Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Heather Harrison

@heatherharrison.bsky.social

7.5K followers 600 following 720 posts

Mississippi journalist @mississippifreepress.org • TikTok @HeatherRHarrison • professionally nosy • msstate alumna • former Reflector editor • all opinions are my own

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · Mar 6

On Election Night Nov. 5, 2024, Sen. Wicker told me “call me any time” after I interviewed him about tariffs and other topics. I have contacted his office multiple times since then and only got a response today after I mentioned his comment in an email.

Mississippi Free Press @mississippifreepress.org · Mar 6

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, who often wears a Ukrainian flag pin on his lapel, has gone silent on President Donald Trump’s decision to halt aid and intelligence sharing to the embattled country.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker Silent After Trump Halts Ukraine Aid

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker has gone silent on President Donald Trump’s decision to halt aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine.

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 1h

Please send me an email if you'd like!

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 2h

My full story on it will be up soon, but here's Bluesky's statement.

Our Response to Mississippi’s Age Assurance Law - Bluesky

A new Mississippi law requires us to block full access to Bluesky unless all users complete age checks. We have concerns about this law’s implementation.

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 2h

My full story on it will be up soon, but here's Bluesky's statement.

Our Response to Mississippi’s Age Assurance Law - Bluesky

A new Mississippi law requires us to block full access to Bluesky unless all users complete age checks. We have concerns about this law’s implementation.

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 3h

If I've randomly followed you this week, I'm writing a story about the Bluesky ban in Mississippi. My editor @ashtonpittman.bsky.social gave me people's Bluesky handles who reached out & wanted to help with this story. I'm unable to DM many of you so please email me if you're still interested!

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 7d

“In the absence of federal funding, MSDH is stepping in to ensure WIC operations continue. Current WIC participants will continue receiving their benefits without interruption,” an Oct. 2 MSDH press release says.

WIC Stops Accepting Some Applicants Amid Government Shutdown

The WIC program will only accept applications from pregnant women, breastfeeding women and high-risk infants during the federal government shutdown.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 7d

MSDH said it is unable to accept online applications during the government shutdown. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and high-risk infants can call 1-800-338-6747 to schedule an in-person appointment.

WIC Stops Accepting Some Applicants Amid Government Shutdown

The WIC program will only accept applications from pregnant women, breastfeeding women and high-risk infants during the federal government shutdown.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 7d

MSDH said it will put all other applicants who do not fall within the Priority 1 category on a waitlist during the shutdown, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.

WIC Stops Accepting Some Applicants Amid Government Shutdown

The WIC program will only accept applications from pregnant women, breastfeeding women and high-risk infants during the federal government shutdown.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 7d

This group of people is considered Priority 1 for the WIC program and MSDH said it will continue to process and accept those applications as usual.

WIC Stops Accepting Some Applicants Amid Government Shutdown

The WIC program will only accept applications from pregnant women, breastfeeding women and high-risk infants during the federal government shutdown.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 7d

The Mississippi WIC program is only accepting applications from pregnant women, breastfeeding women and high-risk infants during the federal government shutdown, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced on Oct. 2.

WIC Stops Accepting Some Applicants Amid Government Shutdown

The WIC program will only accept applications from pregnant women, breastfeeding women and high-risk infants during the federal government shutdown.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks for sharing!

Reposted by Heather Harrison

Microbes.Info @microbesinfo.bsky.social · 14d

#Mississippi #baby #dies of whooping cough ...

| #whoopingcough | #infection | #pertussis | #bacteria | #pathogen | By @heatherharrison.bsky.social via @mississippifreepress.org

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 13d

Cliff Johnson is a civil rights attorney and the director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Johnson hopes to oust incumbent Republican U.S. House Rep. Trent Kelly, who has served in the U.S. House since 2015, in the 2026 midterm elections.

Johnson Vows to Fight for Vulnerable Mississippians in Run for Congress

Civil-rights attorney Cliff Johnson is running as a Democrat against incumbent Republican U.S. House Rep. Treny Kelly in Mississippi.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 13d

Democrat Cliff Johnson says he will stand up for “vulnerable” Mississippians and bring “Mississippi values” to Washington, D.C., if voters elect him to serve Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District, he said in an announcement today.

Johnson Vows to Fight for Vulnerable Mississippians in Run for Congress

Civil-rights attorney Cliff Johnson is running as a Democrat against incumbent Republican U.S. House Rep. Treny Kelly in Mississippi.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

Pregnant women should get the pertussis vaccine or booster, usually offered in conjunction with tetanus and diphtheria as the Tdap shot, between the 27th and 36th week of pregnancy, MS State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

MS State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said the best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated against it and keep up with booster shots every 10 years through the Tdap shot, which is available for those ages 7 and older and also offers protection against tetanus and diphtheria.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

“Our concern is that adult Mississippians are not maintaining the pertussis immunity, which puts our babies at risk,” Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney said.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

Mississippi has seen 115 pertussis cases from Jan. 1, 2025, to Sept. 29. Through all of 2024, the state had only detected 49 whooping cough cases, MSDH reported.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

The infant was less than two months old and was not old enough to receive the pertussis vaccine, MSDH said.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced on Sept. 29, marking the state’s first whooping cough death in 13 years.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 15d

I miss Starkville BAAAADDDDD. Let’s petition for the Legislature to relocate there🤪

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 16d

What’s the deal with German flags in central Mississippi? I’ve seen some flying at Renaissance in Ridgeland and outside the ice cream shop in downtown Brandon. Are we honoring ancestors/history or do we have Germans visiting town?

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 18d

I had the same thoughts when I saw that photo😂😭

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 18d

“Women who do have high fevers & medical illnesses that need a fever reducer may take Tylenol, but that doesn’t mean that Tylenol caused autism. The infection, the premature birth, the sepsis—all those things in the mother may have increased their risk of having a baby with autism,” Henderson said.

Doctor Rebukes ‘Dangerous Disinformation’ on Autism, Tylenol

The White House is spreading “dangerous disinformation” about Tylenol and autism, says Dr. Anita Henderson, a Hattiesburg pediatrician.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 18d

Dr. Henderson is urging expecting mothers to obtain medical advice from doctors, not politicians, after a Sept. 22 news conference where Trump & RFK repeatedly warned pregnant women not to take Tylenol. The men claimed with no evidence that acetaminophen increases the risk of autism in children.

Doctor Rebukes ‘Dangerous Disinformation’ on Autism, Tylenol

The White House is spreading “dangerous disinformation” about Tylenol and autism, says Dr. Anita Henderson, a Hattiesburg pediatrician.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Heather Harrison @heatherharrison.bsky.social · 18d

Using acetaminophen medication like Tylenol during pregnancy does not cause autism despite “dangerous disinformation” that the White House is spreading on the topic, says Dr. Anita Henderson, a pediatrician at the Hattiesburg Clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Doctor Rebukes ‘Dangerous Disinformation’ on Autism, Tylenol

The White House is spreading “dangerous disinformation” about Tylenol and autism, says Dr. Anita Henderson, a Hattiesburg pediatrician.

www.mississippifreepress.org