Mississippi News
Formula shortage: WIC adds more approved options
Mississippi WIC program again adds baby formula options amid national shortage
The Mississippi Department of Health announced on Thursday that the state's Women, Infants and Children's Nutrition Program (WIC) is adding new baby formulas to its approved product list to improve access amid the national formula shortage.Â
Before the shortage, only four types of formula could be purchased with WIC benefits in Mississippi unless an infant received an exemption through a medical diagnosis. The department made eight new products available on June 1 and have now added six more. These additional options will be WIC-eligible at least through the end of August.
The new options added on Thursday are all alternative Enfamil products, including new formulations and product sizes. A list of new approved formulas can be found here.
Mississippi has the second-lowest rate of breastfeeding in the nation, and the formula shortage has left some parents struggling to feed their children.
There were 84,000 women, children and infants who participated in WIC in Mississippi in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Supply-chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic are one cause of the formula shortage. The shortage was heavily exacerbated by the recall of three major baby formula brands manufactured by Abbott Nutrition after a probe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found bacterial contamination at one Abbott facility in Sturgis, Mich. At least four babies were hospitalized and two died after consuming contaminated formula, the Food and Drug Administration said.Â
The Sturgis facility, which is estimated to produce one-fifth of the U.S. baby formula supply, shut down in February due to the contamination. It reopened on June 4, but was shut back down again just nine days later due to flooding. The plant resumed operations again on July 1, but has not resumed production of Similac, its most popular formula brand.Â
The Biden administration has attempted to bolster U.S. formula supplies through efforts like Operation Fly Formula, which used the Defense Department to fly in formula from other countries. Despite these efforts by the government and others by manufacturers to boost production, stores are still struggling to stock their shelves.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
MDOT receives $4.8 million to improve hurricane evacuation routes
SUMMARY: MDOT received a $4.8 million grant to enhance contraflow operations on I-55 and I-59 as hurricane evacuation routes. The funding will improve traffic flow, safety, and efficiency with new signage, gates, and mile markers. Contraflow will turn all lanes northbound in case of a powerful hurricane, aiding in the evacuation of residents from Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. The project, expected to begin in 2025, aims to enhance the ability to quickly move people out of harm's way during emergencies. This will have a positive impact on south Mississippi and neighboring Louisiana.
The post MDOT receives $4.8 million to improve hurricane evacuation routes appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Mississippi Comic Con returns for 10th anniversary
SUMMARY: Mississippi Comic Con will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart for its 10th anniversary on June 22 and 23. The event will feature guests such as Alan Tudyk, Disney stars, and WWE Hall of Famers. In-show events include Q&As, panels, costume contests, gaming, and more. Vendors and artists from across the country will be present, along with local fan groups. Advance tickets are available for $30 per day or $50 for the weekend, with discounts for military members. Children under ten attend for free with a paid adult admission. More guests are expected to be announced leading up to the event.
The post Mississippi Comic Con returns for 10th anniversary appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Ole Miss fraternity removes student following racial gestures during protests
SUMMARY: A fraternity at Ole Miss removed a student for making racial gestures during a campus protest. Videos and photos showed protesters chanting “Free, free Palestine” and carrying Palestinian flags. A Black woman protesting the war was confronted by white hecklers, with one making monkey gestures. The fraternity released a statement condemning the actions and stating that the responsible individual was removed from membership. The incident drew criticism, including from a congressman who praised the heckling of the war protesters. Campus police and the dean of students were shown standing between the anti-war protesters and the hecklers in a video shot by a student journalist.
The post Ole Miss fraternity removes student following racial gestures during protests appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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