After reviewing the recent Hinds County Chancery Court ruling regarding the release of possible protected patient information, the Mississippi Attorney General’s office has recommended that the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) release the names of current long-term care facilities that have COVID-19 outbreaks. Beginning tomorrow, the names of these facilities will be posted on the MSDH website and updated daily. Please keep in mind the list will include the name and county of the facility only, not a breakdown of the number of cases associated with each facility. The Mississippi Public Records Act provides for the release of public documents already in existence, such as the list of LTCFs with COVID-19 outbreaks. Information requests for facility-specific data will have to be addressed at a later time. The MSDH is not currently able to pull frontline epidemiological staff to perform such queries as they are focusing on contact tracing and case investigations. Keep up with the latest COVID-19 information by downloading the free MS Ready mobile app or follow MSDH by email and social media at www.HealthyMS.com/connect.

In today’s world, no matter what kind of business you are running, having an online presence is of the utmost importance. It is the most efficient and relatively fast way you can maximize your reach and guarantee your business’s continuity. Do not make the mistake of thinking that just because your work doesn't have anything to do with social media or the internet for that matter, then you do not need to up your online marketing game. On the contrary, if you do a quick search, you will see how fortifying your other marketing efforts with an efficient online campaign can make all the difference when it comes to the growth of your practice. If you are still on the fence about how online marketing can help your “serious” law firm, keep reading on for a few compelling reasons. To Make it Easier for Potential Clients to Find You How do you expect to gain new clients if they cannot find any information about you in their Google search? Not only do you want them to find you, but you also want to secure a good place on top of the first search result page because this is how a business is validated in the internet age. Think about it, if you are looking up a restaurant or even a dentist, you are more likely to be drawn towards the ones that appear first because you believe that they must be pretty good to have this top spot on the search results list. However, because this is not an easy feat, you need to hire professionals to help with marketing your firm online. As an experienced lawyer, you are not expected to have the needed knowledge to handle your website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or understand how to use Google algorithms. That is why hiring professional digital marketing specialists with a core focus on law firm marketing is a must if you hope to achieve your business strategic goals. To Be Able to Withstand the Tough Competition If you want to have a chance to survive amongst the millions of law firms operating out there, marketing has proven to be a highly effective weapon. A bland law firm website will not give you the leverage you need to succeed as a professional legal services business, you need to have that “wow factor” that makes it impossible for potential clients to overlook your services when they are looking for legal advice. The string content that you publish on your firm’s website along with the video advertising and social media engagement will all give you a much-needed competitive edge over your rivals. When looking to hire lawyers for a work-injury case, a potential client will be more likely to favor a firm that constantly shares content about their work-injury case wins and all the relevant law updates. She/he will be encouraged by the obvious experience that your lawyers have in this specific area. To ensure even more efficiency in competing, it is essential that you work with your digital marketing agency to identify your strongest advantage points and capitalize on them. For example, if you know that you are the only local law firm that handles cybercrime cases, use this fact to your benefit and mention it throughout your social media accounts and highlight it in your success stories section on your website. This is exactly how your online presence can give you the chance to stand out from the crowd and make you seen by your target clients. To Complete Your Brand Image Having an online presence is like having your own platform to showcase what your law firm is all about. The unique brand image that you want to portray to the world cannot be completed without the online support that will allow you to choose the tone and voice of your practice. If your business ethos is developed around community service and social responsibility, then you have to use your online existence to ingrain this image in the minds of your audience. This will make your firm seem more authentic and credible which is one of the most vital characteristics that clients seek in attorneys. Creating your own hashtag to support pro bono cases or sponsoring an online campaign to increase awareness about the implications of driving under the influence can be very powerful in creating your brand image and emphasizing what you stand for as a business. Online marketing is not exclusive to consumer goods or fashion brands; every single business needs a strong online presence. Once you find the right marketing partners to work with, you will see how your law firm will thrive and reach the potential you always knew it had. Hiring the best lawyers and having tons of legal experience is indeed an undeniable element of success, however, online marketing and strengthening your online presence is what you need to take your firm to the next level.

