Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says in his State of the State speech that he wants to hire more Highway Patrol troopers, focus on job development, improve the budget process and continue trying to reduce the teen pregnancy rate.

He says the University of Mississippi Medical Center and private companies are launching a program to expand care for diabetics.

And, Bryant says he wants to add the slogan "In God We Trust" to the state seal.

The Republican is beginning his third year as governor. In his speech Wednesday, he says he wants to make the prison system less expensive and more efficient.

Bryant is asking lawmakers to approve a project to use the ACT as a high school exit exam to replace existing subject-area tests in math and other subjects.