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The Memo

The Memo

Archives for May 2016

#117: State of the region and education reform – 05/26/16

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The CREATE Foundation held its annual “State of the Region” meeting on Thursday, featuring guest speaker Donald Nielsen – an author, former school board member and education reform advocate from Seattle. Nielsen (6:09) dropped by our studio to talk with Derek and Brad about the opportunity Mississippi has to lead the nation in school improvement and some of the changes he sees as necessary. Also, CREATE Foundation Senior Vice President Lewis Whitfield (37:20) talks about the highlights of this year’s “State of the Region” event.

Also on today’s show, Daily Journal reporter M. Scott Morris (50:52) talks about Oxford’s Alex Mullen, who recently became the first American to win the World Memory Championships. Scott talks about how Mullen was inspired by a book and about techniques that can help improve memorization. Scott (43:35) also gives his weekly movie review, this time on “Neighbors 2.”

Riley Manning (59:52) discusses this year’s Tupelo Reads book selection and his impending departure from Tupelo. Derek (1:11:13) breaks down this weekend’s entertainment scene.

Programing note: There is no show on Memorial Day, but we will resume with a new episode on Wednesday, June 1.

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#116: Tupelo applies for waiver for air service – 05/25/16

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The U.S. Department of Transportation ordered a temporary termination of the Essential Air Service program in 30 communities, including Tupelo. This would cut the subsidy Contour Airlines uses to fly into and out of Tupelo and would end commercial air service shortly after Contour began. The decision resulted from the poor performance of a previous carrier, and Tupelo airport officials believe they will be able to successfully appeal it. Daily Journal business editor Dennis Seid (6:09) joins Derek and Brad on today’s episode to discuss the situation and what might happen.

Also on today’s show, Daily Journal Capitol Bureau Chief Bobby Harrison (12:26) has details from Tuesday’s State Board of Education meeting at which the board voted to follow the position of state leadership and disregard federal government guidelines that say transgender students should be allowed to use the bathrooms of the sex with which they identify.

The Boys & Girls Clubs unveiled the list of celebrity participants for this year’s Dance Like the Stars event, and Daily Journal reporter William Moore (21:07) joins the show to provide details. Also, food editor Ginna Parsons (26:54) breaks down this week’s food section, including the survival of the Cook of the Week feature.

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#115: Lots happening in Tupelo – 05/23/16

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On today’s episode, Brad and guest co-host Lauren Wood talk about a couple of development projects taking place in the All-America City. Local government reporter Caleb Bedillion (7:17) discusses the latest plans to transform a stretch on Tupelo’s West Jackson Street from a corridor of blighted rental properties into a trendy district of affordable owner-occupied homes. Last week, a marketing plan was announced for the corridor, which has been dubbed “Jackson West.”

Also, Daily Journal business editor Dennis Seid (16:01) joins the show to discuss Fairpark and its residential development. Dennis looks at where the district sits 20 years into its plan and talks about what its future may hold. Finally, Brad (23:22) gives the wackiest crime reports from last week.

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#114: Transgender bathroom debate – 05/19/16

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Mississippi Superintendent of Education Carey Wright said on Wednesday that the state will take no action in terms of requiring local school districts to ensure transgender students can use the bathroom of the sex of which they identify. That reversed an earlier announcement that Mississippi would adhere to new guidelines sent out by the federal government. Daily Journal Capitol Bureau chief Bobby Harrison (9:02) joins Derek and Brad to discuss the issue and the politics that surround it.

Also on today’s show, local government reporter Caleb Bedillion (19:11) talks about the city of Tupelo’s decision to purchase more than 76 acres near Bryan and Monument drives, the debate over the purchase and how the land may be used. M. Scott Morris (31:23) reviews “Money Monster,” and Derek (38:12) outlines this weekend’s entertainment scene.

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#113: Latest details on Monday’s plane crash – 05/18/16

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Daily Journal reporter William Moore (11:19) joins Brad and guest co-host Emma Kent to provide the latest details on Monday’s fatal plane crash just north of the Tupelo airport. Four individuals from Texas were killed when their private plane crashed into the woods shortly after taking off.

