Education
Rep. Moore: Plans to Cut Mississippi School Districts from 148 to Less Than 50
Mississippi would be on the road to 50 or fewer school districts, a new public-education funding formula and more charter schools under legislation the House Education Committee members approved Friday …
Politics
Legislator Funded by Koch Brothers, Big Money Tells Citizen to Leave State
A freshman legislator who won his seat with the help of the banking and real-estate industries, as well as Koch Industries and Empower Mississippi, this week told a concerned citizen …
Politics
Politicians for Sale? Egg Bowl Rivals Take Care of Lawmakers, No Report from JSU
If the Ole Miss-Mississippi State rivalry extends to Capitol expenses, the University of Mississippi is winning in the department of free tickets for state lawmakers.
State
McDaniel: Highway Bill ‘Unfair Tax Policy,’ Would Hurt Poor, Middle Class
Three hours of heated debate, bi-partisan opposition and five failed amendments later, the last finance bill—to ostensibly fix crumbling highways, bridges and roads—passed the Mississippi Senate by four votes Wednesday.
Politics
Side-by-Side Donations: Key Players in Jackson Airport ‘Takeover’ Debate
Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, and Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson—airport "takeover" adversaries—both received campaign donations from several of the same PACs and businesses.
Politics
Tackling ‘Corrupting Effects’ of Election Laws
The Mississippi Legislature, at least so far, is showing more willingness to regulate campaign and election practices than at anytime in its history.
Politics
Politicians for Sale? Manufacturers Association Wines, Dines and Takes Lawmakers on Quail Hunts
As pure as the election process might be, democracy has the potential to break down with the influence of money.
Politics
At What Cost? Legislative Majority Tries to Slash Size of State Government
Taxpayers could get a pay raise if the Taxpayer Pay Raise Act of 2016 becomes law, but after two hours of debate last week, several senators asked, "At what cost?"
Civil Rights
Man Who Filed Flag Lawsuit Has Hired Full-Time Security, Amends Suit
The Mississippi attorney who filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Phil Bryant has hired full-time security for his law firm staff and family due to death threats after news broke …
State
State Tax Cuts Would Divert $575 Million from State Fund
Taxpayers could get a pay raise if the Taxpayer Pay Raise Act of 2016 becomes law, but after two hours of debate today, several senators asked, “At what cost?”
Politics
Execution Teams, Uber Access and Planned Parenthood
The Mississippi Legislature is one step closer to defunding Planned Parenthood services for Medicaid recipients, allowing Uber free rein in the state and guarding the identities of the state's execution …
Politics
Foster Care Legislation: ‘The Beginning to an End of Madness’
The state's foster-care system, now housed under MDHS as the Division of Family and Children's Services, must comply with a court order in the Olivia Y lawsuit to avoid federal …
Immigration
'Sanctuary Cities' for Immigrants May Soon Be Illegal in Mississippi
Mississippi municipalities would be banned from establishing "sanctuary cities" for illegal immigrants if a Senate bill, which passed to the House of Representatives yesterday, becomes law.
Abortion
Planned Parenthood Bill Would Limit Cancer and STI Screening, Birth Control
Medicaid recipients seeking birth control, STI testing or cancer screenings at the state's only Planned Parenthood clinic might get cut off if a Senate bill, which passed yesterday and then …
Cover
Nowhere to Go: LGBT Youth on the Move, Without a Home
A 2015 Williams Institute survey of homeless-youth service providers found that the most widely selected reason for homelessness among LGBT youth (as reported to service providers) was "forced out of …
Politics
Child Protection, Pro-Women Bills Pass Senate; House Roiled in Race Tension
Human trafficking, domestic-abuse and breastfeeding bills easily passed through the Mississippi Senate last week.
Civil Rights
Lawsuit to Change Mississippi Flag An ‘Uphill Battle,’ But Could Work
A black Mississippi lawyer suing Gov. Phil Bryant for flying the state flag could be successful if he can prove that the state's original intent for putting the Confederate battle …
State
Mississippi Governor Sued Over State Flag As Civil Rights Violation, Hate Speech
A black Mississippi lawyer is suing Gov. Phil Bryant for flying the state flag, which he says is unconstitutional and causes racial violence. Carlos Moore, a lawyer based in Grenada, …
Abortion
'Unborn Child Protection' Bill Passes Mississippi House, 'Dangerous Precedent'?
The "Mississippi Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act" passed the Mississippi House of Representatives last week, meaning that legislators are back in the business of pushing anti-abortion legislation.
Politics
UPDATED: Race Tension Roils Legislature, Majority Votes to End 'Privilege'
House members were previously allowed to ask questions about their rights, reputation and the conduct of House members—"personal privilege"—but the House voted in favor of striking those rights from the …
LGBT
Fear Rules with Kim Davis Laws, Guns at Church
The deepest fears of some members of the Mississippi House of Representatives came out last week, as the chamber passed bills to fight terrorism, protect religious freedom and allow armed …
Education
Sex Education’s Last Chance in Mississippi?
Sex education in Mississippi could end, or be revamped, as soon as July this year, depending on legislators' actions between now and the end of the session.
Development
Baria: 'No Democrat(ic) or Republican Way to Fix a Pothole'
Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, said that Democrats and Republicans should be able to agree on fixing the state's crumbling infrastructure.
