Government
Clarksdale mayor turns to students, voters to make key board appointments
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Mayor Chuck Espy said the unorthodox move, which will involve debates and a vote, is a more democratic method of making these high-profile picks
Justice
Violence at Mississippi jails and prisons: Timeline, Fact check
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As of Jan. 3, at least five prisoners at three Mississippi correctional facilities were confirmed dead in disturbances at jails and prisons. These deaths come amid a series of violent disturbances reported via social media and news outlets
Education
‘It’s structured play’ — how Mississippi schools teach kindergarteners to read
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The process of mastering the fundamentals of reading begins in kindergarten, where teachers work to set students up for success for the rest of their academic lives
Education
How one Delta community wants to improve education with readily available resources
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Parents, teachers (from private, charter and traditional public schools), administrators and other stakeholders in Coahoma County identify resources and solutions already available in the community
Equity
Delta families without running water ‘opened a lot of eyes.’ PSC looks to document water access in state
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Families without access to running water for months could have access to a water system in 2020. Task force to form to study the scope of water issues
Equity
Public Service Commission seeks answers for Delta families living without running water since July
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State agency that oversees electric, gas, water and sewer utilities heard of the families’ situation through media reports.
Equity
‘We should be entitled to water’: Why some Delta residents have gone months without running water
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Six families on the outskirts of Schlater have no access to water. As a temporary fix, the Leflore County Board of Supervisors donated a water tank for the residents and people from Mississippi and other states have donated cases of water while the families await a permanent solution.
Mississippi Culture
Clarksdale creates art commission to monitor public art after clash of cultures during arts festival
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A painting of a martini glass with a rifle next to an African American woman’s face sparks social media outrage.
Education
Delta school district wins appeal process to change accountability ratings
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Mississippi State Board of Education reversed an original decision and granted the North Bolivar schools’ request that will result in its accountability rating changing from an F to a D.
Equity
Ole Miss, MSU meal plan prices skyrocket as contractor Aramark pays for new facilities
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Rising meal plan prices at Mississippi universities contribute to the increasing cost of a college education. A big reason for the higher costs? Students are paying for more than just food.
Health
Going beyond teen pregnancy data: On-the-ground support program prepares Coahoma moms for motherhood
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The conversation surrounding teen pregnancy in areas like the Mississippi Delta focuses much on prevention efforts, advocates say, but, what are the immediate next steps when a teenager becomes pregnant?
Education
Delta school districts restrict public comment following testy exchanges with citizens
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District officials say they’re returning to a previously unenforced policy requiring seven days written notice to address the Clarksdale school board
Staff Picks 2019
‘Well-Read Black Girl’ centers African American women writers
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Author Glory Edim made a T-shirt that birthed a nationwide bookclub, a literary festival in Brooklyn and a sisterhood among women of color across the world
Education
‘I’m looking to re-energize and build’: Clarksdale schools new leader accepts ‘the unique set of challenges’ the Delta presents
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Because of his experiences on the Gulf Coast – helping to rebuild a district from the ground up after Hurricane Katrina – Earl Joe Nelson Jr. says he has insight to the issues the community faces with having limited resources.
Health
Teen pregnancy rate declines but remains high in the Delta; report says social and economic factors key to further reduction
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Report uses CDC data and census reports to drill into Delta-specific trends and state policy as indicators for teen pregnancy rates, like poverty and Mississippi state law requiring parents to decide if their child receives sex education.