Jackson Free Press

Medicaid Agreement Reached

Around 11 p.m. last night, House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, announced from the House floor that the special budget committee has reached an agreement with Gov. Haley Barbour on the …

Legislators Want Session Postponed for Education Funds

The Mississippi Legislature should suspend negotiations on the 2011 budget for three weeks until lawmakers know whether the state will receive an additional $150 million in federal money, Rep. Cecil …

Job Growth to Aid Economy in 2011?

The economy was not Mississippi's strong point this year, although the state is expecting to see job creation in the future. Several industries and businesses Gov. Haley Barbour touted as …

Former Gov. Kirk Fordice Dead at 70

Here is a statement from his family, following by a statement from Gov. Haley Barbour: "It is with a sad heart that our family announces the death of Daniel Kirkwood …

Tell Me the Truth, JoAnne

<i>In her new column, JoAnne Prichard Morris tells it like it is.</i>

Q: What do you think about Haley Barbour's comment that "some of those kids in [Headstart] would be better off sitting up on a piano bench at a whorehouse than …

Cigarette Tax Goes Up in Smoke

The deadline has passed for the Mississippi House and Senate to come to an agreement on a cigarette tax hike for this session. Legislators had until 8 p.m. yesterday to …

Bus-Sized Tar Mats Sighted; Barbour Announces Study

A five- to six-mile stretch of large tar mats washed up on Long Beach Harbor late last night, reports The Sun Herald.

Barbour Appeals Ballot Ruling

[Verbatim from Governor] Today's ruling by the Hinds County Circuit Court is being appealed today. The official ballot recommended by the Secretary of State, which I approved, is proper and …

Court: Pardon Does Not Mean Clean Criminal Record

A pardon by the governor is not grounds to wipe clean a criminal record, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled.

The Great Compromise

After a failed attempt at filling the Medicaid budget shortfall last year, Mississippi lawmakers left the capitol city and returned home with a $10,000 salary and no solution. The prior …

Quick and Sloppy

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson's office said a more thorough preliminary damage assessment might have prevented the Federal Emergency Management Agency's initial rejection of Gov. Haley Barbour's petition …

‘Stepford Senators' Hold Education Hostage

Not one person at the Capitol can remember a Mississippi legislative session ending without a budget. Well, once again the 2005 Legislature might be producing another famous legislative first for …

Solar Panel Plant To Open; New Downtown Cafe

A California solar panel company plans to build a new production facility in Hattiesburg, Gov. Haley Barbour announced today. The company, Stion, produces high-efficiency thin-film solar panels at its headquarters …

Barbour Proposes to End MPB Funding

Gov. Haley Barbour has proposed to end all state funding for Mississippi Public Broadcasting by 2016.

AG: Trusty Ozment Found in Wyoming

After several weeks of trying to track down pardoned governor's mansion trusty Joseph Ozment, investigators from the Mississippi attorney general's office served Ozment with court papers last night in Laramie, …

No Deposit, No Return

If you were the melodramatic type, you might call it a nightmare. Barely a year into the new mandates, and increased (and largely unfunded) costs, of the federal No Child …

Mental Health Funding Under Knife

Advocates for a state-funded mental hospital in Newton are pleading with state legislators to keep its doors open next year.

A Tamperin' They Will Go

Last week, the Mississippi Senate followed the lead of Gov. Haley Barbour in pushing for "home-rule" for the top-rated school districts in the state. The Senate voted 30-to-19 in favor …

Barbour Announces 2009 Spending Cuts; Spares MAEP

[Verbatim statement] (JACKSON, Mississippi) – Governor Haley Barbour today ordered Fiscal Year 2009 spending cuts totaling $41.9 million, or two percent, for most state agencies due to a shortfall in …

Rape Victim: Fix the System

A rape victim asked Gov. Haley Barbour why he was allowing her rapist out on furlough. His answer may surprise you. Or maybe not.