Mississippi News
Mississippi maternity care deserts by county
Data Dive: Access to maternity care in Mississippi, by county
More than half the counties in Mississippi are considered maternity care deserts, according to the new report from the March of Dimes. These counties have no hospitals providing obstetric care, no OB-GYNs and no certified nurse midwives.
Discontinued labor and delivery services and shuttered neonatal intensive care units have dominated headlines in the state in recent months, painting a bleak picture for mothers and babies' access to care. Greenwood Leflore Hospital closed Leflore County's only labor and delivery unit on Oct. 15. Over the summer, Ochsner Medical Center in Hancock County did the same.
The Mississippi Delta's only neonatal intensive care unit closed in July. A few months ago, the NICU at Merit Health Central in south Jackson also shut down, raising concerns about disruptions in care for high-risk moms and babies.
The trend of reduced access and care for mothers and babies — on the heels of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and is expected to result in 5,000 additional babies in Mississippi alone — does not bode well for a state already plagued by high infant and maternal mortality rates and poor health outcomes.
READ MORE: Mississippi's maternity care desert: A look inside
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Fire damages 8 units at Ridgeland apartment complex
SUMMARY: A fire damaged eight units at a Ridgeland apartment complex on Old Canton Road. The fire occurred early Thursday morning and flames were found coming from the roof of the apartment. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Madison firefighters also assisted at the scene.
The post Fire damages 8 units at Ridgeland apartment complex appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Jackson man killed in motorcycle crash in Warren County
SUMMARY: A 48-year-old Jackson man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Highway 27 South near Country Brown Road in Warren County. The crash occurred just after 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. The man, identified as Herman East, was ejected from his 2007 Harley Davidson after running off the road and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The post Jackson man killed in motorcycle crash in Warren County appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl
SUMMARY: Ronnie Hales, a 44-year-old man from Ridgeland, pled guilty to gratification of lust by molesting his then-girlfriend's 10-year-old daughter. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison without the possibility of early release or parole and will have to register as a sex offender upon release. The abuse was reported to Ridgeland police in February 2023, leading to an investigation that included a forensic interview of the child. Evidence was found at Hales' home, and multiple state agencies collaborated to secure the conviction. District Attorney Bubba Bramlett expressed gratitude for the teamwork and hopes the child can find closure and move forward.
The post Ridgeland man sentenced for molesting girl appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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