You probably watched enough movies to realize how serious truck accidents are. The average American car weighs around 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. On the other hand, a truck can easily reach weights of up to 80,000 pounds. You don’t need great math skills to see the huge gap in the structure and difference of power between both vehicles. The thing with cargo trucks, semi-trucks, tractors, and other heavy-duty vehicles is that they are so powerful that getting into accidents with an average passenger car is like a hot knife through butter. To help you understand the dynamics and repercussions of a commercial truck accident, we’ll provide you with an overview of the major consequences. Legal Battles Truck accidents are far from being mild accidents; the stakes are very high when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve. Since the injuries sustained are usually severe, there are a lot of expenses that are related to medical treatment and possible disability. It’s very important to take immediate action after the accident and report the incident to your lawyer. You can get more info here on how they investigate the scene of an accident as early as possible to make sure no evidence goes undocumented, in addition to handling the insurance claim. You don’t want to go against insurance companies without a very good lawyer by your side to avoid losing the compensation you’re owed. Most Dangerous Types of Accidents Not every truck accident happens in the same way as each scenario comes with its different set circumstances. Jackknife - This type of accident is very common with trucks that are linked to a trailer. It happens when the driver of the truck suddenly presses the brakes, causing the trailer to swing pit at a very wide angle. The main culprit in jackknife accidents can be slick roads, weather conditions, high speed, poor lighting, curvy roadways, and the length of the truck. Trailers are quite heavy, which means that any passenger car that gets hit head-on while the trailer swerves at a high speed will probably be completely destroyed. Head-on Collisions - These are one of the scariest types of accidents because of how fatal they can be. It’s often the result of the truck driver not paying enough attention to the road or sleeping while driving. Unlike passenger cars, trucks are quite tall in comparison. A head-on collision means that the truck will probably climb over the car, especially if it’s small, crushing it entirely. Brake Failure - The brakes of huge trucks undertake a lot of stress to be able to stop the truck. Anything but proper maintenance can cause the brakes to deteriorate quickly. This can cause devastating accidents because the driver is either unaware of the brakes’ malfunctioning or miscalculated its efficiency. If a truck doesn’t stop at the right time, it can easily destroy passenger cars. Injuries from Truck Accidents Getting out alive of a truck accident is considered a lucky event. The injuries that can be sustained from a truck accident are usually pretty severe. Back Injuries - The shockwaves sent from crashing into a truck can take a serious toll on your back and spine. These kinds of injuries are quite painful and long-term. This means that one should not expect to get back to work for at least a few months. Broken Bones - It’s not uncommon for a truck accident to destroy one or more bones because of how powerful they can be. A passenger car can’t really handle any type of collision with the truck. Expect to get out of the situation with at least a few bones broken. Head Injuries - One of the most dangerous types of injuries are the ones that are related to your brain in any way. The force of the crash can easily send someone’s head into a very vulnerable state. The problem is that these injuries aren’t necessarily apparent at first. The loss of cognitive and physical motor functions for a good while means that there is a high chance that the victim’s life will be considerably altered. Spinal Cord and Paralysis - Surviving a truck accident with a direct injury to the spinal cord means that you are probably in a very sensitive position. There is a good chance that you may not be able to walk again because of how severe the damage on your spinal cord is. Some injuries may not be felt instantly, but ignoring them instead of trying to treat them will only make things worse. Those who survive truck accidents are usually left with a physical disability or long-term injury. Unfortunately, there are many variables involved in such accidents, making it hard to pinpoint the blame on a single entity. But in the majority of cases, the one who’s usually responsible is the truck driver, so make sure that you keep as much distance as needed for trucks on the road.

