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1 month 2 weeks ago
Rep. Clay Mansell, center left, and Rep. Shanda Yates, right, co-chairs of the Select Committee on Capital and Metro Revitalization, listen as Jackson Mayor John Horhn speaks during a meeting at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
Jackson’s water and sewer systems would be under the control of an authority separate from the city government under a bill the state House passed Wednesday. The change would take place once U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate releases the city from its current receivership
House Bill 1677 would create the “Metro Jackson Water Authority” that would be led by a nine-member board. Those members would be comprised of:
By Alex Rozier - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Two former law enforcement officers pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges tied to a federal crackdown on drug trafficking in the Mississippi Delta
Former Humphreys County deputy Dequarian Smith, 29, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges for conspiring to protect a transport of illegal drugs through portions of the Mississippi Delta between August and September of 2022. At the time, Smith was also an officer with the Isola Police Department.
By Leonardo Bevilacqua - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
A protester voices his support for getting the marijuana initiative back on the ballot for 2022 during the We are the 74 Rally held outside the Supreme Court building Tuesday in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Citing fears of dark money and special interests usurping the state’s constitutional republic, the Senate on Wednesday tabled a bill aimed at restoring Mississippi voters’ right to put issues directly on a ballot and sidestep the Legislature
By Geoff Pender - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
The Mississippi House passed a bill Wednesday that would allow prayer during school, adding Mississippi to a list of states challenging the Supreme Court edict that church and state remain separate.
House Bill 1310 would mandate in state law that public schools provide students and employees with time to pray or read religious text during the school day.
By Devna Bose - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
The Mississippi State Department of Health is overhauling its home visitation and care management program for high-risk pregnant women and infants in an effort to move the needle on the state’s high infant mortality rate.
The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program, which previously served mothers and babies in all 82 counties, will restart under a pilot model to serve 10 counties with few resources and utilize community health workers for home visitation rather than nurses, State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney told Mississippi Today.
By Gwen Dilworth - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Proceeds from the sale of the tags will be used exclusively to promote opportunities for college students to study freedom and liberty at institutions of higher learning around the state.
Mississippians, by and large, love their freedom and are a patriotic lot, with faith, family and flag as their guiding values.
Soon, vehicle owners across the state will be able to show their affinity for liberty in these United States by displaying a Gadsden Flag car tag, proudly declaring “Don’t Tread On Me” just as the founding fathers did 250 years ago.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature have advanced bills aiming to crack down on immigration, despite some lawmakers raising concerns that the federal government is responsible for enforcement and that the proposals could inadvertently harm U.S. citizens.
The Senate on Tuesday passed a measure that would create a state crime of being in Mississippi illegally and authorize local law enforcement to charge people with being in the state without proper documentation.
By Taylor Vance and Michael Goldberg - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
National school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis urged Governor Tate Reeves to call a special session to handle the issue after the Senate killed the House bill.
Even though HB 2 died in the Senate Education Committee last week, supporters of education freedom are not giving up on their push to allow parents to find the best options for their child.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
See who is well-positioned to make a run for a statewide office in Mississippi next year should they choose to throw their hat in the ring.
Jockeying for statewide office in Mississippi is heating up ahead of the 2027 election.
Some likely candidates are quietly floating their names in Capitol circles in hopes of cutting off potential challengers while others are being encouraged to make a run, having earned respect among their colleagues and constituents.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Speaker of the House Jason White speaks during the Mississippi Economic Council's annual Hobnob at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
House Speaker Jason White was not happy the Senate killed his expansive school choice bill, without even taking a full vote.
Now House leaders appear to be sending a message to the other chamber: Most of the education bills passed by the Senate have been sent to two committees in the House, or “double-referred,” a tactic often used to kill bills or delay their passage and overhaul them.
By Devna Bose - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
The chamber passed alcohol-related bills Tuesday that would allow direct shipping of distilled spirits and Sunday sales. Another measure would remove the prohibition of alcohol from state law.
State Rep. Hank Zuber (R), the Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, stepped to the well of the House Tuesday and said, “It’s a great day to talk about alcohol policy and bringing Mississippi into the 21st Century.”
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
The program recognizes the individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts in Mississippi.
Established in 1988, the Governor’s Arts Awards are presented annually by the Mississippi Arts Commission in partnership with the Governor’s office. The program recognizes the individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts in Mississippi.
By Susan Marquez - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Trinidad Chambliss apparently will make an encore performance after leading Ole Miss to the most successful season in school history.
In a tiny town of about 150 people, with at least that many spectators in a Calhoun County courtroom on Thursday, Chancery Judge Robert Whitwell granted 23-year-old Chambliss a temporary restraining order against the NCAA after day-long court proceedings.
By Rick Cleveland - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
The discussion came as the Senate passed a bill that would create a disaster response loan program.
North Mississippi senators pleaded for an improved disaster response from the state Thursday as thousands of their constituents still lacked power nearly three weeks after the January winter storm.
Sen. Rita Potts Parks, a Republican from Corinth, repeatedly told her colleagues “we have work to do” to better prepare for future disasters. Her district includes Alcorn and Tippah counties, two of the hardest-hit areas in Mississippi.
By Alex Rozier - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Judge Robert Whitwell found the NCAA’s denial of a sixth year of eligibility for the Ole Miss quarterback to be in bad faith, holding that officials had ignored evidence of medical incapacitation early in Chambliss’ collegiate career.
Judge Robert Whitwell granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss motion for a preliminary injunction late Thursday from his bench in that Calhoun County Courthouse. Chambliss was challenging the NCAA’s decision not to grant a sixth year of eligibility to play college football.
By Russ Latino - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
There is plenty of love to go around in Mississippi, and a plethora of ways to celebrate that love. Here are a few worth checking out this weekend.
It’s Friday – time to think about what you want to do this weekend. Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, take advantage of it being on a Saturday and seek out something fun to do with your sweetie.
By Susan Marquez - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
State Senator Neil Whaley, the bill’s author, said the goal of the measure is to provide relief for farmers as many face hard economic times.
A Senate bill erasing the 1.5 percent sales tax on logging and farming equipment passed earlier this week, winning praise from farmers and state leaders.
The bill, SB 2272, would allow commercial farmers to avoid paying taxes on farm implements such as tractors that are used directly in agriculture production.
By Daniel Tyson - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
Rep. Becky Currie is seen on the House floor at the Capitol in Jackson on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today
The Mississippi House passed several bills this week aimed at improving the quality of medical care in Mississippi prisons and developing stronger oversight of health care delivery.
The bills, which follow an ongoing investigative series from Mississippi Today on the alleged denial of care in state prisons, are part of a reform package spearheaded by Rep. Becky Currie, the Republican House Corrections chairwoman from Brookhaven.
By Gwen Dilworth and Michael Goldberg - Mississippi Today on
1 month 2 weeks ago
MDA head Bill Cork said this week that while 2025 was the agency’s most successful year, 2026 will exceed that mark.
The head of the Mississippi Development Authority hinted earlier this week that the state will soon announce another major investment in the Magnolia State with thousands of new jobs in the pipeline.
By Daniel Tyson - Magnolia Tribune on
1 month 2 weeks ago
“We are supporting residents of Mississippi by providing financial flexibility and disaster recovery resources to those impacted by the recent disaster,” said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced Thursday that federal disaster assistance is available to Mississippi to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the winter storm in January 23-27.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
