As October kicks off Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney encourages consumers and businesses to understand their cyber risks and how they can protect themselves. Standalone cyber insurance is designed primarily for businesses, helping to cover costs such as data breach response, business interruption, legal liability, and expenses that typically fall outside standard commercial policies. But consumers have options for protection, too.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB “Verity” wishes it was a twisty thriller. It is indeed twisty, but it doesn’t have the heart to be a thriller. The film’s advertising is clearly positioning it as a successor to last year’s hit front-of-the-bookstore novel adaptation “The Housemaid,” though it is based on a book that predates that film’s source material by four years. In fact, it is based on a novel by the popular Colleen Hoover, and it’s easy to picture the studio

C. Phillip "Phil" Buffington Jr., a veteran financial legal expert, conservative leader, and devoted family man, officially announced his candidacy today for Mississippi State Auditor in the Republican Primary. Buffington brings extensive executive, legal, and regulatory experience advising community banks, financial institutions, and businesses across Mississippi and the nation to the campaign, offering a proven record of fiscal stewardship, corporate governance, and fraud p

The Mississippi State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to support Fire Prevention Week. This year's theme, "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower," focuses on the simple steps people can take to recharge safely. Many devices used in our daily lives, like phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes, and scooters, run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which store a lot of energy in a sma

By Misty Strieff Prine “He holds galaxies yet notices when your heart trembles. The same hands that named every star also caught every tear. Majesty and mercy in one heartbeat – that’s the God you belong to.” – Ange Little I shared this message the other day and I felt so strongly to share it on this platform as well. I believe that so many of us are facing trials and hardships right now and may be searching for a since of belonging. This message, to me personally

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB In “Primetime,” Robert Pattinson plays Chris Hansen, host of “To Catch a Predator,” an offshoot of NBC’s “Dateline” news program in the mid-2000’s. Hansen and the show’s production team would coordinate with police to lure child predators (via Internet chatrooms where there would be no ambiguity as to their intent) to locations where they would be ambushed, first by Hansen and his cameras, then by the police. While removing child

by Raymond Barranco, MSU Professor of Sociology My kids love Olive Garden – a lot. With an Italian last name like Barranco, I’ll admit I’m slightly embarrassed by how much they love what may be the most generic Italian restaurant in the country. But I keep that to myself and indulge them. Every time we go, I’m reminded of a question I like to ask my students: Why can’t we eat spaghetti with our hands? Sure, it’s fine for a toddler. But an adult? Definitely not.

For the 19th consecutive year, Site Selection magazine has named Entergy a Top Utility in economic development. The communities we serve continue to attract some of the nation’s most competitive and power‑intensive industries in the United States. In 2025, Entergy Mississippi helped secure $9.609 billion in capital investments and create nearly 1,177 new jobs within the Entergy Mississippi service area. "Being recognized as a top utility in economic development is a testa

by Misty Strieff Prine “There’s really not a difficult thing unless you decide it’s a difficult thing. Otherwise, it’s just the next thing you’re figuring out.” – Unknown. Things are truly only as difficult as we make them out to be in reality. If we remember to let Jesus take the lead on them, like we are supposed to, we wouldn’t find ourselves in the shape we so often do a lot of times. A little thing often becomes a huge thing because we worry about it and try

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB The streak is over. The last time I started a review with that phrase, it was to mean something bad – 2022’s “Lightyear” was the first Pixar movie that I didn’t recommend. This time, it’s something good – Zach Cregger’s new take on “Resident Evil” is the first movie based on a video game that I do recommend. Not surprisingly, the man who directed Amy Madigan to an Oscar last year for “Weapons” brings enough good idea

by Jessica Breazeale I heard something recently that I haven't been able to shake. A man said he stopped complaining about the very things he prayed for. Y'all. I had to sit down. Think about it. Remember when you begged God for that job? You promised you'd never take it for granted. You'd show up early and give it your best. Now it's Monday morning, and you're griping about the workload before you've finished your coffee. Remember that house? You drove by it, dreamed about i

By: L.A. Warren, UMMC Communications Nurse practitioner Barbara Herring talks with patient Fershurn Stanford of Canton at the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute's high-risk breast cancer clinic. The University of Mississippi Medical Center has earned the No. 2 ranking on Forbes' 2026 list of America's Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals, placing Mississippi's only academic medical center among the nation's most highly regarded health care workplaces. UMMC

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Forgiveness given to someone who treated you badly is necessary to get over the hurt. Your forgiveness doesn’t do a thing for their emotional health, but it frees you from the prison you are living in. Drinking alcohol is not a necessity for a happy life. Contrary to popular belief, you can learn to handle your anger, anxiety, celebrations, fears, or stress level, without the numbing effect of it. Parents, it really is your responsib

By Raymond Barranco, MSU Professor of Sociology There are two things that most of us struggle to say (no, I’m not talking about “Irish wristwatch” and “rural juror”): “I’m sorry” and “You were right.” Those words are difficult no matter the relationship – between spouses, parents and children, coworkers, friends, or teachers and students. Why? Because saying them requires us to admit something we would rather not: that we made a mistake. Most of us don’t enjoy admitting we’re

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is urging Mississippians to be aware of the serious and potentially unpredictable risks associated with counterfeit pills, illicitly manufactured drugs and other psychoactive products obtained from unregulated or unverifiable sources. The warning comes as the drug environment continues to change, with counterfeit pills, emerging substances and products sold in a variety of forms and through a growing number of channels. A pro

By Kara Kimbrough Fall’s finally here and football season is in full swing. The tantalizing aroma of wings, dogs and burgers grilling in the late afternoon sun is almost sweeter than your favorite team’s victory. Colorful tables filled with sausage balls, pulled pork sandwiches, pigs in blankets, football-shaped cheese balls, dips of every description and sugar cookies iced in team-colors are surrounded by fans who enjoy dining outdoors under a tent almost as much as ent

By Ron Powers In 1994, The Cranberries unleashed one of the most powerful and haunting protest songs of the alternative rock era with “Zombie”, a furious anthem that transformed grief and outrage into one of the defining rock statements of the decade. Built around a slow, brooding rhythm, distorted guitar riffs, and Dolores O’Riordan’s raw, unmistakably Irish vocals, the song marked a dramatic departure from the softer sound of the band’s earlier work, replacing wistful melod

By Ron Powers

By Misty Strieff Prine “Never underestimate the power of a compliment. Sometimes it could keep a person going for days, weeks or even years.” – Unknown Life lately…it’s been crazy busy and just plain hard to be honest. I do my very best to keep a positive attitude and encourage others even in those times. I’ve been silently struggling with anxiety and overwhelming situations…unbeknownst to anyone…but God. But the past few weeks I’ve been reminded of something. In

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Apparently I blinked and the 1998 chick flick “Practical Magic” developed a huge cult following. The film, about witch sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens, came out 28 years ago, made only $40 million at the domestic box office, scored a mere 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, and I can’t recall ever hearing anyone speak affectionately about it. And yet not only was there a call for a sequel in 2026, the resulti