Appliances are an essential part of our daily life routine. I am sure you can't imagine life without them. With the advancement in technology, life is changing at a phenomenal speed. Modern appliances are available in the market some of which you have never imagined existed. People are operating on busy schedules, hence the need for tools they could rely on to get work done within the shortest time possible. Just like in our homes, appliances are essential for your office. This article aims to discuss some of the home appliances that can make your office life easier. They include the following: 1.Coffee Makers You can’t imagine an office without a coffee maker. Everyone loves a nice, fresh cup of coffee. When you have a lot of work to do, with deadlines to meet, all you dream of is a cup of coffee in your breaks. Sometimes you experience dead ends when trying to come up with a solution for business projects. People in such situations report boosting their energy and waking themselves up with coffee. So, if you run a business, consider getting a coffee maker for your office. It is essential and might boost employee's morale, improving business productivity. The market offers various varieties to buy. The best option is buying a coffee maker that fits the number of employees in the place of work. 2. Fridge Having a fridge in the office is beneficial, especially for employees who pack lunch to the office.  Workers are comfortable as they work, waiting to have lunch fresh from the fridge. It saves time as they don't have to spend hours going to the restaurant for lunch. Employees may fall sick from consuming bad food, and no boss wishes for such an occurrence as it slows business operations. Reviewers from appliancereviewer.co.uk advise you to buy a fridge for your office depending on the number of workers you have. For many employees, you need a larger fridge compared to a small number that needs a mini-fridge. You also need to consider other factors like the space available and your budget. 3. Microwave Another essential home appliance fit for the office is a microwave. Microwaves are easy to maintain compared to any other office appliance. You won’t find all the employees using it, but let that not fool you. An office is worth at least one microwave. Workers need it to reheat their meals or make one within the shortest time possible, that's where the microwave steps in.  The device saves time as well as money for employees who bring packed lunch with them. The machine is safe and doesn't emit radiation harmful to humans. Microwaves kill bacteria in food, keeping employees healthy from stomach upsets caused by food poisoning or the effects of bad food. 4. Air Conditioner The air conditioner is probably the most recognizable appliance found in an office. For some people, the machine is a luxury. However, you won't survive without it especially when you are working from a place with strong seasonal fluctuation. The appliance is ubiquitous for an office in such places.  It helps reduce indoor temperatures. The appliance lowers humidity and temperature by filtering air and causing a cooling effect before sending it out. Many organizations are investing in air conditioners to make workers happier and more productive. We all want to work in a conducive environment. The surrounding has a significant impact on the attitude of people, which controls the outcome of any business operation. The effectiveness of an air conditioner highly depends on the installation. You need a contractor with a recognizable qualification to install it for you. Otherwise, you won't experience any changes in the workforce. 5. Floor Cleaner Cleanliness in workplaces is probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about office appliances. Well, having a healthy and clean workspace is a major cornerstone when it comes to successful business operations. Offices need to be regularly cleaned, that is why a floor cleaner is essential for any office.  Clean office leaves an excellent first impression on potential customers and business partners. It is also essential when welcoming new employees. Cleaning the floor can be boring but thanks to the new technology that introduced automatic floor cleaners, making the work easier. The automatic floor cleaner dries up the floor quickly reducing the chances of accidents on wet floors. Conclusion Appliances help accomplish various chores in the office without spending much time and energy. Each tool has a different level of need and, surely, we can't do without them in our daily business operations. Office appliances are expensive. So, you should buy an appliance that checks for a repair facility.