Also on today’s show, Daily Journal photographer Lauren Wood (20:50) speaks about her photo essay on the two female cadets who recently graduated from the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center’s police academy program. Wood followed Brionna Lucas and Kaitlyn Weeks as they worked their way through the program from February until their graduation earlier this month.

Also, Brad gives us the wackiest crime reports from last week (31:32), and food editor Ginna Parsons (39:55) breaks down this week’s food section – pork tenderloin with peach preserves, grilled fruit and vegetables and a call for Cook of the Week nominations.

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#112: Third grade reading scores – 05/16/16

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We have an abbreviated podcast today because the newsroom was busy covering a couple of breaking stories –  a fatal plane crash near the Tupelo airport and the arrest of a capital murder suspect. Visit DJournal.com for more on those stories.

On today’s episode, education reporter Emma Kent (2:05) discusses how students performed on the third-grade reading test. Students must pass that test in order to advance to fourth grade, and local schools showed growth in the second year of the test, according to data that was released last week.

We will be back on Wednesday with a full-length episode.

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#111: The faces of student debt – 05/12/16

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Since 1978, the cost of college nationwide has increased by 1,125 percent, according to Bloomberg. That has resulted in higher and higher debt burdens for college graduates, including an average debt balance of $26,000 for Mississippi students. Daily Journal reporter Zack Orsborn (4:14) recently spoke to a handful of Mississippians about their student debt burdens and joins Derek and Brad to give more insight.

Also on today’s show, health reporter Michaela Morris (16:41) discusses the recent measles scare and what you need to know about it. M. Scott Morris (30:55) reviews “Captain America: Civil War,” and Derek (36:50) has the highlights of this weekend’s entertainment scene.

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#110: Groups file lawsuits opposing House Bill 1523 – 05/11/16

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Opponents of the controversial Mississippi law allowing public officials and private businesses not to provide services to same-sex couples have wasted little time trying to block its enactment. Daily Journal Capitol Bureau chief Bobby Harrison (4:43) joins Derek and Brad to discuss two lawsuits filed in opposition to House Bill 1523 and to talk about what may happen next with the law.

Also on today’s show, Daily Journal reporter William Moore (8:56) highlights a Lee County 911 dispatcher whose extra efforts to research the location of a call helped save a man’s life. Photographer Thomas Wells (18:07) discusses his photo essay on last week’s Blue Suede Cruise car show, and food editor Ginna Parsons (27:45) breaks down this week’s food section – Swiss chard, duck with lemon dill sauce, strawberry salsa and more.

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#109: Will Mississippi remain a red state in 2016? – 05/09/16

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As this year’s presidential election field takes shape, political pundits still believe Mississippi will be a red state in November. However, the dynamics of this year’s election make it difficult to say for sure and lead some to think that Hillary Clinton may have a chance to carry the Magnolia State or to at least make inroads. Daily Journal Capitol Bureau Chief Bobby Harrison (12:18) joins Derek and Brad to discuss the dynamics of a Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton election and what he has learned in his discussions with political pundits.

Also on today’s show, Bobby (17:50) and local government reporter Caleb Bedillion (21:16) talk about the state bond bill that is pending before Gov. Phil Bryant. On one hand, state Treasurer Lynn Fitch has criticized some of the projects for having a narrow impact, but local mayors say the money their towns would receive would have statewide benefits.

Plus, Brad (31:06) breaks down the craziest crime reports from last week.

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#108: Revitalizing Mill Village – 05/05/16

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The Tupelo City Council has decided to buy five lots in Mill Village in an effort to bolster revitalization of the neighborhood. Daily Journal local government reporter Caleb Bedillion (8:29) joins Brad and Derek to discuss why the city purchased the land and how it hopes to spur new construction.

Also on today’s show, Zack Orsborn (14:22) previews this year’s lineup for Elvis Festival, which will be headlined by American Idol Trent Harmon. M. Scott Morris (24:32) reviews “Keanu,” and Derek (30:04) breaks down this weekend’s entertainment scene.

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