Mississippi News
Jackson water outage forces cancer patients to evacuate
Jackson water outage forces cancer patients to evacuate the city
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Jackson to shut down in 2020, officials with the nonprofit were excited to reopen earlier this year.
They planned a celebratory grand reopening ceremony to be held Thursday to help get the word out that cancer patients and their caregivers who live more than 40 miles outside Jackson could once again stay at the lodge, free of charge, while undergoing their treatment at several of the city's hospitals.
But on Monday, three days before the Thursday ceremony, 11 cancer patients and their caregivers staying at the lodge were forced to evacuate Jackson when the capital city's water system began failing.
The American Cancer Society is footing the bill for their hotel rooms outside of Jackson.
“We don't want patients to have to delay their treatment just because we've got water problems in Jackson,” said Letitia Thompson, vice president of regional cancer support for the American Cancer Society. “So we've been able to find and pay for them to stay in area hotels.”
Patients also have access to a van to transport them to and from their treatment.
Thompson said the lodge, which first opened in 2019, is experiencing fluctuations in water pressure that have created plumbing issues. Patients and their caregivers continue to be housed at the suburban hotel, and Thompson said they will not be brought back to the lodge until it's had a week of reliable water pressure.
“(The water pressure) comes and goes … Certainly the American Cancer Society works hard to be good stewards of the dollars people give us, but we can't put cancer patients at risk. We don't want cancer patients to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to flush the toilet,” she said.
The lodge accommodates patients who are getting treatment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, St. Dominic Memorial Hospital, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center and other treatment centers in Jackson. A patient must first receive a referral from a treatment facility to begin the process of using the lodge.
Thompson also said the organization is working to offer its services to cancer patients who live in the Jackson area as well.
“We want to be there for cancer patients who are dealing with this water shortage who live here in Jackson,” said Thompson. “We're working to set up a system to take referrals and requests for cancer patients who might need hotel rooms for whatever time they need it … We want to eliminate as many barriers for treatment as we can.”
For more information from the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
READ MORE: Answers to commonly asked questions about the Jackson water crisis
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Body found in Pearl River in Jackson
SUMMARY: Jackson police are investigating after a body was found in the Pearl River near South State Street and Gallatin Street. The deceased person, identified as a male, was found on Tuesday, April 30, prompting multiple emergency units to respond to recover the body. Rankin County deputies and Richland police also assisted at the scene. This incident is being considered a double homicide, with Detective Tommie Brown leading the investigation. Crews are currently working to recover the body from the river. The situation is still developing, and more information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
The post Body found in Pearl River in Jackson appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Protesters in custody after Columbia calls in police to end pro-Palestinian occupation
SUMMARY: Late on Tuesday, police arrested protesters after Columbia University requested their assistance in ending a pro-Palestinian occupation on campus. The police, equipped with helmets and riot gear, cleared out Hamilton Hall, a building that had been occupied by demonstrators for more than 12 hours. The decision to involve law enforcement came after protesters vandalized and blockaded the building, forcing campus security out. The nationwide campus protests started in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza, with tensions rising as administrators face pressure to clear protesters before commencement ceremonies. Despite negotiations and compromises at other universities, the protests continue amid accusations of antisemitism and calls for divestment.
The post Protesters in custody after Columbia calls in police to end pro-Palestinian occupation appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
West Point students participate in Financial Literacy Art Contest
SUMMARY: West Point High School in Mississippi hosted a Financial Literacy Art Contest for students in the accounting class. The goal was to equip them with skills to make good financial decisions as they transition into adulthood. Students chose a financial literacy topic and created artwork to represent it. The judging criteria included creativity, artistic execution, and incorporation of a financial literacy theme. The top five winners received trophies, and the top three also received cash prizes. The teacher emphasized the importance of knowing how to manage finances, such as avoiding maxing out credit cards and understanding bank statements and savings accounts.
The post West Point students participate in Financial Literacy Art Contest appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
Local News6 days ago
Sister of Mississippi man who died after police pulled him from car rejects lawsuit settlement
-
Mississippi Today6 days ago
At Lake High School in Scott County, the Un-Team will never be forgotten
-
Mississippi Today3 days ago
On this day in 1951
-
Mississippi News4 days ago
One injured in Mississippi officer-involved shooting after chase
-
SuperTalk FM1 day ago
Festival merger in Leland sets up one major event for Mississippi Delta
-
Mississippi News Video7 days ago
Vehicle struck and killed man lying in the road, Alcorn County sheriff says
-
Mississippi News6 days ago
Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl
-
Mississippi News16 hours ago
Two women accused of shoplifting across southeast captured in Mississippi