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is upending people’s lives all over the world. As more and more people find themselves stuck at home for most of the day trying to juggle childcare and full-time work along with other competing responsibilities, ensuring the health and wellbeing of every member of the household can be yet another daily challenge. But as a matter of fact, staying healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak isn’t that different from staying healthy in general; it’s all about simple, consistent behaviors and healthy lifestyle choices. Here’s how to easily stay healthy while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eat a Balanced Diet Good nutrition plays a key role in supporting the immune system. This is why it’s crucial to have a plan before you stock up on groceries to ensure you purchase the right things and avoid panic-buying unnecessarily. Start by taking inventory of what’s already in your pantry, and only buy items that are missing. Plan your meals to consist of a starch, protein, and produce, and shop accordingly. While most people nowadays are opting for grains and canned goods because of their long shelf life, you should try to buy fresh produce whenever you can, as they contain most of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to fight off disease. If you’re worried about them going bad, cut them up and store them in the freezer. This way, you can use them for months to come. Try to limit highly processed foods, and if you do buy dried, frozen, or canned goods, choose those low in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. We’re all guilty of binge-eating when we’re stressed or bored, which seems to happen frequently nowadays. Our best defense against this unhealthy habit is to try and channel those feelings elsewhere, whether by venting to a good friend, playing video games, or getting lost in a good book. It also won’t hurt to build up a stock of healthy snacks, such as nuts, dried or fresh fruits, and granola bars. Boost Your Immune System with Dietary Supplements Recent findings have confirmed the importance of certain dietary supplements in fighting off COVID-19. Those containing vitamins C and D, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc, in particular, have proven to be the most effective when it comes to boosting immune functions. All these nutrients are found in various foods, but the problem is that we simply aren’t eating enough of them. This is why you should consider supplementing your diet with supplements that can provide the necessary dose of nutrients your body needs to resist infections. Fortunately, you can order them from a trusted online pharmacy without having to leave the house. If you live in Canada, this directory will point you to safe and licensed pharmacies in your area. Regardless of where you live, it pays to do some research before buying supplements or prescription medications online to ensure you get them at the lowest price and from a trusted provider. Stay Physically Active You may not be able to go to the gym, but that’s not a good enough excuse for lethargy. Many gyms and fitness instructors offer online classes that you can follow at home. Plus, there are plenty of exercises that require no equipment like squats, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, and mountain climbers, to name a few. You can also do some weight lifting using wine bottles or any heavy objects you have lying around the house. Feel free to get as creative as you want with what you already own. Choose 5 exercises a day, do each for a minute, then repeat them 3-5 times. Really, any kind and amount of movement you can squeeze in during the day counts. Even everyday activities like walking, cleaning, and gardening can improve your overall health. Get Enough Sleep Getting enough sleep is crucial for just about every aspect of your mental and physical health. Sufficient quality sleep helps support healthy brain function, protect your mental wellbeing, maintain your physical health, boost your immune system, and improve your overall quality of life— all of which are crucial for fighting off the coronavirus. As you can see, most health advice for staying healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak can be boiled down to simple, daily behaviors, like eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and staying physically active. These behaviors are no different from the ones we should maintain throughout our lives, whether we’re facing a pandemic or not. Things can get a bit more complicated with social distancing, though, which is pretty understandable. But with the above tips along with a few precautions, proper hygiene, and some healthy ways to cope with stress, you’ll manage to stay healthy and calm during this pandemic.

School trips are a great chance to have students truly enjoy themselves without being entirely focused on academics. It allows them to get to know each other a whole lot better on a personal level, have a great time, experience new things, and make memories they will cherish forever outside the school walls. That said, when it comes to planning a school trip, there are certain things you need to keep in mind to ensure that it’s absolutely perfect: Choose Your Destination When organizing a school trip, the first thing you should do is consider the nature of the trip and choose a destination accordingly. If it’s a senior year trip, you’d probably like the students to explore different cultures and have fun. Or is it an educational trip where you want them to get exposed to a certain history, geography, or culture? The experts of http://www.adaptabletravel.co.uk/ recommend combining educational travel with innovative tours and events to fulfill the learning objective. That way, your students will be able to broaden their horizons, enjoy the learning experience, and get exposed to a great many new things. Once you’ve selected a destination and the theme you’ll be focusing on, everything else will fall into place naturally. Create a Detailed Itinerary In order to get the students and parents excited about an upcoming trip, you need to do your research properly. Get familiar with what’s special or unique about the place you’re heading to, and be sure to explore it in depth even if it’s not related to the curriculum. It will definitely be an exciting experience. In any case, you should plan out each day, including all the important monuments, events, and day trips, without forgetting to make time for eating, relaxing and free quarters. Once you’re familiar with everything you want your students to be exposed to, you’ll be able to set a budget and get a cost estimate of how the trip should be priced. Book in Advance In order to get good deals on travel tickets, accommodation, or tours while traveling, you should always reserve at least 3 months in advance. It’s always best to book refundable tickets just in case anything happens; also, this allows you to book even before getting confirmation from the students and their parents. You could end up saving a lot of money. When booking for groups, you’ll also be able to get travel fair discounts as well as many deals on entertainment, visits, and tours. Get the Parents’ Confirmation While you’ll need to plan everything in advance, you can only confirm your bookings and plan accurately when you know how many people will actually be on board. After that, you’ll be able to see how many chaperones you’ll be needing, arrange transportation and accommodation, and enable yourself to start planning all the details. Leave Time for Some Fun Even if it’s an educational school trip, it’s always best to give your students the time to explore on their own and have a bit of fun without sticking to a pre-established plan. Give them time to relax, go shopping, have some adventure, and enjoy being in a new environment. Nonetheless, they should still be able to reach you and know what to do in case anything goes wrong or in the event of an emergency. You can even add day trips by the beach or exploring the wilderness where you can all be close by but enjoy a relaxing, laid-back, and fun day without having to hurry from one place to another. Health and Safety In order to minimize accidents and make sure the trip ends well, it is crucial that you have medical insurance. Letting the students know a few rules to follow for safety will help limit risks and prevent dangers. Likewise, a good idea would be to get familiar with any health issues the students may have prior to departing, and ensure that you have the needed medication on hand. Before you leave, you should also take a first aid certification or have someone on board who knows how to handle emergency situations. Finally, make sure to check the closest hospitals and to write down the necessary emergency numbers you need to know. All in all, school trips can be the highlight of the students’ year. When prepared flawlessly, it can be one of those memories they’ll look back to and forever hold in their hearts. However, to make it beneficial, educational, and fun, a lot of planning, research, and effort needs to go into it. With these useful tips in mind, you’ll be able to plan the absolute perfect trip that your students will really enjoy and remember for years to come.

Invest in a more connected home as it repays handsomely in the long run. Smart homes use technological advancements to make home management easier. It sounds like science fiction but smart-home technology is a reality nowadays. There are several home technologies you can invest in to make your home better and more efficient. For instance, you can use a thermostat to turn on the lights, open garage doors, or set the ideal indoor temperature. With all the advances in home technologies to choose from, below are the vital ones worth investing in. Smart Thermostats When it comes to the home technologies you wanna invest in, like the thermostat, you also need to know how they work, sometimes that’s essential for making your decision. The HVAC system is the single biggest energy consumer and waster in a home. This happens mostly when you fail to turn off your HVAC system while heading to work or going someplace for an extended time. A smart thermostat saves you energy besides the cooling and heating costs. Smart thermostats are compatible with various HVAC systems and you can tie it to your home WiFi to enable you to control everything from your smartphone or computer. You can change the smart thermostat settings, home temperature and track the home energy usage from your mobile device. Invest in a smart thermostat to make your life easier and save approximately 23% of your annual energy cost. Water Softener Invest in salt-based water softeners which turn hard water into soft-water effectively. This is important as it reduces scale buildup and extends