Pitmaster Melissa Cookston developed a passion for "cue" growing up around pit-fire grills and Southern Delta cooking in Mississippi

Pitmaster Melissa Cookston developed a passion for "cue" growing up around pit-fire grills and Southern Delta cooking in Mississippi. That passion was re-ignited in the late 90's at a barbeque contest, and she's been smoking the competition ever since. Today she is the only female barbecue world champion. After years on the competition junket, she returned home, opening her Memphis Barbecue Co. restaurant, now with three locations across the Southeast. Her latest cookbook, "Smokin' Hot in the South: New Grilling Recipes from the Winningest Woman in Barbecue," is due out in May. Cookson joins "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to share her passion for barbeque and some signature dishes.

• Apr 9, 2016
• 4:18

In COVID pandemic, rate of stillbirths doubles in Mississippi

"That's quite a number of tragedies that sadly would be preventable right now," Mississippi State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said.

• Sep 10, 2021

Emmett Till memorial sign missing days after 66th anniversary of his death

The sign dedicated to the 14-year-old appears to have been hit by a car and removed.

• Sep 3, 2021

Man who confronted reporter covering Ida on live TV arrested

Video​ of Tuesday's incident shows NBC News' Shaquille Brewster reporting from the Mississippi coast when a man gets out of a white pickup truck and charges at him during a live broadcast.

• Sep 2, 2021

Gulf Coast grapples with Ida's destruction

Days after Hurricane Ida knocked out power in parts of Louisiana, only a fraction of residents have power. Grand Isle, the state's only barrier island with residents, is considered "uninhabitable." Omar Villafranca takes a look.

• Sep 1, 2021
• 3:00

Ida death toll rises to 4

Two deaths in Louisiana and two in Mississippi have been blamed on Ida.

• Aug 31, 2021

Ida left over a million people without power. Now comes the heat.

The National Weather Service has forecasted a heat index value of up to 103 degrees.

• Aug 31, 2021

Mississippi highway collapse kills two and injures 10 others

Extreme rainfall caused the highway's collapse, presumably from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, officials said.

• Aug 31, 2021

Survivor recounts narrowly escaping Hurricane Ida

"I was going to stay alive one way or another, even if I had to turn the sofa over on top of me," one resident said. "I was going to survive this."

• Aug 31, 2021

Ida causes widespread damage along Louisiana coast

Search and rescue operations are underway after Hurricane Ida​ slammed the Louisiana coast, leaving about one million homes and businesses without power.

• Aug 31, 2021

Ida downgraded to tropical storm

As Ida weakens and moves from Louisiana into Mississippi, heavy downpours are still expected to cause flooding across the area. CBSN anchor Vladimir Duthiers reports from Holden, Louisiana on the conditions there, and then speaks with Michael George, who's on the ground in New Orleans.

• Aug 30, 2021
• 6:32

Coast Guard prepares for Ida rescues

The U.S. Coast Guard is standing by in several states as Hurricane Ida lashes the Gulf Coast. But some officials are worried they may not be able to begin rescue services until the storm passes. Vice Admiral Steven Poulin, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Coast Guard Defense East, joins CBSN's Elaine Quijano to discuss. Read more here.

• Aug 29, 2021
• 3:58

Ida expected to make landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane

The hurricane will reach Louisiana's shores on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and government officials have already declared a state of emergency in the state.

• Aug 28, 2021

Thousands of Mississippi students catch COVID

In Mississippi, low vaccination rates are leading to a surge in COVID cases, including students heading back to school. In August alone, nearly 12,000 Mississippi students tested positive for COVID, with another almost 29,000 students forced to quarantine. Mark Strassmann reports.

• Aug 25, 2021
• 2:56

"Our clinics are overrun": Pediatric COVID cases spike in Mississippi

Three weeks into Mississippi's school year, 12,000 students have tested positive for COVID-19. A pediatrician in the state said the virus' impact on kids was like a "freight train."

• Aug 25, 2021

Officials warn against using anti-parasite drug to treat COVID-19

The Mississippi state health department said at least 70% of recent calls have been related to ingesting ivermectin.

• Aug 23, 2021

Mississippi doctor on COVID-19 surge

Mississippi is seeing thousands of new COVID-19 cases per day and hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of severely ill patients. Dr. LouAnn Woodward from the University of Mississippi Medical Center spoke with Laura Podesta on CBSN about what the situation is like there and what schools need to do to keep children healthy.

• Aug 19, 2021
• 5:56

Fauci says COVID-19 surges "entirely preventable"

Dr. Anthony Fauci says recent COVID-19 outbreaks in states like Mississippi and Louisiana are "entirely predictable, and yet on the other hand, entirely preventable."

• Aug 15, 2021
• 7:04

Jackson, Mississippi mayor on infrastructure, COVID

Congress continues to wrangle over final passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and President Biden's broader budget package. This comes as state and local officials are relaying to the White House what they will need when funding gets approved. Jackson, Mississippi Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba spoke with CBSN's Tanya Rivero about his city's priorities.

• Aug 13, 2021
• 11:22

Mississippi sets record for highest daily case count

5,023 new positive cases were reported Thursday, as officials encourage all residents to get vaccinated.

• Aug 13, 2021

Understanding the history of Nicodemus, Kan.

President Biden's infrastructure plan could pass through the Senate as soon as this weekend. Historically, plans surrounding U.S. infrastructure have been a make-or-break issue for communities of color nationwide. One example of this is the last remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi, Nicodemus, Kansas. CBS News political contributor Antjuan Seawright joined CBSN to discuss his recent op-ed for The Hill, "Why a small town in Kansas still represents hope for Black Americans," along with the backstory of the historic town.

• Jul 30, 2021
• 8:00

Health care workers face frontline fatigue

After a year-and-a-half of the pandemic, Mississippi is facing another COVID surge, with hospitalizations there up more than 450% this month, and doctors and nurses are exhausted. Correspondent Omar Villafranca visited St. Dominic's Memorial Hospital in Jackson, where fatigue is just one of many concerns for current health workers still on the frontlines.

• Jul 30, 2021
• 3:49

Delta variant fuels COVID surge among unvaccinated

An overwhelming majority of people who are hospitalized in Mississippi with COVID-19 aren't vaccinated against the virus. Some of those hospitalized are now urging others to get vaccinated. David Begnaud takes a look.

• Jul 26, 2021
• 2:04

COVID cases surge, targeting the unvaccinated

The highly-contagious Delta variant is tightening its grip on the U.S., as COVID infection rates surge in every state. Experts say it's fueled by the unvaccinated. In Mississippi, only around 34% of the population is vaccinated. Lead national correspondent David Begnaud goes inside St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital in Jackson where beds are quickly filling up.

• Jul 26, 2021
• 4:21

7 Mississippi children in COVID ICU

Seven children in Mississippi are in the ICU, two of whom are on ventilators, as the state continues to deal with a spike in COVID cases. This comes as health officials warn that low vaccination rates could put kids at risk. Omar Villafranca reports.

• Jul 14, 2021
• 2:53

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