sales tax is due on the first pair priced at $120, though the second pair ($60) would not be subject to sales tax. Retailers may offer store discounts and store coupons to reduce the price of an eligible item to or less than $100 in order to qualify for the holiday, with the exception of manufacturers’ coupons or rebates, which do not reduce the sales price of an item. Sales of eligible items that are placed or ordered by mail, telephone, or the internet are not subject to sales tax, provided the purchaser orders and pays for the items during the sales tax holiday and the items are less than the $100 threshold. Layaway sales of eligible items do not qualify for the holiday, and eligible items purchased during the sales tax holiday using a rain check qualify for the holiday only if the rain check is redeemed during the sales tax holiday. If it is redeemed after the holiday, the purchase is subject to sales tax. If an eligible item was purchased during the sales tax holiday and returned after the holiday for credit on the purchase of a different item, sales tax will be applied to the sale of the newly-purchased item. In other words, in Mississippi, sales tax-exempt items that meet the requirements and that are purchased during the two-day holiday will not include Mississippi’s seven-percent sales tax, which equates to seven-percent savings, or seven cents of savings on each dollar spent. Definitions “Clothing” is any article of apparel designed to be worn on the human body, including pants, shirts and blouses, dresses, coats, jackets, belts, hats, undergarments, and multiple-piece garments sold as a set. “Footwear” is any article of apparel for human feet, except for skis, swim fins, roller blades, skates, and any similar items. “Accessories” defined as jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, briefcases, and similar items, do not qualify for the sales tax holiday. “School Supplies” means items that are commonly used by a student in a course of study. Eligible and Non-Eligible Items The sales tax holiday will apply statewide to all consumer purchases of clothing, footwear, and school supplies with sales prices of less than $100 per article during the sales tax holiday. Guidelines: $100 Threshold The Sales Tax Holiday applies to each eligible item selling for less than $100, regardless of how many items are sold at the same time. Items priced at $100 or more are subject to sales tax at the regular retail rate of seven percent. Rentals of Items Rentals of clothing and footwear do not qualify for the Sales Tax Holiday and are subject to a seven-percent sales tax. Items Sold as a Unit Articles that are normally sold together, such as a pair of shoes or a uniform, must continue to be sold as a set or a single unit. Components of the unit cannot be priced separately and sold as individual items in order to qualify for the holiday. However, if components of a unit are normally priced as separate items, then they may continue to be sold as separate items and qualify if the price of the article is less than $100. Pairings of Eligible and Non-Eligible Items When eligible items are normally sold with non-eligible items as a set or a single unit, the full price is subject to sales tax if the value of the non-eligible (taxable) item exceeds the eligible ones. Buy One, Get One Free or For a Reduced Price The total price of items advertised as "buy one, get one free" or “at a reduced price" cannot be averaged to qualify both items for the holiday. The amount of sales tax due depends on the actual price paid for each item sold. PDF List of Items

By Sarah Ulmer, Magnolia Tribune This weekend, Mississippi shoppers can enjoy a tax-free holiday, just in time for those back-to-school clothes, shoes, and supplies. Dawn McVea, NFIB State Director for Mississippi, says this weekend is a great chance for customers to make purchases that will also help local businesses. “When you support Main Street businesses, you’re supporting Mississippi’s job creators,” said McVea. “You’re supporting the businesses that do so much to support their communities throughout the year.” Small businesses account for 99.3% of Mississippi’s businesses, according to the 2022 Small Business Profile. The holiday was implemented after the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill in 2009 that was later amended in 2019. The tax exemption on certain items applies to purchases made in person, by mail, telephone or internet. However, there is a $100 cap for single item purchases. Senator David Parker (R), who Chairs the Economy and Workforce Development Committee in the Senate, has been a supporter of tax breaks across the board. He said this holiday is a chance to provide a financial break for families in a particularly expensive time of year. “Certain times of the year predictably add financial burden to a large portion of our Mississippi population. One of these times is the start of school after summer break,” said Parker. “Lt. Governor Hosemann, myself, and my fellow legislators are happy to offer a tax-free weekend as so many are making plans to return to school and to work in our schools.” Parker went on to add that he and other members of the Legislature hope to continue to offer further breaks in taxation