Justice
'Discrimination Act' Would Give Clerks 'Kim Davis' Powers
Kim Davis went to jail in Kentucky for not issuing same-sex marriage licenses, but circuit clerks in Mississippi might not have to if the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government …
Domestic Violence
Domestic Abuse May Become Grounds for Divorce in Mississippi
Domestic violence is not currently grounds for divorce in Mississippi, a state where "natural impotency" is listed first as legal grounds for divorce.
Politics
Off to the Races ... and the Chopping Block
Money was front of mind over the last week in the Mississippi Legislature as Senate and House appropriations committees began budget hearings for state agencies last week.
State
Urban, Rural Areas Need Food Stores, Health Clinics
Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, introduced legislation in the 2015 session that would have provided tax incentives for grocery stores to enter communities considered to be "food deserts" by the USDA's …
Politics
Hood: Politicians Playing 'Partisan Games' with Wiretap Bill
The state auditor would be able to request wiretap authority to investigate public corruption if House Bill 944, which passed through the House Judiciary-A Committee today, becomes law.
Politics
State's Foster Care System Requests $34.4 Million
Children have died and suffered mistreatment in the state's foster-care system, and the Mississippi Department of Human Services is requesting $34.4 million to change conditions that lead to the abuse.
Health Care
Parents: Talk to Middle-Schoolers About Sex to Break Pregnancy Cycle
Parents should talk to their children about sex when they are between age 11 and 15 years old, the executive director of the Mississippi Campaign for Teen Pregnancy Prevention said …
Politics
Dem Legislators Endorse Hillary Clinton
Democratic lawmakers chanted their endorsement for Hillary Clinton in the Mississippi Capitol after a brief press conference Wednesday when legislators from the House and the Senate endorsed her as the …
Business
Incentives Sail Through; Anti-LGBT Bills Drop; Groups Call for Foster-Care Funding
Sen. Charles Younger, R-Columbus, introduced a bill that would "clarify that religious leaders are not required to perform same-sex marriages" last week.
Politics
Breastfeeding Bill: Let Women Work and Nurse
The Centers for Disease and Control, the U.S. Surgeon General and the majority of research on the topic indicate that breastfeeding is better than using formula when a baby is …
Business
Jackson Airport 'Takeover' Bill Goes Live in Senate, Would Limit Mayor to One Appointment
The Republican governor of Mississippi would get strong control of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Airport under the highly anticipated legislation that finally landed this weekend.
State
Report: Federal Grant Funds Mismanaged, Hurts Black Women
Low-income, single parents could more easily access affordable child care under two bills Mississippi child-care providers and advocates are asking the Legislature to pass.
Development
Without Public Input, Mississippi to Spend $78,000 Per Job for Megasite, Shipyard
With little debate in committee or on the floor, the Mississippi House of Representatives cleared the way for $274 million in tax breaks to help two large-scale developments in the …
Politics
Election-Law Reform May Actually Happen in Mississippi
Election-law reform has been a slow process in Mississippi, but with the help of a bi-partisan committee's report, that could change soon.
Personhood
'Proper Burials' for 'Unborn Infants' Sought in Mississippi Bill
The Mississippi Unborn Infants Dignity Act would entitle "miscarried, stillborn or aborted infants" to "proper burials" and make selling the "broken bodies of aborted infants" for scientific experimentation a crime …
Business
Airport 'Takeover' Bill to Be Filed Early This Week
Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, is touching up a bill that proposes to change the Jackson airport commission structure.
Politics
GOP Solidifies House Presence, Tinkers with Public-Information Rules
If legislative committees were sports teams, today would be draft day in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
Politics
Director: Foster System Needs More Funding and Staffing to Protect Children
Even as children are dying in the state's foster-care system, its director says the state may not meet a court-ordered deadline to improve conditions without more funding and more than …
Politics
The Rough Road to Reproductive Health Care
Regardless of the state's appeal of the JWHO case, the fight for reproductive health in Mississippi will continue in the Mississippi Legislature.
Politics
A GOP Supermajority, Slavery and an Embattled Flag
Ray Shores, who lives in Yazoo County and is a member of the Dixie Alliance, said he and flag supporters have challenged House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, to a debate …
Politics
‘A Hurricane of Need and Hunger’ as SNAP Benefits Expire in State
SNAP benefits are for people living at the poverty line or with very low incomes, and any income a person does earn cuts into the amount of money they receive.
Politics
Election Disputes: No Bibles, and Lots of Swearing
The Mississippi Capitol became a temporary courthouse last week in a Republican battle for super-majority control of the House of Representatives.
Politics
Senate Votes to Seat Democrat After Election Dispute
Former Mississippi Sen. Melanie Sojourner's historic unseating of longtime Democrat Bob Dearing in 2011 was short-lived.
Education
Madison, Jackson Districts Skeptical of MAEP Changes
Tate Reeves' ideas for MAEP range from changing how the "base student cost" is calculated to changing the overall standard, which could have adverse effects on lower-graded and lower-performing school …
Politics
GOP, Dems Marking Territory
Even before adopting temporary rules, Democrats in the Mississippi House of Representatives tried to flex their muscle to show the party is an underdog not to be messed with, even …
Civil Rights
Mississippi Legislature Honors Klan Victim Vernon Dahmer Sr.
The Mississippi Legislature honored civil-rights activist Vernon Dahmer, who the Klu Klux Klan murdered half a century ago, by declaring Jan. 10, 2016, "Vernon Dahmer Legacy Day."
