Local News
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Update for 2023-24 shows students made gains, came closer to reaching pre-pandemic levels
SUMMARY: The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released the 2023-24 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) results, which show significant progress toward pre-pandemic achievement levels. Key findings include 63.8% of kindergarteners meeting the end-of-year target score in spring 2024, up from 61.4% in 2023 but still below the 65.6% in 2019. Scores for MDE’s Early Learning Collaboratives (ELC) pre-K students also improved to 67.2%, while new State Invested Pre-K (SIP) students had 64.2% meeting targets. MDE aims to continue this upward trend by implementing various educational strategies and transitioning to a new assessment vendor, Imagination Station, Inc., in 2024-25.
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Local News
US economy grows 3.3% in second quarter, government says, in second estimate of April-June growth
SUMMARY: The U.S. economy rebounded with a 3.3% annualized GDP growth in Q2 2025, reversing a 0.5% contraction in Q1 caused by Trump’s trade war-driven surge in imports. Imports plunged 29.8% in Q2, boosting growth. Consumer spending rose 1.6%, better than first estimated, though private investment dropped sharply by 13.8%, the steepest since 2020, partly due to reduced inventories. Federal government spending also declined. Trump’s tariffs, meant to protect U.S. industry and pay for tax cuts, have raised costs and caused business uncertainty. Economists predict slower growth near 1.5%, despite strong job market resilience.
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Local News
A Mississippi city’s tax break spurred post-Katrina building. But will homes stand the next storm?
SUMMARY: After Hurricane Katrina devastated Gulfport, Mississippi, in 2005, recovery has been slow. The city encouraged rebuilding near the waterfront by offering property tax breaks to stimulate the economy and promote stronger construction standards. New homes feature elevated foundations and reinforced structures to withstand future storms, yet most are still in moderate flood zones. Despite progress, critics argue the recovery favored wealthier areas south of the railroad tracks and neglected vulnerable inland neighborhoods, exacerbating flooding issues. Federal buyouts of high-risk properties never materialized. Experts warn rising sea levels mean flood risks will increase over time, questioning the long-term safety of rebuilding in these zones.
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Local News
Parents of missing 7-month-old California boy are charged with murder
SUMMARY: Jake and Rebecca Haro of Southern California have been charged with the murder of their missing 7-month-old son, Emmanuel, who has not been found and is believed dead. They also face misdemeanor charges for filing a false police report. After Rebecca claimed she was assaulted and woke to find Emmanuel missing, authorities uncovered inconsistencies in her story. The couple was arrested last week and held on $1 million bail each. Jake Haro, previously convicted of child cruelty in 2023, was present during searches for the child’s body. Both maintain innocence, with Rebecca expressing a desire to find her son. Their arraignment is set for September 4.
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