Mississippi News
How we reported the story: Delta farm discrimination
How we reported the story: White Delta farm owners underpay, push out Black workers
Mississippi Today reporter Sara DiNatale spent eight months investigating the state of the farming workforce in the Delta. She interviewed a dozen local and H-2A visa farm workers, including some currently living in South Africa.
She examined three investigation files from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, which Mississippi Today obtained through public information requests.
What she discovered was alarming: At least five Delta farms paid their primarily Black local workforce less money per hour than temporary workers from other countries โ most often, white men from South Africa.
“I started investigating the dynamics at play among the workforce on Delta farms because I knew it was more than just a lawsuit story,” DiNatale said. “I knew if I spent time listening and searching, records would back up what these men were telling me. And that’s what we were able to find.”
DiNatale along with data reporter Alex Rozier analyzed 15 years of labor department enforcement data to show the high rate Mississippi farms are found to be breaking labor laws when investigated by federal agents. They also sorted through nationwide H-2A applications data to identify trends among the Mississippi farms that used the program last year.
DiNatale contacted more than 30 farm owners throughout the Delta and spent time with veteran farmworkers. Her reporting was informed by interviews with agricultural academics from Alcorn State University, University of Arkansas and Tuskegee University, as well as researchers at the Economic Policy Institute. She attended a virtual session held by the Department of Labor meant to educate about farmworkers’ rights and missteps often made by farmers using the H-2A program.
While she used information shared in the Mississippi Center for Justice’s lawsuits against Pitts Farms and Harris Russell Farm, she also verified information shared by attorneys with former workers and experts familiar with the H-2A program.
“The problem our investigation uncovered is complex and nuanced,” DiNatale said. “But Mississippi leadership has made it clear they want to focus on creating well-paying jobs in the state. I think the biggest takeaway of everything is: Don’t forget about the Delta.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Mississippi sees 5th largest increase in fatal crashes: study
SUMMARY: A recent study highlights a troubling rise in road fatalities in Mississippi, with a nearly 31% increase in fatal accidents from 2012 to 2021, ranking it fifth highest in the country. The Mississippi Highway Patrol reported a spike during the 2024 Labor Day holiday, responding to seven fatal crashes resulting in 15 deaths, compared to only three crashes and six deaths in 2021. Additionally, a 2023 report showed Mississippi had the highest per capita fatal crashes during the Christmas period. Young drivers are particularly affected, as Mississippi ranks fifth for teenage driving fatalities nationwide.
The post Mississippi sees 5th largest increase in fatal crashes: study appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Vicksburg man charged with assaulting woman in domestic dispute
SUMMARY: In Vicksburg, Mississippi, a domestic assault led to the hospitalization of a man and woman on November 2. Police were alerted by Merit Health River Region after a 28-year-old man, Daron Evans, arrived with a stab wound. Authorities dispatched to the scene found the woman, who had also been assaulted. After receiving treatment, Evans was arrested and charged with aggravated assault domestic violence; he is held without bond until his court appearance. The woman is in stable condition at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. An investigation is ongoing.
The post Vicksburg man charged with assaulting woman in domestic dispute appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Cloudy and humid weekend – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: In Columbus, Mississippi, humid and cloudy weather is expected, with temperatures remaining above average in the lower 80s for the upcoming week. Rain is forecasted for Election Day on Tuesday, continuing into the week with isolated showers likely. This Saturday will see patchy fog in the morning, clearing by midday, with a high around 80 degrees. Sunday will bring similar humidity, with a high in the lower 80s and mild overnight lows in the mid-60s. Throughout the week, expect persistent clouds and humidity alongside mild temperatures.
The post Cloudy and humid weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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