the lifespan of your plumbing system and home appliances. Plus, the smart technology lowers the repair and maintenance costs of your appliances and plumbing systems. In addition, you benefit from healthier-looking skin and hair. Also, you experience less staining on your glassware, sinks, fixtures, and toilets among others. The water softener gives you soft water that lathers easily with detergents and soaps. Smart Sprinklers Not everyone has installed an underground sprinkler system. Invest in a smart sprinkler system as it adapts well to weather changes and your watering schedules automatically and accordingly. The technology saves you money on water bills as it won’t sprinkle water on your lawn, garden, or landscape when it rains. The sprinklers are easy to control using a voice command and an app. You can set your sprinkling schedule based on the yard condition to save water and keep the landscape and lawn looking green and healthy. Smart Entry Systems This home technology helps you protect your home. For instance, doorbells and smart locks come in handy as they increase your home security. Only you can unlock or lock the door remotely instead of giving your keys to the cleaning person or dog walker. Simply let them in using the smart lock and close up when they leave. You can use this home technology to control your garage doors. The smart garage hub alerts you when the garage is open or in use and you can close or open it remotely. The smart doorbell live streams who are at the door and have two-way communication you can use to speak to the person at the doorway whether a visitor or package delivery. The smart technology prevents theft and boosts your home security. You can program them to unlock or lock your door with your smartphone even over distances. It can also open your door when you are in close proximity using your smartphone. Smart Power It’s hard to tell how much power you use on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. However, with the smart power, you can peek at your power consumption and know your daily, weekly, or monthly usage. Smart power helps you track the appliances using more power both during sleep cycles and when in use. You can connect it to your WiFi to allow you to monitor and know your energy expenses at home or your business. Some smart power models allow you to shut off appliances remotely. If you are away and forgot to turn off particular appliances when you left home, you can simply use the smart power app on your smartphone to cut off power to that appliance. This ensures your home is safe and doesn’t accidentally burn it down because of forgetfulness. The smart power also controls the home like a musical instrument. It’s time you improve your energy usage by enhancing your security and some extra convenience. Conclusion Home technologies are innovations and inventions that make the home experience better. The technologies like water softeners ensure your frequent silting, plumbing system problems and maintenance or repair issues with home appliances are in the past. It’s good to invest in home technologies for extra convenience and improved home security.

MASS webinar focuses on restart of sports activities in Mississippi schools JACKSON ― As school districts prepare to restart sports activities, the safety and well-being of students, athletes, fans and communities remains the top priority in all decisions involving athletics in Mississippi. That message was clearly articulated by Mississippi High School Athletic Association Executive Director Don Hinton during the latest webinar hosted by the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents. Addressing a total of 367 participants — a webinar record for MASS, Hinton shared highlights about return-to-play measures for summer athletics and activities recently approved by the MHSAA Executive Committee. The policy states that school athletics and related programs can begin summer practices, workouts and related activities on June 1, pending Gov. Tate Reeves’ upcoming announcement about the reopening of all Mississippi school facilities. The webinar is part of MASS’ ongoing commitment to assist members as school districts begin the reopening process in the wake of closures tied to coronavirus concerns. “Providing accurate information to school leaders is a critical priority, especially as they continue dealing with challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Dr. Phillip Burchfield, executive director of MASS. “Our weekly webinar series, ‘The Pandemic Puzzle: Solving It One Piece at a Time,’ has been an effective strategy to help schools prioritize health precautions while managing a safe transition to traditional schedules and activities.” Additional guidelines discussed by Hinton include: Athletic coaches and activity directors must confirm with their school and/or district administrators that a specific school facility is open and available for use. Athletic and associated competitions among MHSAA member or non-member teams are cancelled until school resumes in the fall. Hundreds Join MASS Webinar for ‘Return to Play’ School Sports Update Page Two All practices, workouts, skill development, weightlifting, conditioning and rehearsals are considered voluntary for student athletes and activities participants. Participation in and travel to summer programs and team camps are not allowed. On-campus summer programs and camps should adhere to national, state and local COVID-19 health recommendations. The COVID-19 Return to Activity Guidelines document is available at https://www.misshsaa.com/. The Mississippi Association of School Superintendents and the Alliance of Educational Leaders of Mississippi is a non-profit association whose membership is made up of 139 public school superintendents and more than 2,000 public school administrators.  Its mission is to provide resources, advocacy, leadership, policy information, training, support, renewal, and public relations services that improve the quality of public education. Learn more at www.superintendents.ms.

Jackson – Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is reporting a cluster of COVID-19 infections related to a recent funeral in Northeast Mississippi. The funeral and after-service gathering were held on May 17, 2020, in the city of Baldwyn (located in Lee and Prentiss counties) and were attended by approximately 100 people. To date, at least 7 COVID-19 cases in Mississippi and at least two cases in out-of-state residents have been identified in individuals who attended the event. Several other potential cases are under investigation. Individuals who attended the graveside service on May 17 at 1 p.m. and the after-service gathering from 2-6:30 p.m. are advised to monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath.) If symptoms develop, they should immediately isolate themselves and contact their healthcare provider. Gatherings of individuals, including funerals, weddings or other events, pose a risk of spreading the virus if appropriate precautions are not in place. Cloth masks and social distancing of 6 feet or greater are recommended in public settings, especially in group settings, and gatherings should be limited to groups of 20 outdoors and groups of 10 indoors. For more information on the latest COVID-19 guidance and case updates visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/covid-19. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy Mississippi rates will drop from June through September, some of the hottest months of the year when energy use is often high. The typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month will pay $9.71 less, or less than $98. That is approximately 25 percent below the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “With the economic hit Mississippians have taken from the COVID-19 fall-out, this is welcome news for our customers,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. “We know residential energy use is up due to many people being home when they ordinarily wouldn’t be, so this reduction should help offset that.” Electric rates rise and fall year-to-year based on many factors. In this case, it is due to an over-recovery of fuel costs. Like all utilities, Entergy estimates its fuel costs each year. If the company collects more than it spends for fuel costs, it refunds the money back to customers through lower rates. If the company under-collects fuel costs, rates go up to cover the difference. Entergy passes fuel costs on to the customer with no profit to the company. “Low rates help our state attract large employers to Mississippi,” Fisackerly added. “We’ll need that as we work to rebuild our state’s economy.” Other reasons for Entergy Mississippi’s current low rates include: low natural gas prices; the company’s purchase of more efficient, low-cost natural gas power plants; upgrading Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in recent years to get 13 percent more low-cost nuclear power from the same plant; joining MISO, which gives the company access to power from many sources around the country and creates a more competitive market, and streamlining the company to make our operations more cost efficient. Bills are a combination of rates and usage. To further lower bills, customers can use less electricity by being more energy-efficient. For tips on how to lower usage, visit Entergy’s Save Me Money Web page. For help with bill payment or other needs related to COVID-19, visit Entergy’s customer resource page . To help small businesses, Entergy Mississippi has created a hub of resources to connect owners to information, tools and opportunities that could help them during the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources are at entergy.com/covid-19/mssmbiz/. Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 450,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,600 employees.

Eligible Students Asked to Submit an Essay on ‘Why I Want to Become a Teacher’ Voyager Sopris Learning, a division of Cambium Learning Group, Inc., today announced the launch of the 2020 Aspiring Teacher Scholarship contest for graduating high school seniors in Mississippi and Alabama who will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education. To be eligible, students this fall must plan to attend a college or university in the same state where they graduated from high school. The graduating seniors are asked to submit a 500-word essay on why they want to become a teacher. Two winners will be selected, one from each state, and they will each earn a $1,000 scholarship. The contest is open now and closes July 21 with the winners to be announced Aug. 3. As part of the essay submission, students are asked to include information about a teacher who helped them advance to where they are today, as well as a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor. Originality and creativity are among the review criteria the judging panel will use to base their decisions. The 2020 Aspiring Teacher Scholarship is sponsored by LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), Voyager Sopris Learning’s landmark professional learning series on the science of reading. Both Mississippi and Alabama use LETRS as a key part of their statewide literacy initiatives. For more information and the application, eligible students should visit: Mississippi: https://www.voyagersopris.com/info/ms-scholarship/ Alabama: https://www.voyagersopris.com/info/al-scholarship/ For more information about Voyager Sopris Learning, visit www.voyagersopris.com.

