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Mississippi Today

Top congressional Democrats will visit Jackson to boost voter turnout ahead of state election

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2 years ago

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U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a top Democrat in Congress, will travel to Jackson this weekend with fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to help energize voter turnout ahead of Mississippi’s November statewide election. 

Clyburn, assistant Democratic leader in the House, is expected to meet with Mississippi’s Democratic leaders, visit local churches, interact with college students and dine with statewide Democratic candidates.

“Elections in Mississippi have far-reaching consequences for people all over the state and the country,” Clyburn told Mississippi Today in a statement. “Congressman Thompson and I are proud to stand up and encourage Democrats to do what’s right and head to the polls on Nov. 7.” 

The string of visits will culminate in a reception for Clyburn in downtown Jackson on Sunday night, doubling as a celebration of the state party and its candidates.

The South Carolina congressman’s visit comes roughly a month before Mississippians will vote on who should represent them in state offices, with the competitive governor’s race at the top of the ticket.

Brandon Presley, the Democratic nominee for governor, has raised a significant amount of money in his quest to defeat Republican Gov. Tate Reeves’ reelection bid, and public polls have shown the governor could face trouble in capturing an outright majority of the ballots cast on Nov. 7.

Reeves is almost certain to seize on the event as a way to link Presley to national Democrats — a strategy he has relied on throughout the campaign.

But to become the first Democratic candidate to win a governor’s race since 1999, Presley will need an energized base of support to turn out on Election Day, something Clyburn could help deliver.

As north Mississippi’s current utility regulator, Presley has previously worked with Clyburn and Thompson on legislation to expand broadband internet to rural areas and cultivated a relationship with him. But the underlying purpose of the events goes beyond Presley and the November election. 

The focus of much of the weekend is to raise funds for the state party infrastructure and strategically finalize plans to mobilize Democratic voters, the foundation of which is Black Mississippians. 

And Clyburn is one of the nation’s most prominent Black public officials and has touted the growing influence Deep South states such as Georgia and his home state of South Carolina have on national elections.

Mississippi Democrats have long struggled with successfully organizing and remaining competitive this century, with the Republican Party now holding every statewide office and a supermajority of seats in both chambers of the Legislature.

Two of the primary reasons are a lack of funding and virtually little from national progressive organizations. But that could be changing.

Before Clyburn’s weekend visit, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison surprised south Mississippi Democrats in August when he visited the Gulf Coast, an area of the state typically viewed as a GOP stronghold.

Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor told Mississippi Today that he hopes that a competitive slate of state races mingled with intentional grassroots movement could lead to a new chapter for the progressive party.

“You can’t organize quietly,” Taylor said. “We’re not ducking and dodging and hiding anymore. We’re here to organize in Mississippi.”

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

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Mississippi Today

UMMC holds free cancer screenings

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20 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

By

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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Crooked Letter Sports Podcast

Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball?

Published

22 hours ago

on

April 30, 2025

By

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

by Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland, Mississippi Today
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.

Stream all episodes here.

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

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Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

Published

22 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

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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


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 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.

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