Sunday Reader: 10 years after Katrina

JOHN FITZHUGH/SUN HERALD
Katrina Trees, Long Beach, Feb. 12, 2015

While eyes have been watching Tropical Storm Danny as he barrels toward the Caribbean, hearts and minds have turned to remembering the utter devastation wrought on the Gulf Coast 10 years ago this week. Hurricane Katrina was the defining natural catastrophe of a generation, resetting the bar for our worst fears of what Mother Nature can do.

The Sun Herald in Biloxi has been building for weeks to a crescendo of retrospective Katrina+10 coverage that includes the haunting feature Ghosts of Katrina by photographer correspondent John Fitzhugh, which looks expressly at the remnants of the live oaks that a decade later are painful reminders of the storm.

Meanwhile, coverage in The Clarion-Ledger includes many stops along the Gulf Coast, exploring the recovery in arts, infrastructure and day-to-day life at ground zero in Bay St. Louis.

More on the Gulf Coast 10 years after Katrina in today’s Sunday Reader for Aug. 23, 2015:

• Katrina dolphins: Untold story some believe never should have happened – Sun Herald
• Tiner: In one awful day, ‘the world we had known was swept away.’ – Newseum
• Marsha Barbour: ‘The face of Mississippi recovery’ – The Clarion-Ledger
• Pass Christian native Robin Roberts brings national attention to recovery – The Sea Coast Echo
• One silver lining: A bigger, better gulf coast airport – Sun Herald
• Pender: An ordinary, amazing Katrina story – The Clarion-Ledger
• Famous tree sculptures get a face lift along the coast – The Clarion-Ledger
• We Remember: Profiles of those lost to the storm – Sun Herald

Sunday Reader: Letter calls for flag change

The signatures on the letter read like a Who’s Who of influential, respected and otherwise revered Mississippians. Names like Manning, Freeman, Grisham, Carter, Anderson, Buffett.

The full page ad appearing in the Aug. 16 edition of The Clarion-Ledger calls on Mississippians to look into their hearts and then to the future, embracing a possible state flag design that would be inclusive of all residents.

“It is simply not fair, or honorable. to ask black Mississippians to attend schools, compete in athletic events, work in the public sector, serve in the National Guard, and go about their normal lives with a state flag that glorifies a war fought to keep their ancestors enslaved.”

It’s a powerful message. Will the impact of the message and those who bring it make a difference in the arena of public opinion?

Here are more articles worth ruminating in this Sunday Reader for Aug. 16, 2015.

• Tupelo school leaders lament over-testing, mull federal education law re-write – Daily Journal
• Ridgeland residents up in arms over proposed Costco store – Madison County Journal
• Katrina Anniversary: Hundreds of crooks snagged post-storm relief funds – Sun Herald
• Chicago columnist steps in it wishing for another Katrina. Bless her heart. – The Clarion-Ledger
• ISIS suspect, daughter of Vicksburg cop, to remain in custody – The Vicksburg Post
• Public Service Commission candidates talk about Kemper plant – The Meridian Star
• Robert St. John sends daughter off to college – with a little advice – Hattiesburg American
• The bikers are back in Sturgis – The Commercial Dispatch

It’s so bad they’d rather join ISIS?

Was it so bad for them that these two kids from Mississippi would rather flee the state and join one of the most notorious global terrorist organizations? Did they suffer from a lack of familial and community support? Or did they just fall for the promotional video to “join the club?”

Either way, the bizarre story has thrust the state into the spotlight of an international story now that the kids – intent on marrying and joining ISIS – tried to do so by catching an international flight from , of all places, Golden Triangle Regional Airport near Columbus.

Here’s the roundup for Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, provided by Mississippi newspaper media on the story.

• Judge denies bond to ISIS – The Clarion-Ledger
• Duo taken into custody at small airport in Lowndes County – The Commercial Dispatch
• FBI details terrorist charges against couple – The Vicksburg Post
• Rogue’s photo gallery of other Americans who tried to join ISIS – The Clarion-Ledger

Sunday Reader: Primary endorsements

Incumbents facing opposition in the Tuesday primaries essentially got the thumbs up from The Clarion-Ledger and other newspapers this week with one notable exception. The controversy surrounding State Auditor Stacy Pickering has given some late-in-the-game traction to the campaign of Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler of Madison. The Madison County Journal, hometown newspaper for Hawkins Butler, also endorsed the Mayor’s insurgent campaign, but added another incumbent to its naughty list – Treasurer Lynn Fitch.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested in the goings-on of some politicians who are not up for re-election Tuesday, consider the news that some of the Starkville Board of Aldermen think they’re due a 33 percent pay increase.

Plus, there’s plenty more to sink your mind into with this Sunday Reader for Aug. 2, 2015:

• Photo montage shows the before, after and “now” of Hurricane Katrina – Sun Herald
• Brett Favre is inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame – Hattiesburg American
• Race for QB biggest question headed into Rebels camp – Daily Journal
• State flag still flying at MUW, but absent through much of the area – The Commercial Dispatch
• Feline’s tail, uh, tale of journey home amazes owner – The Vicksburg Post
• Pushing for greater smoking restrictions in Meridian – The Meridian Star
• Coach Boo Ferriss to be honored with statue at Delta State – The Bolivar Commercial