World Vision Responding to Two U.S. Disasters

"World Vision has shipped 50 pallets of relief supplies from its distribution centers in Chicago and Appalachia to assist flood victims in Nashville. The supplies, which arrived on May 10 in Nashville, include men's and women's clothing, blankets, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and cleanup items such as work gloves, safety glasses, and Tyveck suits. Approximately 2,000 people affected by the flooding are expected to benefit from these supplies."

For more on World Vision's efforts in the U.S., click here.

Pascagoula children under 5 will get a leg up on reading

"All children born in Pascagoula, MS during 2010 and 2011 will have the chance to be well-read — or well-read-to — by the time they begin kindergarten under a partnership announced Wednesday.

The Pascagoula Excel By 5 Coalition will work with the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation to make sure children born during those years who live in the city — ZIP codes 39567 and 39581 — are enrolled for participation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Under the program, the children will receive a new, age-appropriate book for their parents to read to them each month until they reach age 5."

Learn more about this program - click here.

Mississippi senators vote to cut their salaries 10 percent for 2011

"The Mississippi Legislature won’t be shrinking anytime soon, but lawmakers might collect smaller paychecks for a single year.

Senators passed a bill Wednesday that would trim lawmakers’ salaries by 10 percent for 2011 only — a move designed to show solidarity with other government workers who are worried about their job security amid shrinking state revenues."

Click here to read more on the Mississippi Senate's actions.

You will see more progress: Millions of dollars go into Coast projects

"The scars are still there from Hurricane Katrina four years after the storm hit, but so are concrete signs South Mississippi is moving ahead stronger than ever.

Soon after the storm, Gov. Haley Barbour challenged the Coast to rebuild bigger and better. Or, he said, area residents will have failed future generations."

Click here for more on the progress since Hurricane Katrina.