over the coming years. While inflation and labor quality continue to be concerns for small businesses, weekends like the tax-free holiday offer a boost in sales as consumers take advantage of the tax relief. “Inflation has taken a toll on Mississippi’s families, and it’s taking a toll on its small businesses, too,” McVea said. “By shopping small this weekend, you’ll help the local economy. You’ll support the businesses owned by your friends and neighbors. You’ll help local businesses that sponsor our children’s sports teams, support local charities, and are always there for their communities.” The holiday will take place from 12:01 a.m. on Friday to midnight on Saturday, July 29. To learn more about the Sales Tax Holiday in Mississippi, click here to see the Official Guide from the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

By Kara Kimbrough Here's a little-known fact - many of the recipes we use today -or at least variations of them - originated during the dismal decade between 1929 and 1939, better known as the Great Depression. Prior to this time, many in the U.S. "lived off the land," feasting on home-grown vegetables and farm-raised beef, chicken and pork. Many lost everything in the Depression, causing them to be more resourceful in the kitchen when it came to feeding their families. As a result, recipes for hundreds of varieties of soups, potatoes fixed 1,000 different ways and edible cakes lacking milk, sugar and eggs became a necessity to keep from starving during the lean years. Thankfully, we're living in more prosperous times. However, several old-fashioned foods from a bygone era have resurfaced on restaurant menus and on family dinner tables. This could be due to nostalgia-based memories of a parent or grandparent serving the dishes in the past...maybe to save money in a fluctuating economy... or possibly because most of these dishes are simply delicious. Here are a few Depression-era foods and dishes that may be worth reviving for your family: 1. Navy Bean Soup. It's easy to understand why beans were a staple during leaner times. They're cheap, easy to prepare and one pot will feed an Army. Beans were the main ingredient in many Depression dishes, especially soup. Today's version is a bit more tasty, filled with ham, carrots, onions and garlic. Speaking of the Army, the soup got it's name during World War II, when Navy ship cooks found it was the perfect dish to feed the thousands of hungry sailors aboard the massive vessels. It's still just as good today as it was nearly 100 years ago. 2. Potato Soup. I was surprised by this entry, because, well, potato soup never really went out of style. However, poor families' version was little more than boiled potatoes topped with hot water. Today, we load ours with chopped bacon, heavy cream, cheese and anything else that's fattening and good. Suffice to say, it's a lot better today than it was back then. 3. Old-Fashioned Cornbread. I know what you're thinking - cornbread never went away. But hear me out of this entry. Cornbread used to be a staple on every table in America, dating back to the Pilgrims, probably. However, as the years passed, cornbread shortcuts became more prevalent. Picture the little blue box labeled "Jiffy Mix," and you'll see where I'm going. Cornbread of yesteryear was composed of cornmeal, water, salt and a little hard to season the skillet. After all, milk, eggs and flour were scarce, especially during WWII. Today, rich cornbread is showing up in fine restaurants, albeit in cute little black skillets. However you make or serve it, cornbread is a side that should never again be allowed to go out of style. 4. Potato pancakes. As I said, potatoes were the savior of the Depression years and other lean times. In short, they kept many families from starving. But don't get the idea Americans discovered the fancier version of boiled potatoes. Recipes for potato pancakes were brought over from the Old Country by immigrants from Germany, Switzerland, England and Poland, Sure, they were called by other names, but had one commonality with our version. Most were made with shredded potatoes held together with flour, baking powder and eggs, then flattened and fried to a crispy brown color. Somehow they slipped into obscurity, but they're back and I hope they stay. 5. Chicken and dumplings. Like me, I hope you have fond memories of a large bowl of steaming chicken and dumplings being placed before you on the Sunday dinner table. This dish used to be a staple in any proper Southern cook's repertoire, but all the mixing, rolling, cutting and boiling was eschewed by modern cooks. Thankfully, they've made a comeback, as they should have. Once you get the technique down pat, dumplings are not hard or really that time-consuming to make. And as we all know, they're worth it in the end. I discovered quite a few food items that were created in the 1930's and never disappeared. These include Toll House cookies, lemon, chocolate and coconut meringue pies and Parker House Rolls. It's easy to understand why they never left us. Most likely, they'll still be around to feed those that arrive in the next century. Here's a recipe for a chill-slice-and-bake cookie recipe that became popular almost 100 years ago when the first electric refrigerator became a fixture in many American homes. Mixed together in mere minutes and baked in 8, like the refrigerator, they're one of the best inventions of the previous century. 