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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 …

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ICE Plans to Deport Daniela Vargas Without Hearing, Attorney Says

Daniela Vargas, a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant who grew up in Mississippi, is in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody with no bond and will not get a hearing before an immigration …

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Two Ways to Take Over a School District

If Gov. Phil Bryant does not agree to a rumored-but-still-quiet deal with the Jackson mayor and a large philanthropic foundation to provide a third option, Jackson Public Schools will face …

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Rewarding of the Fittest Schools: #MSLeg Robs Poor Schools to Reward Richer Ones

At the end of a school day and an exhausting period of state testing, four Clinton Public School District teachers looked tired but content as they crowded into a tiny …

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'Back the Badge' Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

Police officers will become a protected class for hate crimes against them if Gov. Phil Bryant signs the "Back the Badge Act of 2017," which is headed to Gov. Phil …

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Mississippi Democrats Clap Back on Tax Policy, Wage Gaps

The Mississippi Democratic Caucus held a meeting Wednesday to discuss key policy issues about the state's economy, tax structure, and how certain policies mostly impact women and African Americans in …

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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.

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'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.

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Funding the ‘School Choice’ Lobby

In just one year, the Mississippi Legislature has gone from slightly tweaking its voucher program for students with dyslexia to a push to allow any public-school student to apply for …

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Exploding the Myth of the ‘Welfare Queen’

High poverty means that Mississippi gets a lot of federal assistance—but the "Becoming Visible" report shows that those in poverty often do not use the programs intended to help them …

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Governor Picks Legislators to Represent #msleg at Inauguration

Gov. Phil Bryant selected Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, and Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, to represent the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday in …

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Poll: Mississippi Flag Losing Favor; White Voters Still Oppose Change

A new poll shows that 49 percent of Mississippians favor the current state flag, signaling the first time a majority of state residents does not support the banner.

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Hinds County School Bond Measure Draws Lawmakers' Support

Mississippians who live in the Hinds County School District lines, including Bolton, Byram, Edwards, Raymond, Terry and Utica, will vote to approve or disapprove a bond issue for their public …

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Advocates, Lumumba Call For 'No State Takeover' as State Decisions Looms

This week, the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation will decide whether or not Jackson Public Schools is in a state of emergency.

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Students, Parents, Business Leaders Rally for "Seat at the Table" in Ed-Formula Re-Write

Students, parents and advocates gathered at the Mississippi State Capitol on Thursday, March 16, calling on lawmakers to slow down the process of rewriting Mississippi's education funding formula and hold …

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Sanderson Farms, IBM: HB 1523 Hurts Businesses, Economic Growth

Mississippi business leaders, corporations, lawyers and locals denounced House Bill 1523 in eight legal briefs filed just before Christmas, supporting plaintiffs that want the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals …

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Governor Will Join Multi-State Transgender Bathroom Lawsuit Even If State Won't

Attorney General Jim Hood said he will not add the State of Mississippi to the Texas lawsuit against the federal government over President Barack Obama's directive to public schools, telling …

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Slain Teen's Mother Sues Business Owner Charged with His Murder

Yvette Mason-Sherman filed a civil lawsuit against Wayne Parish, the man indicted in the killing of her 17-year-old son, Charles McDonald Jr., at Performance Oil Equipment in Jackson last fall, …

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Elation, Vows for State’s Same-Sex Couples

The party room in Julep restaurant in northeast Jackson was filled with relief Monday night as a group of about 30 people, new and old friends, gathered to celebrate four …

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Private Prison on Trial: Inmates at ‘Bleak’ Facility Tell Harrowing Stories

Merlin Hill was one of 19 inmates who testified during the five-week class-action trial against the Mississippi Department of Corrections for what they describe as appalling conditions at the privately …