SUMMARY: Joseph David Heard of Gulfport, Mississippi, has been convicted of Capital Murder for the death of his two-year-old step-son on December 27, 2021. The child died of suffocation by smothering and multiple blunt force injuries. Heard's abuse of the child, including forcing him to sit on a potty-training seat for hours and popping blisters with a spatula, was revealed during the trial. The child's mother, Hailey Heard, confessed to the murder, stating that Joseph repeatedly punched the child when he took too long to get a juice box. Hailey is serving a life sentence, while Joseph has been sentenced to death.

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SUMMARY: The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name to Scouting America as part of a significant shift towards inclusion and to increase membership numbers. The organization has made seismic changes in recent years, including allowing gay youth, welcoming girls, and accepting them into its flagship program. The move to accept girls strained the organization's relationship with the Girl Scouts of the USA but they reached a settlement. The Boy Scouts emerged from bankruptcy last year, compensating victims of sexual abuse. The organization aims to provide structured activities for children and teach important life skills, with the official name change set for 2025.

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SUMMARY: Sanjuana Valtierra-Pettaway and Jennifer Canaan, senior social work students at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), have participated in the IMPACT Community Work Study Program, giving back to the community through organizations like Women of Wisdom and the Gulf Coast Center for Non-Violence. Canaan received the Volunteer of the Year award for her dedication, while Valtierra-Pettaway has gained valuable skills working with Women of Wisdom. The program allows students to connect with local communities, improve their career readiness, and make a positive impact. It also creates beneficial partnerships between USM Gulf Park Campus and local nonprofits. Learn more about the program and experiential learning opportunities.

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