Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, recommended waiving the passing requirements for statewide 3rd grade reading and high school end-of-course assessments for the 2020-21 school year. The recommendation was included in a presentation today to the Mississippi Senate Education Committee. “I think this year is a year of grace,” Wright said. “I understand that COVID-19 has disrupted teaching and learning this school year, and we want to make sure we support teachers, administrators and students as much as possible.” Statewide assessments will take place as scheduled this year to measure statewide student progress, assess the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on learning and meet U.S. Department of Education requirements. “Statewide assessments provide critical data to the department to identify any learning gaps and what resources the state needs to accelerate learning opportunities for students and professional development for teachers,” Wright said. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is working with technical advisers to examine ways to meet requirements of federal law to address accountability concerns. MDE recommends all districts and schools retain their letter grade from the 2018-19 school year for the 2020-21 school year. All recommendations in assessment and accountability are subject to policy decisions from the incoming presidential administration. Mississippi lawmakers requested information from MDE on the impact of the pandemic on public education and how the MDE is addressing student needs. Wright said MDE will continue to help districts plan afterschool, enrichment and summer learning opportunities. Literacy-Based Promotion Act funds could fund summer reading camps, afterschool programs and reading enrichment programs. These funds are available because of reduced face-to-face training and travel costs due to COVID-19. Districts are expected to use federal funds to support literacy and learning efforts as well. View Wright’s presentation.

Representative Jeramey Anderson released this statement following the vote on House Bill 1 to approve the results of the 2020 referendum on a new state flag for Mississippi. Rep. Jeramey Anderson today voted in favor of codifying the 2020 referendum results to remove the confederate themed Mississippi State flag and replace it with a new design. Anderson and many of his House colleagues had long advocated for the removal and replacement of the flag that prominently displayed symbols from the Confederacy and Jim Crow era. “While proud of this accomplishment by our state, we must understand that this is by no means a cure-all solution for the racial tension and the lack of equality we face around the state, we must also continue to work towards equity in education, police reform, voting and election reform, criminal justice reform,” he said. “Still far too many Mississippians in black and brown communities aren’t afforded the equitable economic opportunities and upward mobility.” He said he will continue to be an advocate and push the House to address all issues of equality. “All of these issues are issues that need to be addressed within the state of Mississippi as it relates to minority communities. So the flag, although a significant win — not only for African-Americans or black Mississippians, but for the entire state as well — it’s just the first step.” “I thank those who led this charge before us, those who with courage and resolve nurtured the Civil Rights Movement that helped bring us to this day. This has been a beautiful moment of unity. I hope we remain united in the fight to bring equality and justice to all Mississippians.”

Mega Millions jackpot just jumped $15 million increasing the estimated annuity jackpot from $432 million to $447 million. The new cash value is now estimated at $339.6 million. The Mega Millions jackpot is the largest since June 9, 2020, when it reached $414 million. “With both the Mega Millions and Powerball® Jackpots currently over $400 million, Mississippi players are enjoying their first in-state experience of the fun and anticipation the big jackpots bring,” said Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) President Tom Shaheen. “We are seeing a lot of energy among players and retailers as both the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots continue their rolls. Good luck!” If there is no jackpot winner in the Jan. 5 drawing, the estimated jackpot for the Friday, Jan. 8 drawing is anticipated to roll to $490 million with an estimated cash value of $372.3 million.

Governor Tate Reeves announced the decision to allow vulnerable Mississippians to have access sooner than expected to the COVID-19 vaccine. Next week, individuals 75 and older will have availability to the vaccine. The following week, Mississippians 65 and older will have the next available access. Executive order 1535 is still in effect until 5pm January 15th, 2021. The following counties are currently under a county wide mask mandates after meeting the certain requirements in relation to COVID-19: Adams, Alcorn, Amite, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coahoma, Copiah, Covington, De Soto, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Itawamba, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lafayette, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lee, Leflore, Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Walthall, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wilkinson, Winston, Yalobusha and Yazoo Counties. As of now, 78 of Mississippi's 82 counties are under mask mandates. "The most important task that we have is getting the vaccine out to the public. That is our only way out of all this," Governor Tate Reeves said. "I still believe everyone should continue to take social distancing seriously." A copy of the executive order 1535 can be found here. The press conference can be watched here.

