Today, the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board presented 12 eggs created by The Mustard Seed “Seedsters” to First Lady Elee Reeves. The Board worked with The Mustard Seed, a Christian community for adults with developmental disabilities, to craft the eggs. Twelve Mustard Seed community members were given the opportunity to decorate an egg that represents 12 museums throughout our great state. The museums and artists included were Vicksburg Military Park, artist Russell Cobb; the B. B. King Museum, artist Steven Bryant; the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, artist Taylor Moore; the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum, artist Allie Ruffin; the Mississippi Museum of Art, artist Heather Frazier; the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience, artist Lindsay Hamilton; the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, artist Sarah Simonson; the Delta Blues Museum, artist Will Gibbes; the Mississippi Aquarium, artist Robin Smith; the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, artist Michele Trebotich; the Grammy Museum, artist Mary Claire Fairbank; and the Jim Henson Museum, artist Gabrielle Chambers. “The Mustard Seed and the ‘Seedsters’ have brought so much joy to our family and to many across our state over the years,” said First Lady Elee Reeves said. “I have been looking forward to seeing the creativity and the talents of the ‘Seedsters’ at this year’s Easter egg presentation. I’m proud to help promote and honor these ‘Seedsters’ as they have worked to share the wonder and beauty of our great state.” The 12 artists were invited to the Governor’s Mansion to personally present their Easter eggs to the First Lady and to enjoy cookies and juice following the presentation. “It’s an honor to present these beautiful eggs to First Lady Reeves,” said Ryn Laster, president of the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, “and to witness the joy and excitement as the ‘Seedsters’ describe their creations with such enthusiasm is very heartwarming. It means so much to the artists to gift these ‘eggs’ceptional pieces of art.” For more information about the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, contact Jennifer Thompson at (601) 359-1144 or email jennifer@mdac.ms.gov.

The Mississippi Book Festival is thrilled to announce its first speaker for this year’s event on Saturday, August 20. Acclaimed author Alice Walker will attend the festival in Jackson. This year commemorates the 40th anniversary release of Walker’s award-winning novel, The Color Purple. The novel was first published in 1982 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction the following year. Walker was the first African American woman to win the award. "We are thrilled to have Alice Walker back in the city where she once lived and the place where her daughter was born,” said Executive Director Ellen Daniels. “Her appearance will be a homecoming of sorts for her and we are honored that book lovers and festival-goers will have the opportunity to share in that moment." The festival will announce other attending authors in the coming weeks. After two years of hosting the book festival virtually, the Mississippi Book Festival will return to the State Capitol grounds in Downtown Jackson this August. This will be its first in-person festival since 2019. “After the past two years, we are all looking forward to being back together in person to celebrate literature at this year’s festival,” said Daniels. This year marks the eighth anniversary of Mississippi’s “literary lawn party”. For more information, visit msbookfestival.com. You can also connect with the Mississippi Book Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Co-Lin's Workforce Education division recently graduated 11 students from the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) non-credit training program. Enrollees started the six-month program in August 2021 on the Wesson Campus and now possess the skills to provide both clinical and administrative support to a diverse variety of healthcare providers. Through the CCMA training program, healthcare facilities get employees with the diverse skill sets they seek. Students learn to work alongside doctors and nurses to administer medications, obtain laboratory specimens, assist with minor procedures, perform electrocardiograms, provide patient education, record vital signs, administer injections, and execute administrative office tasks. These responsibilities require knowledge in areas such as, medical terminology, basic pharmacology, nutrition, psychology, anatomy and physiology, clinical patient care, infection control, testing and laboratory procedures, phlebotomy, patient care coordination and education, administrative assistant skills, and medical law and ethics. The CCMA program involves not only classroom learning but also computer lab studies, hands-on learning, and clinical rotations. Once training is successfully completed, students are eligible to test for the National Healthcareer Association CCMA National Board exam for licensure. The next session of CCMA training starts April 11 on the Wesson Campus. Applicants can download a packet from www.colin.edu/ccma or call 601-643-8707. A High School Diploma or High School Equivalency/GED is required. Participants must also take the ACT WorkKeys Assessment and earn a silver level or greater National Career Readiness Certificate. Further requirements are detailed in the application packet.

