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Senate Committee to Kill Override Attempt
A resolution passed by the House last month in an attempt to override Gov. Haley Barbour's rejection of $56 million in federal stimulus dollars will likely never get out of the committee for a vote, according to the Sun Herald.
West Nile Kills Second Victim
The Mississippi Department of Health is reporting a second death from the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus this summer, highlighting the fact that this well-known virus is more dangerous than the wide-spread (and over-hyped) swine flu. The department released information about this second death, in Forrest County, Friday. To date, the state agency reports 17 cases of West Nile and two cases of St. Louis encephalitis, also spread by mosquitoes.
Jackson Music Awards Tonight
Join the fun at the 35th Annual Jackson Music Awards tonight at Marriott Hotel starting at 6 p.m. Tonight's program, "Music, Its Magic," honors the best of Southern soul and hip hop, with awards in 32 categories.
No Budget ‘Disastrous' for Medicaid Patients
[Verbatim from Mississippi Hospital Association President Sam Cameron]
Because of the Governor's refusal to call a Special Session of the Mississippi Legislature, it appears the Division of Medicaid will cease to exist after midnight on June 30, 2009. The Governor's lack of action will have disastrous results for Medicaid patients and all health care providers who serve them.
Mississippi Schools Get New Rating System
Earlier this month, the Mississippi State School Board approved a new accountability rating system that gives top schools a "Star School" rating among its seven levels, instead of the previous numbered ratings of "Level 1" for the lowest scoring schools, to "Level 5" for the highest scoring.
Gasoline Tax Hike Proposed
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is considering requesting a possible increase of 5-cent per gallon to the state's gasoline tax to bolster the department's budget for new roads and existing road maintenance, reports WLOX. The new tax would be an addition to the state's current 18-cent tax.
PSC Revokes TelCom Certificates
The Mississippi Public Service Commission announced yesterday that it has revoked the certificates of 53 telecommunications companies to do business in the state. The companies have failed to provide the PSC and the State Tax Commission with required annual reports detailing their business activities in the Magnolia state.
Youth Baseball Program Comes to Town
The Mississippi Department of Human Services is teaming with the Cal Ripkin, Sr. Foundation to offer the Badges for Baseball program to at-risk youth in 10 Mississippi communities. The program will kick off May 28 at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
Seale Appeals to U.S. Supreme Court
Attorneys for James Ford Seale, convicted in 2007 on federal kidnapping and conspiracy charges related to the 1964 killings of two 19-year-old African Americans, have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court today.
State Paid 9,300 People in Error
Mississippi's Medicaid program paid Part B Medicare premiums for approximately 9,300 ineligible people, possibly since 2003, according to WAPT. Those payments were made after the state determined the recipients were no longer eligible.
Mississippi Lags in Internet Access
In a report released yesterday, Mississippi has the lowest rate of Internet access in the U.S., with 52.8 percent of households connected. The report, from the U.S. