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Mississippi employment reaches record high with nearly 1.2M with jobs | Mississippi

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – 2024-06-25 10:59:00

(The Center Square) – Federal data released on Tuesday shows a record nearly 1.2 million residents were participating in the workforce in May.

The Magnolia State also had its least number of residents, 34,605, collecting unemployment as the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 2.8%, three tenths lower than May 2023, when the rate was 3.1%.

“Our economy is firing on all cylinders, which is why we continue to make history,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in a release. “There are more jobs in Mississippi than ever before, which is truly a victory worth celebrating. We’ll continue fighting for good-paying, high-quality jobs that attract more residents to our great state.”

The state’s labor force participation rate continues to lag behind the national average. 

In May, the state’s labor force participation rate was 53.8%, one-tenth better than last month, but nearly 10% less than the national rate of 62.7%. That means nearly 1.36 million of the state’s residents aren’t part of the labor force. 

The labor force participation rate trails regionally, led by Texas (64.3% in May), Georgia (61.6%), Tennessee (59.6%) and Florida (59.1%). 

Louisiana’s participation rate was at 58.1% in May, followed by Alabama and Arkansas, each at 57.5%. 

According to the monthly release from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the county with the lowest unemployment rate was Union at 1.9%, followed by Lafayette County at 2%. The report also said 35 of the state’s 82 counties were at or below the state average of 2.8%. 

The highest unemployment rates for counties was Jefferson at 11.3%, followed by Claiborne at 7.2% and Humphreys at 7.1%. 

Among the state’s three metropolitan areas, Jackson and Hattiesburg had unemployment rates of 2.5%, while the Gulf Coast was three-tenths behind at 2.8%.

Initial unemployment claims were up from April, growing from 4,246 to 6,338. 

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Personnel from 20 Texas agencies involved in recovery efforts | Texas

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-08 17:34:00


Thousands of personnel and volunteers from across Texas are aiding recovery and debris removal in Kerr County after the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in 45 minutes on July 4, causing massive flooding. Over 1,500 personnel and 925 vehicles from 20 state agencies responded quickly, rescuing more than 850 people, many by airlift. Texas Game Wardens and the Department of Public Safety are heavily involved in search, rescue, and recovery operations, with hundreds of missing persons reported. Texas A\&M System teams assist with flood rescues, infrastructure, and animal care. Governor Abbott vowed to continue efforts until all bodies are recovered and communities are restored.

(The Center Square) – Thousands of personnel and volunteers from across Texas have come to assist with recovery efforts and debris removal in Kerr County and surrounding areas in response to the historic July 4 flood.

After a torrential downpour caused the Guadeloupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes early Friday morning, a tidal wave of destruction crashed through Kerr and surrounding counties.

Before that happened, the state was monitoring weather patterns and Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management moved assets into Central Texas on Wednesday. Additional resources were surged on Thursday; weather warnings were issued both days.

By Friday, more than 1,500 personnel and more than 925 vehicles and equipment assets across 20 state agencies were in emergency response mode.

TDEM deployed an incident management team to support deployed emergency response resources, including multiple task forces, and continues to oversee recovery efforts.

More than 850 people were rescued in the initial hours of operations, the majority by the Texas Military Department. Texas National Guard rescued 525 people, 366 by air evacuations conducted by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilots and crew, and 159 by ground. Another 20 were rescued in San Sabo County and five in Burnet County, Texas Military Department Adjutant General Major General Thomas Suelzer said Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Ben Baker with Texas Game Wardens said 300 game wardens have been involved in recovery efforts. They’ve searched 26 river miles, made 440 rescues and recovered 30 dead bodies.

Texas Department of Public Safety’s Special Operations Group “continues to work alongside local and state partners with ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in the Texas Hill Country, including searching through debris and storm damaged areas. Our teams will be in Kerr County to assist as long as we are needed,” Texas DPS said.

Texas DPS Colonel Director Freeman Martin said 258 DPS troopers were assigned in Kerrville alone, including highway patrol, a tactical marine unit, criminal investigators, Texas Rangers, SWAT, victim’s services, among others.

After members of the public were given a number to call to report missing people, hundreds of calls came in, he said at a news conference on Tuesday. Through painstaking work, DPS troopers working with others in law enforcement, cross checked names with trailer parks, RV camps, hotels and other rental properties, with the calls that came in and arrived at a total of 161 missing in Kerr County alone, he said.

“A lot of work is being done,” Martin said. Most of what they were able to do is because DPS was fulling funded by the Texas legislature, he said. Funding enabled DPS to acquire six replacement helicopters, which are being used for recovery efforts, he said.

“We have a lot of resources,” he said, in addition to the assistance they are receiving from the FBI, DEA, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security and others. “Everyone is working together, unified,” he said.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in Burnet, Kendall and Travis counties, he said. All three missing in Williamson County were recovered, deceased. Ten are confirmed missing in Travis County.

Multiple teams from several Texas A&M System agencies are also actively involved in recovery efforts as part of the 20-state agency effort.

“As we struggle to grasp the magnitude of the loss felt by so many of our fellow Texans – and even as we all offer up our prayers for the victims and their families and the parents, friends and loved ones of those still missing – the brave men and women from across the Texas A&M University System were risking their lives to save others caught in dangerous flooding across Central Texas and the Hill Country,” the Texas A&M University System said.

They include Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service task forces using swiftwater rescue boats to assist with flood rescues and evacuations and a Public Works Response Team assessing and assisting with public works infrastructure needs in Kerrville.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents are supporting agricultural and livestock needs; a Veterinary Emergency Team is providing veterinary medical support for animals impacted by flooding.

More than 75 Texas A&M Forest Service personnel and 153 Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System members are on the ground. Saw teams are clearing debris and restoring access in impacted areas; overhead personnel are working alongside local officials on damage assessments and incident coordination.

Abbott said on Tuesday, “Texas will not stop until we finish the job. We will not stop until we identify, recover every single body. Will not stop until every road is rebuilt, every inch of debris is removed.

“We will not stop because we are a state that cares about our people, cares about our communities, and we’ll be with them every step of the way.”

The post Personnel from 20 Texas agencies involved in recovery efforts | Texas appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



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

The article presents a factual and straightforward report on the emergency response efforts following a major flood in Texas. It focuses on detailing the actions taken by state agencies, personnel, and volunteers, including statements from officials such as Gov. Greg Abbott, without using charged or persuasive language that favors a particular ideological viewpoint. The content neither critiques nor praises political policies or actors in a way that suggests advocacy; instead, it objectively covers the mobilization and collaboration of various agencies and the challenges faced. Thus, the article adheres to neutral reporting by describing the events and responses without inserting an identifiable ideological stance.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Chantal death toll rises to 4 in North Carolina | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-08 09:00:00


Tropical Storm Chantal caused four deaths and four tornadoes in North Carolina before moving off the New Jersey coast. Fatalities included an 83-year-old woman in Chapel Hill, a 58-year-old woman in Cedar Grove, and a man in Mebane, all found in vehicles during or after the storm. Two boaters went missing on Jordan Lake; one body was recovered, and searches continued. The state Department of Health could not independently verify deaths, deferring to local authorities. Tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service across Lee, Chatham, Alamance, and Orange counties. By Tuesday morning, road closures decreased to 66 statewide.

(The Center Square) – Four deaths and four tornadoes in North Carolina are attributed to Chantal, the tropical storm that swept in Sunday and by Monday evening had scooted off the New Jersey coast.

The State Highway Patrol confirmed the death of an 83-year-old Chatham County woman in Chapel Hill; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of a 58-year-old Person County woman in Cedar Grove; and a spokesman for Alamance County confirmed the death of a man in Mebane.

The bodies of each were found in vehicles trying to travel during or after the storm.

Two people boating on Jordan Lake in Chatham County went missing Sunday evening. One body was found on Monday. The search was suspended in the evening and resumed Tuesday morning.

The state Department of Health and Human Services, in an email to The Center Square, could not verify any deaths and referred requests to local lawmen.

