Archive for June 2022
How does Mississippi’s cottage food law compare to others?
All 50 states now allow the sale of home-baked foods to the public. At least to a certain extent. Mississippi has had a cottage food law for a number of years, and made it slightly better two years ago, but trails many other states – including all neighboring states – when it comes to freedom…
Read MoreOffering hope to those who need it most
A piece of chocolate and a word of encouragement. That’s how the Buried Treasures Home began. Nikki Benz’s obedience to the Lord led her to the cold walls of the Hinds County jail in downtown Jackson. The jail, at that time nearly two decades ago, was located around the corner from First Baptist Church where…
Read MoreSupreme Court rules in favor of coach
The Supreme Court ruled that a school district in Washington was wrong to fire a football coach for quietly praying on the field after games. It began in 2008 when Bremerton High School football coach Joseph Kennedy started a tradition of kneeling down to pray after football games. What started as a personal and private…
Read MoreSetting Mississippi teachers and families free
Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mississippi showed remarkable improvement on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is known as the “Nation’s Report Card.” This included the highest improvement in the country on several measures. That improvement gives the state the chance to overcome its reputation as the least educated state in America. Sadly,…
Read MoreU.S. Supreme Court Delivers Win for Parents
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a landmark decision. No, not that one. The Court’s eagerly anticipated decision in the Dobbs case—one that will determine if Roe v. Wade is still good law—will have to wait another week, or maybe two. But while the world waits to learn the fate of abortion restrictions in America,…
Read MoreRe-entry as a path to second chances
Re-entry provides a path to second chances and is one of the key pillars of the criminal justice system. These types of programs give former offenders opportunities to find fulfillment through work. Finding value in work helps reduce recidivism rates and improve public safety. However, finding meaningful work outside of prison comes with its own set…
Read MoreThe dignity of work
Through work, we not only contribute to the community and meet personal needs, but also gain a sense of fulfillment. No matter what view you have of the working world, most would agree that humans were not created to be stagnant. We constantly busy ourselves; whether that be in work, academics, or family; seeking to…
Read MoreNew law gives employers in Mississippi more options
A new law passed by the Mississippi legislature aims to give Mississippi employers more options when employing people on community supervision. Data from the Mississippi Department of Corrections indicates that over 20,000 people in Mississippi are on some form of community supervision. This includes people on parole, probation, and house arrest. Most supervision arrangements require…
Read MoreShampooers don’t need 1,000 hours of training
It takes 1,000 hours of training before you can professionally shampoo hair in Mississippi. Shampooers shampoo and rinse consumers’ hair in a beauty parlor. They perform fewer services than a cosmetologist, but work alongside them. Currently, just 7 states require a specific license to be able to work as a shampooer, and 30 more require…
Read MoreScapegoating prevents a return to fiscal sanity
Scapegoats are popular in modern politics. Consider America’s current experience with inflation. When President Biden took office, the consumer price index was 1.4 percent, year-over-year. Since his inauguration, that number has climbed to 8.6 percent. The Biden administration has been reluctant to own the problem, recently turning Vladimir Putin into its own scapegoat with a…
Read MoreOvercoming poverty with the Success Sequence
For many years, the Success Sequence – graduate from high school, work full time, and don’t have kids until you’re married – has been identified as the tool to escape poverty and live a life free of poverty. That’s because, it is. Backed by new data, the formula adopted by Brookings Institute scholars, now shows…
Read MoreFostering innovation in education
At Unleash Mississippi, a panel focused on fostering innovation in the classroom talked about what we can do to better our local school systems in order for every child to have access to quality education. Panelists included Scott Waller of Mississippi Economic Council, Dr. Donna Akers of Ivy Greene Academy, and Dr. Lee Childress of…
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