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MISSISSIPPI. (WALA) – A big sex offender and human trafficking bust across Mississippi has resulted in the arrest of 72 people.

According to the Mississippi attorney general Lynn Fitch, during ‘Operation Guardian Force,’ law enforcement officers were able to rescue 29 human trafficking victims in this this two-week investigation, which went from July 14 to July 29.

Kathryn Bezue, human trafficking advocate with the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, says they were there to offer open arms to the victims.

“The operation had many folds,” Bezue said. “There was a drug sting and there was a human trafficking sting which we were a part of. We were invited by the attorney general. We did two days with law-enforcement and when they brought the victims, we were there to be able to give them resources. They were able to seek medical attention if they wanted it, they were offered shelter if they wanted it, but ultimately, we just wanted them to know that there was a place there for them ready for when they were ready.”

The U.S. Department of State says there are approximately 14,500 to 17,500 domestic victims trafficked every day.

The Mississippi attorney general says several agencies were part of the operation…including sheriff’s offices from Jackson, Harrison and stone counties, as well as police in bay St. Louis and Biloxi.

Bezue told me the victims varied in age, showing anyone can be trafficked.

“Not a lot of people understand what human trafficking is and they don’t realize they have been human trafficked so it takes a little bit of kindness and patience when you’re dealing with victims, because sometimes they may not be ready to accept their situation or they might be scared because their abusers have control over them,” she said.

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The 30th of July marks the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

This year’s theme, “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation”, highlights a neglected crime: trafficking for forced criminality. IOM’s campaign, “Forced to Commit, Criminalized for Surviving. Let’s End the Exploitation”, calls for protecting, not punishing victims of this abuse.

Across the globe, trafficked persons – often migrants, youth, and children – are coerced into crimes like online scams, drug trafficking, and theft. Instead of being recognized as victims, they are criminalized and denied support.

Trafficking for forced criminality fuels corruption and organized crime. Criminals profit from human suffering, while victims face punishment and stigma.

To dismantle these networks, responses must focus on victim identification and survivor-centered justice. Governments, civil society, and international actors must ensure strong referral systems, reintegration support, and uphold the non-punishment principle.

IOM and partners are committed to saving lives and ensuring survivors are protected, heard, and supported, not silenced.

By listening to victims, strengthening protections, and holding traffickers accountable, we can end exploitation for good.

Chronic absenteeism surged to unprecedented levels at schools across America during the coronavirus pandemic and remains at disturbingly high levels even now.

The Department of Education (DoE) defines chronic absenteeism as students missing 10 percent or more of school per year.

Chronic absenteeism skyrocketed to 31 percent in the 2021-2022 academic year but even four years later, students are still missing class at unprecedented rates.

Absenteeism has dropped to 19.3 percent but student absences are ‘more common’ and ‘more extreme’ following the pandemic, a study by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) has found.

The latest data, which includes figures through March of 2025, shows absenteeism rates still remain 50 percent higher than before covid.

Absenteeism declined 0.3 points since last year, but experts warn that at the current rate it will take at least two decades for student absence rates to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Educators are trying to incentivize students to come to school, with some districts even paying students for their attendance.

Read more here. 

A home linked to a pastor featured in the Netflix docuseries “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult” was raided Friday by federal agents in relation to an investigation into sex trafficking, money laundering and other accusations, according to authorities.

Property records show the home in the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga is linked to multiple owners, including Robert Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the subject of a 2024 docuseries. He operates a talent agency that purportedly helps social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs in Los Angeles.

Those featured in the docuseries call Shinn an abusive cult leader. They say he kept them away from their families by telling them that in order to be saved, they had to “die” to their loved ones who did not follow his teachings. He reportedly told them that if they were “godly” enough, they would also save their families from damnation.

Read more here.

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New York City kids will be banned from using cellphones, tablets and smartwatches during the school day starting this fall.

Each of the Big Apple’s roughly 1,600 public schools will decide how to roll out the new policy, approved Wednesday night by the city’s Panel for Education Policy in a 14 to 1 vote.

“I am proud to be introducing a policy that takes input from unions and advocacy groups, families, community members, and our students into account,” Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos wrote in a statement after the vote.

The mandate aligns with a push by Gov. Kathy Hochul to ban phones and other electronic devices in schools.

Read more here.

People increasingly support school phone bans — and New York got the message.

As New York bans cellphone use during the school day, a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that support for phone bans in school is increasing.

About 74% of US adults say they would support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class — that’s up from 68% last fall.

Only a small portion — fewer than 19% — oppose classroom bans and even fewer — 7% — are unsure.

Read more here.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Atlanta rapper Ca$h Out, whose real name is John Michael Gibson, was sentenced on Monday in Fulton County after being convicted on multiple charges in a high-profile sex trafficking case.

What we know:

Gibson, along with his mother Linda Smith (Mama Ca$h) and cousin Tyrone Taylor, was found guilty last week following a seven-week trial that included emotional testimony from victims and law enforcement officials.

The trio was convicted on racketeering (RICO) charges, while Gibson was additionally found guilty of rape, pimping, aggravated sodomy, and two counts of sex trafficking. He was acquitted on several other charges, including a third sex trafficking count, sexual servitude, aggravated assault, and maintaining a place of prostitution.

Smith was found guilty of one count of trafficking and Taylor was found guilty on all counts, including rape and aggravated sodomy, except one (pimping).

Read More Here.