Tornadoes have been confirmed by the National Weather Service in Lee, Chatham, Alamance and Orange counties.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation reported road closures were down to 66. One is a federal highway, three are state roads and 62 are secondary roads.

The post Chantal death toll rises to 4 in North Carolina | North Carolina appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



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 reporting focused on the impact of Tropical Storm Chantal in North Carolina, including verified casualties, weather events, and infrastructure effects. It reports on the actions and statements of official agencies without expressing opinions or ideological perspectives. The language is neutral and straightforward, avoiding emotive or persuasive framing. The piece clearly distinguishes between confirmed information and ongoing investigations, reflecting standard journalistic practices. Overall, the article maintains an objective stance by simply conveying the facts without promoting or critiquing any political viewpoint or policy position.

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News from the South - Florida News Feed

DeSantis lauds improvements in Florida school accountability ratings | Florida

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-07 14:30:00


The Florida Department of Education released accountability scores showing no school districts failed. The percentage of A-rated schools rose from 38% in 2024 to 44% in 2025, while failing schools dropped by 39.3% to 71. Only 2.05% of 3,451 public schools received failing grades. High schools had 49% A ratings, middle schools 42%, and elementary schools 40%. Districts saw 28 A’s, 31 B’s, and 8 C’s. Progress monitoring reforms continue to improve performance. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas highlighted gains in civics, with 70% of students on grade level, crediting Governor DeSantis’s policies focused on basics and student success.

(The Center Square) – The Florida Department of Education released its accountability scores for individual public schools and districts on Monday and no school district received a failing score. 

Grades for individual schools were also up, as the number of A-rated schools increased from 38% in 2024 to 44% this year and the number of failing schools decreased from 117 to 71, a decrease of 39.3%. 

It marked the third year for Florida’s progress monitoring, which continually assesses student and school performance throughout the school year rather than with one end of the year test. 

“I think the progress monitoring reform was the right reform to do,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at an event at Oceanway Elementary School in Jacksonville, which improved from a C to an A. “I think it is providing dividends, but we all say we have more work to do.” 

Only 71 out of Florida’s 3,451 public schools (2.05%) received a failing grade (a D or an F), with 44% of them receiving an A and 27% received a B. 

There were only 49 elementary, six middle and only two high schools that received unsatisfactory scores. A scores were awarded to 49% of high schools (250), 42% of middle schools (237) and 40% of the state’s elementaries (717).

Of the state’s combined schools, 322 (55%) earned top ratings and only 14 received failing marks. 

For districts, 28 scored an A, 31 received a B and only eight received a C. 

Florida Department of Education Commissioner-designate Anastasios Kamoutsas, who replaced Manny Diaz Jr., spotlighted the improvement in civics education with 70% of Florida students on grade level in that subject. 

“Florida schools are improving across the board, and this is a direct result of the governor’s innovative policies and his mandate to school board members and superintendents across the state to bring education back to the basics and focus on student success,” Kamoutsas said. “Indoctrination, whether it’s critical race theory or sexually explicit materials, has no place in Florida schools.”

Diaz is now the interim president of the University of West Florida in Pensacola. 

The state Department of Education uses 12 components to assess individual school performance, which include achievement components, learning gains, middle school acceleration, graduation rate and college and career acceleration. 

The post DeSantis lauds improvements in Florida school accountability ratings | Florida appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



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: Right-Leaning

The article primarily reports on Florida’s Department of Education accountability scores and highlights improvements in school ratings with factual data. However, the inclusion and framing of remarks from Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner-designate Anastasios Kamoutsas introduce a clear ideological perspective associated with recent Florida education policies. The language used, particularly Kamoutsas’ statements opposing “indoctrination” and terms like “critical race theory” and “sexually explicit materials,” aligns with the education policy agenda promoted by conservative and right-leaning political figures. While the article provides factual information, the selection and emphasis of quotations and policy framing suggest a right-leaning bias that implicitly supports the current administration’s educational reforms and ideological stance on school content. The coverage does not merely report on these ideological positions neutrally but appears to endorse or positively highlight them.

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