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) on Sunday, Jan. 3, will take the oath of office to serve Mississippi in the United State Senate for the next six years. Mississippians reelected Hyde-Smith in November to serve her first full term. Vice President Mike Pence will officiate the swearing-in ceremonies from the Senate floor beginning at 11 a.m. Central with reelected and new Senators taking the oath in order of seniority. Reenactment of the swearing-in ceremony will occur in the Old Senate Chamber. Hyde-Smith, who will be accompanied by her husband Michael Smith and daughter Anna-Michael, is slated for 2 p.m. Central. The Hyde-Smith office expects to offer video and still photographs following the ceremonies. C-SPAN2 should cover the official floor proceedings and reenactment content will also be available from a limited national media pool. Hyde-Smith is the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in Washington, D.C. The former Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce has served in the U.S. Senate since April 2018 after being appointed by then-Governor Phil Bryant to the fill the seat following U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s retirement. She won a special election and runoff in November 2018 to fulfill the remaining two years of Cochran’s term.

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of saving and protecting the abused, neglected, and trafficked children of Mississippi. To honor this major achievement, CACM is initiating a yearlong, statewide movement, “I Protect Children” that encourages everyone to become aware and get involved to improve the environment for child victims and families of abuse and maltreatment. “During the 20-year journey of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi, we have served and protected 44,064 children,” said Karla Tye, Executive Director of CACM. “By launching the ‘I Protect Children’ movement, we hope to spread awareness of the groundbreaking work child advocacy centers around the state are achieving. Some of our most important innovations include coordinating investigative training and teamwork across agencies, our nationally recognized educational collaborations with state colleges and universities, our research-based advances in investigative forensic interviewing, and our emphasis on victim advocacy and treatment. These remarkable achievements are profoundly changing the future for so many of our at-risk children.” Since its establishment in 2001, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi has grown to 12 local child advocacy centers across the state. These centers provide critical services to children that are victims of child abuse, neglect, and trafficking. The goal is to have every county covered by a local child advocacy center to help protect the vulnerable children of Mississippi. CACM has also enacted the concept of Multidisciplinary Teams throughout the state, which collectively brings together all the necessary medical and prosecutorial parties to maximize convictions while minimizing the child’s trauma. The collaboration begins with the training programs that emphasize recognition, competency, and cooperation for all members, so each individual knows his/her role and understands how to manage situations throughout an investigation. In the last 20 years, CACM also implemented Child Advocacy Studies, a nationally recognized curriculum, in 27 colleges and universities across the state. This has allowed the educational and training process to be uniformed and streamlined to maximize the effectiveness and to better prepare professionals entering the advocacy workforce. In 2019, CACM became a leader in the nation by opening the Child Advocacy Training Institute, an educational facility for simulation training. It is the only center of its kind in Mississippi dedicated to child abuse recognition training for professionals and students. With “I Protect Children,” one of the many goals is to inform every Mississippi citizen that they are a mandated reporter by law. If someone suspects there is child abuse, neglect, or trafficking, they are required by law to report it. Anyone can call 1.800.222.8000 to file a report anonymously with MDCPS 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Every CACM program is established to protect the children of Mississippi, and although our ‘I Protect Children’ movement is to celebrate CACM’s 20th Anniversary,” said Karla Tye, “we hope that it will continue to spread awareness and inspire individuals to get involved for years to come.” If you’re interested in joining our “I Protect Children” movement, please contact your local child advocacy center or visit childadvocacyms.org/I-Protect-Children to learn how you can get involved. On January 11, 2021, CACM will be kicking off the “I Protect Children” yearlong movement virtually with a Facebook Live event. Please follow their Facebook page for more information regarding the launch.

While the end of the year brings about the merriment of the holiday season, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants everyone to be safe on the roads, traveling to and from parties and vacation destinations. If your plans include alcohol, make a resolution to refrain from impaired driving. “Driving while under the influence puts everyone on the road at risk,” said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT Executive Director. “Protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding impaired driving and having a plan for a sober ride.” In 2019, 10,142 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year since 2014. These fatalities are preventable, and drivers must remember that driving impaired by any substance — alcohol or other drugs — is illegal and potentially deadly behavior. Here are some tips from MDOT that can help motorists arrive at their destination safely: If you drink alcohol or are otherwise impaired, do not get behind the wheel for any reason. Make sure you have a designated driver or a taxi to take you home. Hand your keys over to a trusted friend or family member at the beginning of the night before the first drink. This removes any temptations of thinking you are okay to drive. Avoid all distractions. Concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Be aware of other drivers. Don’t assume everyone is driving as safely as you are. Impaired drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but also to other innocent people on the road. If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call the police when it is safe to do so. “Hindsight is 2020. Making good decisions about driving and being responsible will help you have a safe New Year’s Eve and start 2021 with a clean slate," said McGrath. For more tips on traveling safely this holiday season, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.