France is well-renowned across the world for its excellent food, wine and cheese. When I’m pushed for just seven dishes to recommend, I decided to let public opinion decide for me. I decided to go for some of the most well-known and long-renowned. I’ve selected a soup, some main meals and of course something from the dessert menu to whet your appetite! CREPES I mentioned popularity earlier on. If you go to France, you will be hard-pressed to find any town that does not have its own creperie! You’ll be able to obtain crepes from sweet vendors and restaurants alike. Would you like to make these at home? Crepes are a fairly common French dish, very easy to make at home, which would also be a very French way to make them. So what are they? Crepes are very thin pancakes you can have with a variety of toppings. They can be sweet or savoury. They were once just eaten with sugar and in fact you can still have them with sugar and lemon. Does rose petal whipped cream appeal to you, or maybe chestnut cream? Children will love chocolate spread or jam on the top. The adults will enjoy the traditional accompanying drink of Cider. Alternatively try it with lightly grated orange peel and liquor. Some people enjoyed crepes with sweet cream cheese, beer chocolate and cinnamon or orange ricotta. Alternatively try cinnamon with marscapone . Some crepes have a fuller content, like spinach with chicken and basil, or steak with mushrooms and spinach. SOUPE A L’OIGNON This is onion soup as you no doubt guessed, and it carries a beautiful fragrance while it’s cooking. Like many of France’s most famous meals, it began as a poor man’s dish. It dates back to Roman times and it achieved great popularity in the eighteenth century. Your key ingredients are beef stock, crunchy croutons and melted cheese to pour over the top. During the onion carmelising process you can also add sherry or brandy. Children are not always keen on alcoholic ingredients in their meals, but adults will love them!. BOEUF BOURGUIGNON Most people have heard of this one. It is literally ‘Bourguignon Beef’. It’s a typical dish to find in Burgundy and can be consumed with lots of French red wine. It’s basically a stew that is slow-cooked. You use braised beef cuts together with seasoned root vegetables, mushrooms and red wine. It’s nice with mashed potatoes, toasted farro risotto or even polenta. COQ AU VIN Yes- you’ve probably heard of this one too! Its title literally means ‘rooster in wine’. It was originally devised for cooking the tough meat of an old bird, but the dish has improved since then! Historically it is said to date back to a Gallic victory over Julius Caesar. The dish contains off the bone chicken or capon, but you can have pork or bacon (lardons) if you prefer. Add the usual French ingredients of mushrooms, onions and garlic and then a touch of brandy for that extra taste. It takes a long time to cook, so it’s not something you’d want to make when you get home from work with a hungry stomach. There is an ‘instant’ pot version, however, which actually takes 55 minutes to cook. CASOULET This is another slow-cooked dish. It’s made with pork or duck confit which is stewed with white beans. For alternative meat, why not try sausage, goose, partridge or mutton. It’s great when you can use the same recipe but change the overall flavour by varying the meat. In France they sell it in jars and cans. RATATOUILLE Once again it began as a poor man’s dish, and it is actually still quite cheap to make. It’s a course stew. You basically shallow fry vegetables (including eggplant), and then put them in a casserole dish and bake them. It’s a vegetarian/vegan dish that can contain tomatoes, courgettes, leafy green herbs and bell pepper. Enjoy it with red wine (no surprises there!) and crusty bread. TARTE TATIN The dessert is basically a caramelized apple pie. You cook the apples in sugar and butter together with pastry. Legend has it that it was discovered by the Tatin sisters. There is said to have been an accident when taking the item out of the oven. To further explain — it’s an ‘upside-down cake’ that you reverse after cooking! I hope you’re hungry now! The French create great food whether it’s a starting soup, main course, dessert or local wine. Many ingredients are common in French dishes, as they like to use locally available items. There’s so much variety here, from using different meats to changing the topping on your crepe. You’re on a great journey and these signature dishes are a great place to start.