8-Minute Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies 1/2 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup chopped nuts Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla and mix well. Mix baking powder with flour and add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts. Roll in waxed paper and refrigerate until firm. Storing the roll in the freezer works well, too. Slice and bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned in a 375-degree oven. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. She is also a travel agent. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver “Barbie” prides itself on inspiring a full range of feelings – both in its characters and its audience. The characters tap into dark, sad sides they never knew they had, and they find out life is more rewarding for it. The audience is sure to eat up all the easy jokes and sweetness, sure, but they’re also supposed to appreciate the film for its psychological depth and hard-hitting social commentary. Perhaps it’s appropriate that I have a broad range of feelings toward the film. I think there are portions that work very well, and there are entire storylines and characters that could be cut. There are jokes worth laughs, and jokes worth a cold stare. Some of the film’s insights opened my eyes, others made me roll them. But at least the movie is ambitious enough to attempt so many jokes and insights. Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives in Barbieland with every other Barbie ever created. Most have careers, like President Barbie (Issa Rae) and Doctor Barbie (Hari Nef) and more, but Robbie is Stereotypical Barbie, whose life has no purpose except to be perfect. Equally bland is Ken (Ryan Gosling), whose only traits are that he enjoys the beach and pines after Barbie. He and the other Kens (Simu Liu, John Cena, and more) and one guy named Allan (Michael Cera) are happy to let the Barbies run things while they live like second-class citizens. In fact, everyone in Barbieland is happy all the time, until one day when Barbie is suddenly unhappy. She goes to see the wizened Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), who sends her on a quest to the real world to find the source of her nagging thoughts of death and cellulite. Ken comes along, and both are shocked by what they find. Barbie discovers that she’s not the feminist icon she thought she was, as despite the disparate models and careers, the entire toy line is still considered pretty vapid. Ken learns that most of the world is run by a patriarchy, and that seems to be working out pretty well. Barbie visits Mattel headquarters, where the CEO (Will Ferrell) wants her to return to the status quo, but she’s not sure that’s what she wants anymore. She escapes with the low-level employee that’s been affecting her mind (America Ferrera, who gets an amazing monologue late in the movie) and her cynical daughter (Ariana Greenblatt). Together they all return to Barbieland, where they have to stop the newly-power-hungry Kens and… learn to get more out of life, I guess. Admittedly, I’m not doing the story much justice, but in fairness, neither does the movie itself. Writer/director Greta Gerwig knows that she wants a number of story beats and ideas explored. But they aren’t tied together smoothly. For example, to what degree are the characters supposed to be literal dolls? Sometimes they move like normal humans, other times they’re affected by a lack of joints (and a lack of other body parts too, don’t think the movie isn’t going to address “that”). Why has it taken decades for certain concepts to reach Barbieland, and why now? What effects do Mattel and Barbieland have on each other, exactly? The movie dismisses these qualms in the laziest way possible, with a joke that follows the structure of “Is it A or is it B?” “Yes!” Frankly, I think the entire Mattel portion of the film could have been cut and Gerwig should have come up with another way for Barbie to have an important conversation with creator Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman). For all its flaws in world-building, “Barbie” is still an incredibly fun movie. The hot-pink-heavy color scheme is as gorgeous to people who like it as it is nauseating to people who don’t (but I do). The jokes usually work, especially when they’re not deliberately stupid or smutty. Most notably, Robbie, Gosling, and the entire team are clearly having a blast. And you will too, especially if you can catch this movie soon while the theatrical experience is still a big party. Grade: B- “Barbie” is rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language. Its running time is 114 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

In order to accommodate busy parents gearing up for the new school year, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will host a one-stop shop for required school entry/registration forms. This special two-week event will allow parents to get a copy of their child’s Form 121 (shot record) if the child is up to date on immunization requirements, as well as their birth certificate, at the same time and same place. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 24 – Friday, August 4 MSDH Office of Vital Records 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland (Off Highland Colony Parkway) Parents must provide their child’s school with a Certificate of Immunization Compliance (Form 121) from their immunization provider prior to school entry. The child’s birth certificate is also required for school registration. During this One-Stop Shop event, the child’s Form 121 will be available for free if the child is up to date on immunization requirements. Certified copies can also be printed through www.MyIRMobile.com. Birth certificates will be available the same day for $17; each additional certified copy is $6. Mississippi state law requires children to be immunized against childhood diseases to enter public or private school, Head Start or daycare. There are also required immunizations for 7th grade entry. For more information on immunization requirements or exemptions for school entry, visit msdh.ms.gov/immunizations. Immunizations are available at county health departments by appointment. Follow MSDH by email and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

The Mississippi Farmers Market will host Sliced into Summer 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 29. Alongside usual vendors who carry produce, eggs, meat, dairy products, honey, flowers, artwork and plants, the Market will feature complimentary watermelon slices; Back to School lunchbox bundles; a photo opportunity with the 2023 Watermelon Queen; and kids’ activities. “Join us at the Mississippi Farmers Market for our Sliced into Summer event this Saturday,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “We’ve got the 2023 Mississippi Watermelon Queen, Saylor Sullivan, who will be joining us from Mize for pictures and Mississippi-grown watermelon for everyone to enjoy. Come experience the benefits firsthand of shopping and supporting local producers.” The Farmers Market Café, located inside of the Mississippi Farmers Market, is open 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every weekday and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. For daily menu schedules, visit the Farmers Market Café on Facebook. The Genuine MS® Store, also located inside the Mississippi Farmers Market, is open 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. For additional information about the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s Genuine MS® program, visit www.genuinems.com or follow Genuine MS® on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on select Thursdays. For additional information about the Mississippi Farmers Market, visit www.msfarmersmarket.com or follow the Mississippi Farmers Market on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will celebrate its 40th birthday with an event on Saturday, September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for all ages. “In September of 1983, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum officially opened its doors to the public,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “Since then, visitors have enjoyed ag tours, exhibits, demonstrations and wholesome, family fun. We are excited to celebrate this incredible milestone of 40 years educating the public on Mississippi’s rich agricultural heritage. Mark your calendars for this historic and entertaining event coming up September 9, 2023.” In addition to all the usual exhibits, festivities for this event will feature the Dixieland Old Engine and Agricultural Club’s display of antique engines and other agricultural tools, and much more. Living History Presenters from around the country will be dressed in period clothing and interacting with museum visitors as Small Town, Mississippi, comes to life. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum has partnered with several organizations who will assist in providing 40 unique experiences across the museum grounds that visitors can enjoy. Additional details regarding the museum’s 40th birthday event will be forthcoming soon. For more information on the different experiences scheduled for this event, contact Rachel Bone at rachel@mdac.ms.gov. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Cheating – taking what you didn’t earn. Yeah, that’s a real self-esteem builder. “I’m not brainy enough or strong enough to do it myself, I have to ‘borrow’ from someone else.” Stealing – So, you are the squirrel that doesn’t bother finding your own nuts. You’d rather follow your neighbor squirrel to his stash, steal it, and give it to your family. Real class act. Making your family so proud of you. Violence – Now there’s a class act! Using brute force on someone else to get what you want. Might as well take out an ad in the local paper stating you know you are ‘less than.’ Sexual Perversion – Simple logic tells anyone that a bolt doesn’t fit a bolt, and a nut doesn’t fit another nut. God had it all figured out for us. Better to be alone and not offend your Creator. Lying – You have to be one of those people who love the thought of standing stark naked on Main Street with a sign above your head reading “Liar.” Because Numbers 32:23 in the Bible warns, "You will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Adultery – Stepping outside your marriage for sex. An accepted norm in today’s world. But still, a guarantee of causing yourself pain in the future. Might as well take an axe to a leg or two, if guaranteed pain is your aim. Drunkenness – Another of the many examples of stupidity and self-centeredness. Losing control of your own behavior and emotions. Not to say anything of the real danger you can cause to those around you. Jealousy – Whine, “I want what she’s got.” You may want the same as what she has, but don’t make the mistake of wanting hers. So self-defeating. Grow up and just go work to get your own. Idolatry – Putting anything or anyone in this world before the Creator of this world. If that’s your idea of intelligence – angering the One who created you and can snuff you out in a heartbeat, then go for it. Entitlement – Expecting others to hand you everything you need or want, simply because you are you. Grow up and work for it, like a mature person. Using the people around you stinks, and that smell will eventually run them off. And then you are left alone to breathe in your own stench. Bitterness – A real no-brainer! Go ahead, live your life hurt and angry. Drink that rat poison and expect the one who hurt you to suffer. Gossiping – Are you deliberately trying to make certain you become the butt of gossip at some point? Because that is the end game of talking about other people behind their back. Fact: A good friend who is willing to gossip with you, is usually willing to talk to another good friend about you. Remember, a juicy piece of gossip about you is often just too good not to share. Just asking you to think.

By Bob Garver Last summer, when “Top Gun: Maverick” was making roughly all the money printed in the United States during that fiscal quarter, I read a number of articles (many publications jumped on the trend at once) calling Tom Cruise various iterations of “The Last Movie Star.” The moniker is obviously an exaggeration – Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt haven’t exactly been left in the dust in Hollywood – but it’s understandable where it comes from. It may take a few beats to remember that the “Avatar” movies star Sam Worthington or that Tom Holland is the most recent (live-action) version of Spider-Man, but there is no such confusion with a Tom Cruise movie. I bet most people, when discussing the “Mission: Impossible” movies, say “Tom Cruise” instead of his character’s name of Ethan Hunt. For that matter, I wouldn’t be surprised if people say “Tom Cruise” instead of “Jerry Maguire” when discussing the film named after the character. All of this is to say that Tom Cruise has an undeniable screen presence and charisma. He certainly has the straight-up talent to justify this popularity, but his blockbuster appeal is about more than that. He clearly believes that if he’s going to be at the top of the industry, he should push himself harder than the rest of the industry. That’s why he insists on undertaking difficult tasks like long sequences of running and dangerous stunts involving planes and motorcycles. This kind of dedication is why “Mission: Impossible” is a respectable franchise unto itself and not the James Bond knockoff that it would be otherwise. The new installment sees Hunt racing around the globe to stop The Entity, a computer program that has seemingly become sentient and bent on world domination. Whoever can access The Entity first, whether it’s a government or an individual, can basically control the world. Hunt is initially sanctioned by the U.S. government, represented by Impossible Mission Force leader Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), but he soon realizes that nobody should be allowed to have that much power, so he goes on a rogue mission to destroy The Entity. Hunt is aided by faithful teammates Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg) and Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson). Complicating matters are money-driven duplicitous characters like high-class pickpocket Grace (Hayley Atwell) and black-market arms dealer Alanna (Vanessa Kirby). Full-on villains include assassin Gabriel (Esai Morales) and his henchwoman Paris (Pom Klementieff, gleefully maniacal in a role that frankly doesn’t call for it), who are apparently representing The Entity itself, and no, I’m not sure how that business relationship works. The mission involves gaining possession of two halves of a key and then figuring out what exactly the key opens. It also involves an elaborate series of druggings, pickpocketings, thievery, bomb scares, knife-fights, shootouts, car chases, crosses and double crosses, and a ton of antics with a runaway train. Oh, and those super-realistic masks that this series loves come into play. This movie really hopes you like Vanessa Kirby, because you’re getting a double dose of her here (no complaints from me). I spent most of this movie having a hard time deciding if it was worth recommending. Cruise and his team are their usual delightful selves, but it seems like this movie’s been done several times before. The villains are more memorable than some of the others in this series, but their motivations are