With so many people looking forward to beginning a new year, firework celebrations are sure to be plentiful. State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney urges everyone to use caution when using fireworks. “That’s especially important if young children are around, as they are often more likely to get hurt,” said Chaney. “The risk of fireworks injury is highest for young people ages 0-4, followed by children 10-14.” Sparklers, often a favorite with children, can reach up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal suggests you follow these safety tips: • Observe local laws. - Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. - Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. • Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework. • Never point or throw fireworks at another person. • Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. • Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. • Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. • Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. • Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. • Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. • Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. • Never give fireworks to small children. • Never carry fireworks in your pocket. • Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.

Heart attacks, strokes and severe injuries can derail our dreams of living long, healthy, happy, prosperous lives. Realistic New Year’s resolutions can help us ward off those threats to our dreams. To reduce our risk of health and trauma emergencies, paramedics at AMR recommend sticking with these resolutions:  Protect yourself from heart attack and diabetes by exercising regularly and by cutting sugar, fat and salt intake and working to maintain recommended weight. Check with your physician before starting an exercise or weight-loss program. Wear your seatbelt on every trip, no matter how short or long. Resolve to not move the vehicle until everyone in it is buckled up and every child is properly secured in a safety seat.  Drive safely by observing the speed limit, obeying other traffic laws and staying off the phone while behind the wheel. Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, lights and other safety equipment stay in good condition. Never drink and drive.  Take a CPR course or recertify, and encourage your family and friends to do so.  Make sure your mailbox address or house number is easy to read from the road both day and night. (Even with GPS, rescuers need visual confirmation they have reached the scene where they are needed.)  Keep your family safe from major injury by locking poisonous substances and guns in cabinets. Make your home more secure from falls (such as by installing night lights). Prevent and prepare for a house fire by (a) checking your smoke detectors once a month, (b)ensuring you have fire extinguishers handy and (c) developing and practicing a family fire escape plan. If your home doesn’t already have a carbon monoxide detector, install one. Resolve that every family member will learn to swim well.  Teach your children how to call 911 properly.  Work to keep a positive outlook, strengthen your relationships with others and do more to manage stress, because happier people have longer, heartier lives.

To commemorate the life and career of Gov. William Winter, Mississippi Public Broadcasting will re-air the following programs on MPB Television: The Toughest Job: William Winter’s Mississippi at 7 p.m. Dec. 23 and Conversations: Gov. William and Elise Winter at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 25 and 11 a.m. Dec. 27. Winter, Mississippi’s 58th governor, died Friday, Dec.18, at the age of 97. The Toughest Job: William Winter’s Mississippi chronicles the life and career of Gov. Winter and his fight to pass the 1982 Education Reform bill. The film also emphasizes Winter’s role as a leader in economic development and racial reconciliation. The documentary features materials from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and interviews with Gov. Winter, Elise Winter, Vernon Jordan, Dick Molpus, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Ray Mabus, Reuben V. Anderson, Charles Overby, President Bill Clinton and others. Produced by The Southern Documentary Project, the documentary first aired in 2014 on MPB Television. “It’s been a remarkable challenge attempting to condense a whole life’s worth of passion, bitter defeats and momentous victories into an hour-long documentary, but I feel very satisfied with what we’ve created,” said filmmaker Matthew Graves in 2014. “To me, it’s a thrilling story of perseverance and leadership and is truly a testament to what is possible in this state.” “In an age of shrill, often gridlocked politics, we need more leaders with Gov. Winter’s courage, character, resolve and constructive leadership,” said David Crews, the film’s executive producer and former gubernatorial advisor. “This film portrays a rich, tumultuous period of history while documenting the accomplishments of a rare leader willing to tackle tough, vexing and important issues.” Conversations: Gov. William and Elise Winter, also originally aired in 2014, and was produced by MPB Television. Winter is often viewed as Mississippi's greatest statesman. In this edition of Conversations, he and his wife, Elise, reminisced about their many years in the political arena, their lives together and their service to others. For more information on MPB visit, www.mpbonline.org.

