Articles by Slim Smith
Tireless education, community advocate Qua Austin passes away at age 72
Qua Austin never taught school. Nor was she a school principal or someone with formal training in education.
Gov signs IVF heirship bill into law
A bill that will provide survivor benefits to Mississippi children conceived through in vitro fertilization after the death of a biological parent has been signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves.
Slimantics: Younger’s bill puts a target on the backs of transgender teens
Almost 10 years ago, The Dispatch published a story about Blossom Brown, a openly transgender student at Mississippi University for Women.
Slimantics: Here we go again
In Goldfinger, the seventh in a series of novels featuring British spy James Bond, author Ian Fleming made this observation: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.”
Slimantics: A five-year journey ends in success
It’s been more than five years since Katie Studdard discovered that Mississippi law prevented her daughter, Elyse, from receiving social security inheritance benefits after Katie’s husband, Chris McDill died.
Amphitheater gets $1 million more from state
The Mississippi legislature has appropriated money for a wide range of projects in the Golden Triangle as it wraps up the 2024 session this weekend.
Slimantics: Mississippi’s 11th-hour Medicaid expansion agreement is a hateful mockery
No state has a higher percentage of poor folks than Mississippi. And no state hates poor folks more than Mississippi, either.
Community Profile: Columbus doctor helps start Orthodox Church in Columbus
When William Rosenblatt arrived at Furman University to study medicine, he knew he would be in for a healthy dose of Latin, the language of many medical terms still used today.
Slimantics: Confronting the past, ending the silence
Leroy Clemons was 6 years old, living in Philadelphia, Miss., in the summer of 1964 when hell came to town.
Slimantics: No good or bad, just important
I had been sports editor at The East Valley Tribune, located in the Metro Phoenix area, for only a few months when the newspaper’s editor, Alan Geere, announced in our editor’s meeting that we would be trying something different for the July 22, 1998 edition of the paper.
Slimantics: Looking to the skies with wonder and curiosity
It’s something a lot of people get all worked up about and eagerly await even though it lasts only 2 to 4 minutes at best.
Slimantics: Trump-improved Bible comes just in time for Easter
This week, former president Donald J. (as in “Jesus”) Trump announced he is partnering with another patriot who chose not to serve his country in the Vietnam War, Lee Greenwood, to sell a new collector’s edition of the Bible.
Slimantics: Born after her father’s passing, a 6yo’s benefits await Senate vote
Even before she was sworn in to the Mississippi Legislature five years ago, Rep. Dana McLean, R-Columbus, had some legislation she wanted to pursue. One of those bills involved Katie Studdard and her daughter, Elyse.
Slimantics: Momentum growing for Medicaid expansion
It’s still a bit early to start counting chickens, but it looks as though the Mississippi Legislature is ready to expand Medicaid.
Community Profile: Lehmberg Road resident finds his voice in the face of annexation
Until a few months ago, Michael Lewis never imagined himself as a political activist.
Slimantics: Annexation and bottled water
My dad was well into his age of curmudgeonry when water packaged in plastic bottles began appearing on grocery and convenience store shelves.
Slimantics: If by whiskey, you mean …
Consider Mississippi’s rich history in the art and craft of storytelling. Certain names emerge. There are literary legends such Faulkner, Welty and Williams but also contemporary authors like John Grisham, Natasah Trethewey and Donna Tarrtt.
Slimantics: Fear the bear
There’s an old saying that goes when two people are being chased by a bear: A person doesn’t have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the other guy.
Slimantics: Death by nostalgia
There is a name for places where the past is more important than the future.
Slimantics: Commission on Age Appropriateness may not be as benign as it appears
For some time now, Mississippi parents have struggled with stupidity. Fortunately, they have the Mississippi Legislature to protect them from their ignorance.
Holiday Handcrafts Bazaar accepting vendor applications
July 12, 2025
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