Governor Tate Reeves today signed House Bill 531, which gives Mississippians the largest tax cut in the state’s history. The bill will return over $500 million to Mississippi taxpayers, eliminate the existing 4% tax bracket, and lower the existing 5% tax bracket to 4%. With this new law, Mississippi will have the 5th lowest marginal tax rate in the nation, among states with an income tax. For multiple years, Mississippi has consistently out-performed revenue expectations by billions of dollars. Mississippi’s strong economy has fueled tremendous growth and Governor Reeves is committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their fair share of this revenue windfall. “There are some whose first inclination would be to immediately spend this money and grow government,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “These individuals have a wish list of pet projects that seems to be miles long and ever-growing. I believe we should help Mississippians bring home the bacon before another dime is spent on government pork. We will do this by giving back the money they gave the government.” Governor Reeves reiterated his continued commitment to completely eliminating the state’s income tax, stating: “When we act boldly, we can make tremendous strides on behalf of Mississippians. I hope that our legislators will continue to act boldly and join me in advocating for the full elimination of Mississippi’s income tax.” The tax cut represents a major pay raise for hard-working Mississippians. This will be substantive relief for folks who are struggling with the ongoing crises of rising inflation and gas prices caused by the Biden Administration’s failed economic policies. Governor Reeves signed the bill during a press conference. The full press conference can be viewed here.

By Kara Kimbrough Before extolling the delights of Hancock County in the second installment of “Top reasons to visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast," I’d be remiss if I left out the charming cities of Long Beach and Pass Christian. They’re worth a stop on U.S. 90 as you make your way to the Bay Bridge to enter Bay St. Louis. I’m probably going to receive irate emails from the other cities about this next statement, but here goes: in my opinion, the two neighboring cities of Long Beach and “The Pass,” as locals calls it, offer some of the best beach views on the Gulf Coast. Sweeping vistas of sand, sky and water along this scenic stretch of highway are mesmerizing, especially when a vibrant blue sky transforms the gulf to a similar hue. Stopping in for a Coast-inspired meal on the patio of Long Beach’s Harbor View Café is the perfect way to enjoy the view. Or, drive a little further to The Pass and relax on Shaggy’s open-air deck with panoramic water views and the guarantee of a delicious meal. Ready for more sight-seeing and dining? Travel over the mammoth Bay Bridge and your blood pressure is sure to plummet as you view the shimmering bay on either side. The bridge was rebuilt post-Katrina at 85 feet above the bay at its highest point, so the view is absolutely stunning. If you’re feeling adventuresome, park your car at either end and journey across the bridge in the enclosed walking/cycling trail. Once on dry land, take a left onto scenic Beach Boulevard. On one side of the quaint street is the bay fronted with a new harbor. On the other are family-owned restaurants serving fresh seafood and other creative dishes. Here are just a few of my favorite restaurants and things to see and do in the Bay: 1. One of my favorite restaurants is Trapani’s. A local favorite for decades, everything on the menu is delicious, but my favorite menu item is the overflowing shrimp po’boy. 2. Next door is 200 North Beach. It’s a cozy, family-oriented space offering pasta dishes, steaks and seafood. 3. Holding court on the corner of The Pearl, a new boutique hotel at the corner of Main Street and Beach Boulevard is The Thorny Oyster. It’s a spacious, well-appointed restaurant offering fresh, local, coastal fare, creative seafood and classic dishes and desserts prepared with a modern twist. Grilled redfish at The Thorny Peach-blueberry crisp topped with Oyster in Bay St. Louis is a meal vanilla bean ice cream was the I won't soon forget. perfect end to a memorable meal at The Thorny Oyster. It’s rare that I dream about a dessert item, but that’s exactly what happened last summer after I dined here. I ended my meal with one of the best berry crisps I’ve ever tasted. Fresh peach and blueberry fruit filling was topped with a delicious crunchy, buttery rolled oats and toasted nuts topping that nearly outshone the filling. A scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream took it to new heights. I'm long overdue for a repeat of this sublime experience. 4. Don't leave town without a visit to charming Old Town. Located a few blocks from the bay, the tree-lined streets are filled with the historic Depot museum, locally-owned shops and restaurants and a scenic park with a duck pond. 5. No trip to The Bay would be complete without a stop by the Angel Tree. It’s located on the beach side near the new harbor. I've witnessed emotional responses from tourists from around the world to the oak tree carved into the likeness of angels, complete with hovering wings and piercing eyes. When Katrina’s eye passed over Bay St. Louis, three people and a small dog were riding out the storm in a nearby building. As the storm surge increased, they fled from the building and climbed an oak tree. The centuries-old oak served as the group's lifeline for four hours. Thanks to the tree’s sturdy branches, they were unharmed when the water subsided. The remains of the oak were moved to the beachfront and secured in concrete just a few hundred feet from where it saved the lives of three people and a dog. A chainsaw artist created beauty from ashes, expertly carving an angel and large birds keeping watch on the limbs. Stop by the Angel Tree for a photo, prayer or a glimpse of a life-saving tree. Like a visit to The Bay, it's an experience you’ll never forget. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver I have probably seen more trailers for “Morbius” than any other movie in my entire life. I definitely remember seeing a few before the 2020 lockdown, but it isn’t just a matter of how far back they go. No, I’ve seen them pretty consistently since then, from theaters reopening in August 2020 to last week when I realized that I was seeing one for the last time – the end of an era. The movie kept getting pushed back, far enough to be out of reach but never so far that it warranted taking the trailer out of rotation. Clearly someone wanted to dump this movie on just the right unremarkable weekend where it would be free of decent competition. To be fair, the strategy paid off, as the movie opened to $39 million this past weekend, but that success came at the expense of letting people know that the movie had no confidence from the studio. Having finally seen “Morbius,” I can say with confidence that the lack of confidence was entirely justified. Jared Leto stars as Michael Morbius, a brilliant, eccentric doctor obsessed with curing his own rare blood disease. He’s so brilliant that he wins a Nobel Prize, but so eccentric that he tells off the committee in a scene that should have been a highlight of this movie, but bafflingly happens offscreen. He knows the solution involves splicing his human DNA with that of vampire bats, it will just require a moral flexibility and an expensive trip to Costa Rica. Michael only has the former, luckily rich childhood friend and fellow sufferer Milo (Matt Smith) is more than happy to help with the latter, provided Michael shares whatever cure he finds. Michael’s experiments on himself yield mixed results. On one hand, he’s cured. In fact, he’s better than cured, he develops superpowers like bat wings and bat radar (unlike that other bat-themed action hero with no superpowers, bat-like or otherwise). On the other, he becomes a homicidal vampire that needs to drink blood in ever-shrinking increments of time. He even nearly attacks his partner and girlfriend Martine (Adria Arjona). He’s perfectly fine with being locked away so he can’t hurt anyone, but Milo gets ahold of the treatment and becomes a vampire with far fewer hang-ups about killing people or torturing the audience with out-of-place dancing. The only thing that can stop vampire Milo is vampire Michael, but with two vampires on the loose, the world is in twice as much danger. Of course, nobody is really seeing “Morbius” just for Morbius. The real attraction here is finding out how he fits in with Spider-Man. The “Living Vampire” is in the rogues gallery of the box office juggernaut, residing in the same universe as Venom. The trailers have given away that that some of Doctor Strange’s universe-tampering has allowed Vulture (Michael Keaton, speaking of that other bat-themed action hero) to switch universes and propose a team-up with Morbius. And… that’s about it. Do not see this movie expecting to see more than the bare minimum of Vulture, anything more than references to Venom, or anything at all with Spider-Man. You will be very disappointed. Actually, you’ll probably be disappointed with “Morbius” no matter what you expect. The characters aren’t memorable, the action scenes are incomprehensible, and the movie’s color scheme is one of the most drab I’ve ever seen. I think someone wanted the movie to look like it had been drained of all life by a vampire. Mission accomplished, I guess, but isn’t there a way to get a macabre tone without making the movie so ugly and miserable? I mentioned earlier seeing a trailer for “Morbius” in August of 2020 when theaters started reopening. More than anything, this movie reminds me of “The New Mutants,” released around that time: lifeless, pathetic, and only tangentially related to the Marvel property we really want to see. Grade: D. “Morbius” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images and brief strong language. Its running time is 104 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Canopy Children’s Solutions (Canopy), Mississippi’s largest nonprofit provider of behavioral health, educational and social service solutions, will be planting blue pinwheel gardens this April to promote Child Abuse Awareness Month. These pinwheels serve as a visual reminder that everyone in a community must work together to end child abuse. Canopy’s South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center (SMCAC) collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to streamline the process of identifying, investigating and prosecuting cases of child abuse. By working with law enforcement, Child Protection Services, mental and/or medical health professionals, and many other organizations, Canopy provides a wide range of services to help children and their families overcome extraordinary challenges and to thrive. “In order for children to have the trauma that they experienced resolved, they need people like Canopy’s South Mississippi Child Advocacy team to help them along the way,” says Sabreniee Wright, Director of Canopy’s SMCAC. “There is hope when children have access to therapeutic resources and can begin healing.” This April, Canopy encourages everyone to do their part in protecting our children. Mississippi's 24-hour child abuse hotline (1-800-222-8000) allows any person who suspects a child is being abused to file an anonymous report. If you see something, say something. The physical, mental and emotional well-being of abused children relies on adults who will advocate for their safety and healing. Wright continues, “Our team goes above and beyond every day to make sure children and their families are getting the justice they deserve. Helping children is a passion.” For more information on Canopy Children’s Solutions, visit their website at: mycanopy.org.

“Every parent plans to raise their child for about 18 years, set them free for 30 years and then hope they come back to help them face the final years of their own life…. … A SPECIAL NEEDS parent can sometimes plan to raise their child for 65 years and while doing so also has to prepare for the other 20 or so after they themselves are long gone.” A friend of mine posted this recently. A statement that we never say out loud. A reason, really THE reason, parents become advocates. So much needs to change to see this world a better place for the children we love so much; while we can. Hudson was born when I was 42. To say that I have 65 years to raise him is not impossible, but definitely not likely. If I live to 92 like my grandparents before me, Hudson will be 50. And lets be honest, I am 46 and chasing a toddler around all day is fun, but naps are good! Also, new diagnosis and therapy and a full schedule of doctors appointments make for full days. Then let’s add in these needed changes and the time/energy it takes to make all this happen. I am more than capable of keeping this pace now, but I assume as the years pass, this will be a different story to tell. My daily prayer is that Hudson becomes a self advocate and that he has a voice and a passion to fight for his own equal rights. My friends post went on to say this: “Let that sink in for just a moment and you will begin to understand the drive and determination that many of us have while we are on Earth. If you have never thought about that, don’t be sorry… be thankful.” Before Hudson was born, I was oblivious to much of what I know now. And my time to bring these changes is limited. And even as we bring great change, new things come up that set us back again. A recent study for new medication for Alzheimer’s/dementia specifically excludes all persons with Down syndrome ONLY. First of all, this is discrimination. Alzheimer’s effects the Down syndrome community more than it effects the general population. To withhold drugs and studies from my family, also opens doors to exclusion in future drugs and studies that follow this particular medication. On a personal note, I lost my aunt to this “long goodbye” disease. She was young. Any new updates to treatments and understanding of this disease is good and needed, and it is good for EVERYONE. We all believe this is wrong to exclude anyone this could help, but somehow someone gets to make these decisions and has no accountability. And it’s up to moms like me to fix it. So our days are filled with love, laughter, lots of Disney movies and my own education. I can’t bring needed change unless I understand that something needs to change. I have shared with you several things over the last few months, like Organ Transplant Discrimination, Subminimum Wage, Marriage Discrimination, Down syndrome Information, Human Life Equality are just a few of things I am working on or have already made changes to. Update: Cole’s Law (Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention) HB20, passed unanimously and will be a Mississippi Law. Thank you all for your support on this law. It is good. As we bring these needed changes, we are always looking to the next move. We have to keep moving forward… time is important, and how we spend it is everything. Another project that I am hopeful to bring to Mississippi is Law Enforcement Training of Special Needs. I would love to be our state trainer. NDSS has a program that is inclusive of several disabilities and it would greatly benefit our state to have such training. Hudson was recently diagnosed with dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism. We are already working on adding in new therapy for Hudson as we learn about this new track we are on. I think of things like this: Hudson is a racer, the best in the sport. Racers visit new tracks and make adjustments along the way. I am the crew chief. I am there to see what he needs and provide it to the best of my ability. So autism is a new track. We will do a few test laps and then he will master this track, too. And, like in the Law Enforcement world, they too need to have updates to be the best at their job. Down syndrome has features that a law officer may recognize, but Autism alone doesn’t. How wonderful would to be to start with our officers who swore to protect and serve, but then share this great information will all in service? Starting is my only obstacle, but once I get going, I will most likely be training anyone who wants to listen. Would you be able to detect if a baby was suffering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? What if it would save the baby’s life… education is good for all of us. I am working several ways to bring this here. I will keep you posted. As we learn more about Hudson and who he is, one thing is for sure, he is worth my very full days. He has me smiling before coffee and belly laughing at the most simple joys. The statement from my friends post says to “be thankful” you don’t have to worry about the world for your typical child and to not “be sorry” for my journey. I completely agree with this. I, however, am not sorry for the journey Hudson is taking me on. I wake up “thankful” that he is here and that he is mine. And even if this is not a path you are on, you can still help with needed change. You can still educate yourself. Disabilities are not uncommon. It is said that 1 in 4-5 persons has a disability of some kind in the US. In Mississippi, it actually is higher. 1 in 3. So we all could benefit from learning how to make our neighbors be better included, or how to help make their lives better, not harder. People who are born with a disability or if it occurs by an accident are still human. As you can see, my wheels are always turning and I am very aware of the needed changes. Ones that I can be okay dying and leaving Hudson here without me. Thats a tough one, but I know my work isn’t only done by myself, but by several amazing Self-Advocates, Mom-vocates, Dad-vocates and more wonderful people. Many of these amazing people, I talk to on a weekly basis. We encourage one another, we inspire each other, we are stronger together. I don’t know how much time I have here, but I will make the most of it… Being EXTRA while I can.

Governor Tate Reeves today announced the signing of House Bill 530, which gives Mississippi teachers and assistant teachers the largest pay raise in Mississippi history. The legislation gives an average pay raise of $5,140 to teachers and $2,000 to assistant teachers. This major investment into Mississippi education will place average teacher starting salaries in the state ahead of the National and Southeastern averages. “When it comes to delivering a quality education for our kids, we are getting the job done,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “These pay raises will help cement Mississippi’s competitive footing to not only incentivize educators to stay in our state, but also to proactively recruit people to move here and teach in our communities. This legislation is a stake in the ground that proudly declares Mississippi’s enduring commitment to supporting our educators and our education system, and I am ecstatic to sign it into law.” In the last few years, Mississippi has set multiple records with state graduation rates at all-time highs and dropout rates at all-time lows. The raises represent the continued commitment of the Reeves administration to strengthening education and equipping Mississippi children with the academic tools and resources necessary to become successful Mississippi adults. The signing of the legislation represents the fulfillment of a promise Governor Reeves made on the campaign trail in 2019 when he committed to securing a well-deserved pay raise for Mississippi’s teachers. Governor Reeves made the announcement during a ceremonial bill signing at Madison Central High School. The signing was broadcast on Facebook Live and can be viewed in full here.

WHAT: Free oral, head and neck cancer screening hosted by University of Mississippi Medical Center Ear, Nose and Throat and the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center. No appointment needed – screenings are open to all walk-up participants. WHEN: Screenings for the public are Wednesday, April 6, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Media members are welcome to cover the screenings and talk to physicians and providers from 8-10 a.m. WHERE: Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, 3502 W Northside Drive, Jackson WHY: April 3-9 is Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. Screenings are simple and only take about 10 minutes, and they are non-invasive. Oral, head and neck cancers are the fifth most common cancers in the world. Early detection and diagnosis is crucial to successful treatment, and when detected early at stages 1 and 2, the survival rate is more than 80 percent. Risk factors include use of tobacco, excessive consumption of alcohol, and HPV infection. For more information, email ent@umc.edu.

The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association recognize that there have been some challenging times for restaurants in our state due to the pandemic. Many restaurants remain on the road to recovery after they were forced to temporarily close or lay off employees due to the drop in business. To help support this vital industry, these two associations have created an exciting opportunity for restaurants to promote a favorite deviled egg recipe. Beginning tomorrow, April 1, and running through Saturday, April 30, the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board and Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association encourage the public to nominate their favorite Mississippi restaurant's deviled egg dish. By visiting https://clarionledger.secondstreetapp.com/Mississippis-Best-Devilled-Eggs-2022/, contributors can enter their favorite restaurant, the town and name of the deviled egg dish. The winning restaurant will receive a Mississippi Best Deviled Egg plaque along with a $1,000 advertising campaign and bragging rights to Mississippi's Best Deviled Egg dish. The online campaign will be promoted through social media and digital advertising by the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. The restaurant receiving the most online votes will be considered the winning restaurant. The winner will be announced by the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board at the end of the contest. So, support your local restaurants by dining out today! Use the hashtag #MSBestEggDish when sharing a photo of your local favorite egg dish on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. Many recipes rely on basic ingredients to provide the nutrition and great taste that we all love and expect when dining out. Eggs remain one of nature's most perfect foods and are used as a functional ingredient in recipes to provide vitamins and protein. In cooking, eggs provide structure, leavening, moisture, emulsification, flavor, color and nutrition. Visit www.MSEggMarketing.com for great tasting egg dishes brought to you by the Incredible Egg. For more information on Mississippi's Best Deviled Egg Tour, contact Jennifer Thompson at msegg@mdac.ms.gov.

Copiah County Medical Center has named Kortney Gaddy, C.P.A. of Crystal Springs as Chief Financial Officer where she will be responsible for overseeing all financial operations. Gaddy has been employed with CCMC since 2019 as the Accounting Manager and is a 2015 Graduate of Mississippi College where she received her Bachelors and Masters in Accounting. Kortney is a member of HFMA Healthcare Financial Management Association and The Mississippi Society of CPA’s.