‘Tis the season for holiday travel. With more vehicles on the highways, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to help keep your holidays merry and bright by limiting travel delays caused by highway construction. MDOT will suspend all interstate and four-lane highway construction during peak Christmas and New Year’s travel times. All road construction requiring lane closures will stop December 24 and 25 and again December 31 and January 1. The closures will provide maximum travel capacity and minimal construction delays for holiday travelers. “Even though no highway construction work will be occurring across the state, motorists should be aware that some lane closures will remain in place,” said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT Executive Director. “These lane closures are there to protect motorists, and MDOT urges drivers to treat these areas as active work zones.” Christmas and New Year’s are among the busiest travel days. MDOT actively monitors highways statewide through its Traffic Management Center (TMC). Information is gathered by roadway devices deployed throughout the state. Devices such as cameras, speed detectors and weather sensors feed data to the TMC about real-time road conditions. A network of over 1,000 cameras gives operators live views of highways. The TMC shares information through MDOTtraffic.com and the MDOT Traffic mobile app. Users can sign up for email or text alerts and also access live highway camera feeds. The resources are available free to the public. Major alerts are also posted on the @MississippiDOT Twitter account. “Travelers can know before they go about traffic along their routes,” McGrath said. “MDOT Traffic can help you avoid frustration by alerting you of upcoming congestion or crashes.” In addition to the MDOT Traffic website and mobile app, real-time road conditions will also be posted on overhead digital message signs along state highways. “Using these communication channels, MDOT is able to quickly and effectively notify travelers of concerns that may affect their plans,” McGrath said. “MDOT wants everyone to enjoy the holiday season with loved ones by making it to their destinations safely.”

Despite the mild temperatures, winter officially arrived today. Weather conditions can change quickly, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is prepared to respond to any winter weather and extreme cold events. “MDOT is committed to safety during the winter season and throughout the year,” said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT Executive Director. “MDOT crews and personnel are trained and prepared to deploy a range of strategies to keep Mississippi highways open and passable during winter weather events.” In the past three years, snow and ice operations cost more than $1 million, and MDOT workers logged over 22,000 hours annually addressing winter conditions. Different materials are used for specific winter weather events. Salt brine can be sprayed on the dry road surfaces to help prevent ice formation on travel lanes. If the roads are already wet, granular salt can be applied to help prevent the formation of ice by lowering the freezing point of water. Sand and slag can also be spread to help improve traction in slushy conditions. “In Mississippi, winter storms are typically associated with rain,” McGrath said. “We monitor the weather to see what kind of event we are dealing with, whether it’s liquid or frozen precipitation. The timing of the precipitation will determine what strategy we use to respond.” If liquid brine is used too soon, the rain could wash the solution away. If the roadways are wet, crews spread granular salt, sand or slag over the roads to help vehicles maintain traction. “In north Mississippi, district maintenance crews have trucks and equipment prepared to aid affected roads in the event of a winter storm,” McGrath said. “Crews are fully prepared with all the materials needed to keep highways passable this winter.” Throughout the year, MDOT monitors road and traffic conditions constantly through its Traffic Management Center (TMC). Using traffic cameras, radar and temperature sensors, along with local agency communication, MDOT’s TMC observes the most traveled highways in the state to ensure the safety and mobility of motorists. During winter weather storms, as well as other weather-related emergencies, TMC staff is on increased alert for potential travel hazards. The TMC shares important traveler information through traffic alerts sent via email or text to people who sign up on MDOTTraffic.com. Users can also download the MDOT Traffic mobile app for real-time updates on their phones. While MDOT is prepared to monitor road conditions and keep highways passable, motorists also need to be prepared for winter weather. Before loading up to travel during the winter months, make sure your vehicle is properly maintained. Have your vehicle battery and charging system checked for optimum performance. Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in your vehicle’s cooling system. Get your brakes checked to make sure they are functioning properly. Make sure the heater, defroster and windshield wipers are good to go for the winter. Creating a winter weather kit to keep in the car in case of a winter weather emergency can be a lifesaver. Here are some important things to have just in case: Windshield scraper Flashlight with extra batteries Jumper cables Bottled water and snacks Extra blankets “This winter, remember the importance of being prepared for changing weather conditions,” said McGrath. “Everyone needs to know the dangers winter weather can bring and the importance of being safe all season.” For more information on how to prepare for winter weather, visit GoMDOT.com/winter. For real-time road conditions on Mississippi’s highways and bridges, visit MDOTtraffic.com and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter.