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Dead or Alive: What Bills Survived, Or Didn't, in the 2018 Legislative Session
While the budget is intact, many other Republican priorities and proposals died this session. Here is a short list of what survived and what did not.
Disenfranchised for Life? No Changes, Yet
Stanley Barnes of Claiborne County was convicted of murder in 1990 and received a life sentence, but was paroled in 2000. He is still on unsupervised parole. Sen. Albert Butler, ...
Mississippi Outs Legal Immigrants on Drivers' Licenses
Abigail Pina Mandujano had to start carrying her visa with her when she drives because her license is not enough to fend off questions from law-enforcement officials at roadblocks, she ...
Roadblocks for Road Plans?
The Republican supermajority in the Mississippi Legislature has ignored the state chamber of commerce's calls to increase state funding for roads and bridges for three legislative sessions in a row.
Women, Whiskey, Watchdogs (and Dead Bills) at Session's End
Late in the 2018 legislative session, Rep. Jeff Smith, R-Columbus, talked about a night that his son broke curfew. His boy had spent his father's money on "whiskey, women and ...
Lawmakers Turn to Budgets; Re-Entry Reforms on Governor’s Desk
It's crunch time at the Mississippi Capitol. This week lawmakers will have to finalize the state budget, predominantly behind closed doors, before passing a slim fiscal-year 2019 budget.
Governor Defends Choice of Cindy Hyde-Smith to U.S. Senate Seat
Gov. Phil Bryant made history on Wednesday, March 21, when he named Cindy Hyde-Smith to take Sen. Thad Cochran's seat, which he will vacate on April 1. Mississippi has never ...
‘All That Is Dead’: Roads and Bridges Funding Dies at Legislature
Efforts to provide additional funding for roads and bridges are dead in the 2018 legislative session after Senate and House leaders could not come to an agreement on exactly how ...
As 83 Bridges Close, Speaker Gunn Unveils Revamped Funding Proposal
As the Mississippi Department of Transportation begins to close the 83 bridges Gov. Phil Bryant ordered closed on Tuesday, House Speaker Philip Gunn announced a nearly 60-page proposal to divert ...
UPDATED: ‘Galactic Trouble’ for Foster Care Ahead?
Jess Dickinson likes to use an ancient maxim he heard in a film, "The Bourne Ultimatum," to illustrate where he sits currently as the commissioner of Mississippi's foster-care system. "Hope ...
Judge Blocks Newly Signed 15-Week Abortion Ban for 10 Days
It took less than 24 hours for Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban to become law and then be stopped from taking effect.
Mississippians Sue to Get Voting Rights Restored After Serving Time
Wayne Kuhn completed his sentence for a grand larceny charge in the 1980s more than 25 years ago. He even got his record expunged—and yet he still cannot vote in ...
Governor Vetoes Opioid, Crime Reforms After Signing Reentry Law
Gov. Phil Bryant has blocked an effort to help wean those addicted to opioids off the drugs with medication, as well as assisted indigent prisoners.
Report: Low-performing Districts Test Students More in State
Mississippi students spend less than 1 percent of a school year on state testing, a new Mississippi First study shows.
State to Reauthorize, Monitor Visitors Bureau
Pending Gov. Phil Bryant's signature, the State of Mississippi is reauthorizing the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau for another year, but with added strings attached.
'Yes, Dr. King, How Can I Help You?': Black Rights Leaders Recall MLK
Flonzie Brown-Wright, Charles McLaurin and James Meredith spoke at the 2 Mississippi Museums on Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of King's death and reflect on how his work affected ...
Medicaid Funding in Flux as Lawmakers Work on $6 Billion Budget
Over the weekend, lawmakers worked to pass a roughly $6-billion budget to fund state agencies beginning in July. They have until Monday night to complete passing the state budget, with ...
JPS: School Bond Issue to Go Before Jackson Voters this Summer
District leaders and school board members are preparing to bring a bond issue to Jackson voters, likely in June, to keep Jackson Public Schools' current millage rate—and tax rate for ...
JPS Set to Start Clearing Standards in Corrective Action Plan
The Jackson Public School District has a new 400-page corrective action plan to begin work on, and it is already asking the Mississippi Department of Education to approve its efforts ...
Public Will Have Input on JPS Superintendent Search, Board Says
The Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees wants the community's input as they work to hire a new superintendent this spring.
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