Digital Content Manager

Biloxi, MS

Flora Dedeaux was born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2022 with a communication degree, concentrating in broadcast and public relations and minoring in marketing.

Flora began working at WLOX in June 2022 as a Digital Content Producer. In October 2023, Flora was promoted to Digital Content Manager.

In addition to writing stories, creating social media content and managing the digital team, Flora enjoys working on multi-media projects and documentaries. In fact, Flora has won multiple awards for investigative and in-depth projects throughout her time at WLOX.

Flora loves editing, videography and photography, discovering new music genres, learning about media law, watching documentaries, writing, trying new restaurants, and traveling. She also sings, plays guitar, and writes/records her own music, which can be found on Spotify and Apple Music by searching for “On Our Own,” her first released single.

If you have a news tip or digital-related questions, you can contact Flora on Twitter @FloraDedeaux or email her at flora.dedeaux@wlox.com.

ONEIDA (WLUK) — Hundreds of students at Oneida Nation Elementary School have new books to read over the holiday break.

Book fair day is always a big day, but it was even more special this year after the Green Bay Packers donated over 2,400 books to the school and its students.

Packers players encourage literacy with reading events at Green Bay, Oneida schools (WLUK)

“Reading, to me, means that it’s very imaginary for me, and I like reading because it puts pictures in my mind and it makes a book come to life for me,” said sixth grader Eliia White.

On Monday, students in pre-K through eighth grade got to shop for books that peaked their interests.

According to Principal Tracy Christensen, “They got to choose what they wanted to read. So now, they have three books for the winter break that they can read and have that opportunity to continue their education, even over break.”

The Packers not only bought each student their three books, but the team also provided an additional 250 books to the school.

“The Big Cheese” was a popular choice, as it was one of two books read to students by Green Bay Packers players Lecitus Smith and Dalton Cooper.

Smith read “The Big Cheese” and Cooper tackled “Hope is a Rainbow.”

“Just to be able to come in and read to the young kids, I know they’ll never forget it. They’re going to cherish this moment forever. And I hope it inspires them to come in the library and school library and pick up books, if they don’t already,” said Smith.

Oneida Nation Elementary School held its annual book fair. The Green Bay Packers buying three books for every student in pre-K through 8th grade, as well as, donating another 250 books to the school. (WLUK)

Reading is fundamental. It doesn’t matter if you’re into something cheesy or hopeful — there’s always something to gain with a book in your hand.

Smith said, “To the kids, I mean, they have a future. I mean, what’s a world? What’s this country alone without books? So, just putting a book in the kids’ hands and into the future’s hands — I mean, come on.”

In addition to reading to kids at Oneida Nation Elementary School, Smith and Cooper also took their reading talents to Doty Elementary School in Green Bay.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Youth violence appears to be down in Fort Wayne, Mayor Sharon Tucker said during her year-in-review interview with 21Alive News.

This past summer, both Tucker and Police Chief Scott Caudill recognized an uptick in violent crimes involving young people. So far this year, eight people 21-years-old or younger have been killed in the city.

Washington, D.C. — This morning at 10:00am EST, Economic Liberties Senior Legal Fellow Katherine Van Dyck will testify in front of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education at a hearing titled, “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future.” The hearing will examine the growing role of private equity and financial consolidation in youth sports; the resulting rise in costs for families; declining access and participation; and the broader consequences for children’s health, safety, and community life.

“Youth sports in our country are beloved traditions and great equalizers, a place where children from all backgrounds can come together, learn teamwork and fair play, and build shared community bonds,” said Katherine Van Dyck, Senior Legal Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project. “But it is quickly becoming the next victim of a financialized economy that has taken over virtually every aspect of American life. Private equity companies have been quietly and systematically capturing the youth sports industry across the United States, turning what was once an affordable public good into a profit-extraction machine. It is the same playbook that private equity used to consolidate industries as varied as veterinary clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, and firetrucks—stripping assets, raising prices, and degrading quality, and the consequences are devastating.”

Ms. Van Dyck’s testimony details how years of state and local budget cuts, combined with unfunded federal mandates and weak oversight, created a void that private equity firms have filled through serial acquisitions and vertical integration. She explains how dominant firms now control leagues, tournaments, facilities, apparel, technology platforms, travel and streaming services, and even governing bodies, allowing them to eliminate competition and force families into costly, non-negotiable arrangements. As a result, families now spend thousands of dollars per year on youth sports, participation gaps based on income are widening, and children face higher risks of burnout, overuse injuries, and exploitation.

“Private equity has become a predatory force in our society. It harms our children and threatens the stability of American society for profit, and it has turned its sights on youth sports,” Ms. Van Dyck added. “It is exploiting parents’ love for their children and their desire to give them opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.”

In her testimony, Ms. Van Dyck calls on Congress to take bold action, including increased antitrust scrutiny of consolidation in youth sports, stronger consumer protection rules for families, and clear limits on private equity practices that prioritize financial engineering over children’s wellbeing. She argues that youth sports should not be a luxury good, but a broadly accessible public good essential to healthy childhood development and civic life.

Read Katherine Van Dyck’s full written testimony here.

Watch the full hearing here.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; international trade arrangements that promote promote balanced trade and benefit workers, farmers and small businesses; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.

Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López has announced his retirement after 35 years of service to the community. HIs retirement will be effective Dec. 31. 

López began his career in 1990 as a eserve Watsonville firefighter, and advanced through the ranks, serving as firefighter, captain and division chief before stepping up to chief in 2019. 

In a press release, city officials said he has been recognized for his commitment to public safety and his pride in serving his hometown.

“It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve my hometown of Watsonville,” López said.” I am immensely proud of the dedication, professionalism and courage demonstrated every day by our firefighters and staff.”  

Looking ahead, he said he is excited to spend time with his family and pursue personal endeavors.  

“Chief López’s many years of service to the Watsonville community are appreciated,” said City Manager Tamara Vides. “He has spent more than three decades with the City, contributing to the work of the fire department and supporting our community’s emergency response efforts. We thank him for his long tenure and wish him the best in his retirement.” 

Acting Fire Chief Corey Schaefer will continue to lead the department until a permanent replacement is named.