questionable. The action is mostly pretty exciting, but the stakes are affected by the “Part One” in the film’s title, which tells me that nothing too conclusive is going to happen here. At the last minute, the film pulled out an effective action sequence with a train that finally earned it my endorsement. I reckon you’ll have a good time with the seventh “Mission: Impossible” Grade: B- “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some language and suggestive material. Its running time is 163 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ) will host “Voices of Mississippi,” an immersive multimedia experience and concert event, on September 13th at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Performing Arts Center in Ridgeland, Mississippi. “Voices of Mississippi” combines blues, folk, gospel music, and spoken-word storytelling to paint a powerful portrait of the state’s contribution to American culture. The event features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings, and archival photographs, all combining to tell a uniquely Mississippi story. The event showcases a lineup of artists representing multiple genres rooted in the Mississippi musical tradition. Featured performers will include two-time GRAMMY® Award-Winner and Blues Hall of Fame legend Bobby Rush; Sharde Thomas of the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band; and three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars. “Voices of Mississippi” is based on the GRAMMY® Award-winning film, book, and music compilation set of the same name by Dr. William Ferris, founder of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Ferris was the 2022 recipient of the MCJ Pathfinder Award, which honors those who promote equity through the arts. Dr. Ferris will MC the event, sharing personal stories from his life’s work documenting Mississippi musicians and artists. The “Voices of Mississippi” benefit concert will support the work of the Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit legal firm that promotes racial, social, and economic equity. “Our state’s rich cultural heritage represents every Mississippian,” says Vangela M. Wade, MCJ’s president and CEO. “Much of our state’s most celebrated creativity and most influential work was born from our state’s most marginalized people and most difficult times. ‘Voices of Mississippi’ is an inclusive event that will bring all of us together to celebrate our state’s unmatched influence on American music, art, and culture.” “’Voices of Mississippi’ celebrates our state’s rich history of music, which has long been a bridge across troubled waters. Music comforts the soul, deepens our humanity, and builds solidarity,” says Dr. Ferris. “Like the courageous work of the Mississippi Center for Justice, the sounds of Mississippians and their rich musical heritage inspire us to work for a better future together.” EVENT DETAILS “Voices of Mississippi” September 13, 2023 7:00 PM St. Andrew’s Performing Arts Center 370 Old Agency Road Ridgeland, MS 39157 Tickets on sale July 19 via Ticketmaster VIP Seating $200 General Admission Tickets $125 https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B005EEEA5F0548A For sponsorship information, including tickets to a VIP reception with the artists, contact: Tosha Taylor 601.709.0859 or 601.325.2269 ext. 107 TTaylor@mscenterforjustice.org For media inquiries, interview requests, or further information, contact: Mandesha Thornton Mississippi Center for Justice 601.352.2269 ext. 147 mthornton@mscenterforjustice.org

Have you ever thought that you could create a better message for the signs you see above the roadways? Now is your chance to prove it! The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is holding its annual Safety Message Contest. Submit your clever or punny message for the chance to win and see it posted on Mississippi DMS boards. The contest will run from July 17 through 31. “MDOT’s main focus is safety; we want everyone, the traveling public and our roadside workers, to make it where they’re going every day,” said Brad White MDOT Executive Director. “These messages you see along the roadways help remind drivers of easy ways to increase their safety when behind the wheel.” MDOT’s traffic safety messages appear on DMS boards along highways and interstates throughout Mississippi. These messages, which are often related to current events and pop culture, are part of an effort to encourage drivers to change their actions behind the wheel. However, any local emergency messages and traffic updates automatically override scheduled messages on the DMS boards. There is no limit to the number of messages you can submit, but below are some guidelines to remember: The message must relate to traffic safety. Signs can only accommodate three lines and 21 characters per line, including spaces. Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed. No emojis. For this year’s contest, participants are encouraged to focus their messages on the following themes: Speeding Distracted Driving/Texting and Driving Seat Belt Safety Sober Driving Work Zone Safety Turn Signals/Blinkers Left Lane Driving Etiquette Follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for details on how to submit your messages.