Christ Episcopal Church of Natchez rededicated its historic cemetery.
The church congregation dates to 1820, making it the oldest Episcopal church in Mississippi. The cemetery restoration included several months of work focused on broken and fallen headstones. The rededication comes less than a year after the church building was renovated and rededicated.
In Louisiana, gene therapy has “functionally cured” a child with sickle cell disease, according to reported trial results. The 15-year-old patient, Phillip Mullin of Alexandria, is described as the first person in Louisiana to use LifeGenia, a stem cell gene therapy treatment. The report says he has had more than 100 hospital stays. It also notes that the CDC states sickle cell disease causes abnormal red blood cells that can lead to pain, infection, and stroke. Mullin said he plans to return to school with plans to become a hematologist.
In Mississippi, portions of a state ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in public schools can go into effect following a decision by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that vacated a lower court ruling blocking parts of the law. The provisions described would prevent public schools from requiring diversity training and from maintaining DEI-related programs, courses, and offices. The report also says the law bans public schools from discussing a list of so-called divisive concepts related to race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Public schools that violate the law could lose state funding. The ban passed in April 2025 and is being challenged by a group of educators, students, parents, and activists who say it violates their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Planned Parenthood reopened a health facility in New Orleans after closing a previous location last year. The report says the New Orleans center is at 4624 South Claiborne Avenue and offers sexual and reproductive health services, including birth control, gender-affirming care, and STI testing and treatment, as well as wellness visits. The facility reopened earlier this month, and the report says patients are coming from across the state. It also states that, due to state law, the facility is unable to provide abortion services, and that telehealth services are available.
At the end of the news update, the Mississippi River in Natchez-Vidalia was reported at 21.03 feet and falling.
