Mississippi Today

At Jackson State homecoming, Brandon Presley pledges to advocate for Mississippi HBCUs

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2023

Brandon Presley, the Democratic nominee for governor, campaigns at the Jackson State homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Taylor Vance/Mississippi Today)

Brandon Presley, the Democratic nominee for governor, got thrown off script Saturday when a DJ, in the maze of tailgating tents at Jackson State University’s homecoming game, grabbed a microphone to cut him off and ask a question.

“Are you going to continue to support HBCUs?” the man asked Presley. “Not just the first year?”

Presley, who also campaigned at an Alcorn State University game last weekend, responded to cheers and applause: “I’ll be back at Alcorn and back here next year, I promise you that.”

The impromptu back-and-forth at one of the state’s largest football events of the year was a highlight of an hours-long campaign Saturday — just 24 days before Election Day. Presley, who faces Gov. Tate Reeves on Nov. 7, shook hundreds of hands and took dozens of selfies at the JSU game in an attempt to supercharge voter turnout for the upcoming general election.

The university is a pillar of the state’s capital city, where more than 80% of the residents are Black. If Presley wants a shot at becoming the first Democrat elected governor since 1999, mobilizing a significant portion of the metro area — and Black voters who make up the base of the Democratic Party — will be crucial.

“Mississippi is 40% Black, and I think as a candidate for governor it’s important that you show up and not expect Black voters to vote for you, but you earn their vote,” Presley told reporters over the weekend.

One hurdle Presley, who has served the past 15 years as north Mississippi’s utility regulator, faces is he’s never appeared on a statewide ballot, and having low name ID in central Mississippi could prove problematic for his electoral chances.

State Sen. Sollie Norwood, a Democrat from Jackson and noted Jackson State alumnus, served as the primary liaison on Saturday between the throng of fans and the Democratic candidate because he believes there still could be capital city residents who don’t know enough about Presley.

“We had an overwhelming crowd of folks that wanted to see him,” Norwood told Mississippi Today. “And I haven’t met anyone today who was not impressed with him or not impressed with his message.”

Presley, a 46-year-old white man from northeast Mississippi who attended Mississippi State University, may be an unlikely figure to rub elbows with the university’s alumni at the homecoming game.

But some JSU fans who interacted with the Democratic nominee told Mississippi Today Presley’s personal story resonated with them. Presley has talked extensively this cycle about growing up with little money to a single mother, and some voters say they hope he’ll enact policies that benefit all Mississippians.

“He’s a small-town guy that grew up similar to how I did,” Stanley Johnson said. “I’ve done my homework on him, and I feel like he’ll keep his word.”

One of those promises to the fans was that if he were elected governor in three weeks, Presley would use his new position to advocate for more state dollars going toward Jackson State University and other Mississippi HBCUs.

JSU’s football stadium sits across from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the state’s only academic research hospital. Pointing to both institutions on Saturday, the Democrat said he wanted a capital city where the two organizations helped grow Jackson.

“Those are what could be two economic engines for the city of Jackson, and I believe the state has good reason to invest in both because both are publicly owned institutions,” Presley said. “That is a way we could bring economic development to Jackson, and it’s just the right thing to do.”

Presley’s campaign visit to the game also spurred people to share feelings that the university and other historically Black colleges are getting shortchanged by its current state leaders, who are white Republicans.

Jeff Payne, who took his picture with Presley, said he doesn’t remember many statewide candidates campaigning at JSU games in years past and said he hopes Presley’s visit is more than a one-time photo opp.

“I’m looking for change in Mississippi, and I’m looking for someone who cares about HBCUs in our state. And I think Brandon fits that,” Jeff Payne said.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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UMMC holds free cancer screenings

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @EricJShelton – 2025-04-30 12:00:00

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Resident physician Claire Babin, right, performs an oral cancer screening on Ella Holmes during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Physicians prepare for oral, head and neck cancer screenings during a free screening event at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, screens Diane Carter for oral cancer as medical students Mason Nodurft, left, and Eva Kiparizoska observe during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Educational giveaways advocating against smoking are available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Sharon Terry, senior tobacco treatment specialist, waits for patients during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Skylar Robinson, medical office assistant, left, and Kiandria Bruce, registered nurse, review materials at the patient sign-in table during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Head and neck cancer literature is available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Dr. Alex Brooks and registered nurse Angela Noble talk during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Nina Brown, clinical manager, helps Ned Bostic with paperwork during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin performs an oral cancer screening on Ned Bostic at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Ned Bostic receives a neck cancer screening during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, and medical student Hanna Watson examine Ned Bostic during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hosted a free oral, head, and neck cancer screening Wednesday at the Jackson Medical Mall as part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The event featured quick, noninvasive screenings aimed at catching cancer early — when treatment is most effective. Onyx Care provided free HPV vaccinations, while the ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education, and Research offered resources on smoking cessation and free services.

“These screenings take about 10 minutes and can save lives,” said Dr. Gina Jefferson, head and neck surgical oncologist at UMMC. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better chance we have of curing it.”

Tobacco and alcohol use remain major risk factors for these cancers. However, physicians say an increasing number of cases are linked to HPV, especially among younger adults with no history of smoking or drinking. Dentists are often the first to spot early signs, which can include persistent sores, lumps in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

Oral, head and neck cancers are among the most common globally. When found early, survival rates can exceed 80 percent.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post UMMC holds free cancer screenings appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about a free cancer screening event without showing a clear ideological stance. It primarily focuses on the health benefits of early cancer detection and the availability of free resources, such as HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation support. The language used is neutral and the content is centered around public health education rather than promoting a political viewpoint. The inclusion of factual statistics, such as survival rates and risk factors, adds to its informative and objective tone. There are no signs of bias or advocacy for a particular political agenda, making this a centrist piece.

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Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @rick_cleveland – 2025-04-30 10:46:00

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April 30, 2025

Mississippi State didn’t even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.

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This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball? appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

Published

2 days ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-30 10:21:00

by Mississippi Today, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi Today is looking to speak with current and former mobile sports betting users. We’d like to speak with people who spend considerable amounts of time and money betting on sports through online gambling sites.

We’re interested in hearing the experience of people who have suffered from gambling addiction or problems, or friends and family members of people who have. We also would like to talk with people who believe legalizing mobile sports betting would benefit Mississippi and its residents.

We want to hear from you. Please take the survey below or contact Political Reporter Michael Goldberg by email at mgoldberg@mississippitoday.org

TAKE THE SURVEY:

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This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article from Mississippi Today appears to present a neutral stance, focusing on gathering input from various groups of mobile sports betting users, including those who may have experienced addiction issues. The content does not advocate for or against the legalization of mobile sports betting but instead seeks to gather diverse perspectives, including those of individuals who may support or oppose it. The language used is objective and does not suggest a particular ideological perspective, allowing for a balanced exploration of the issue at hand.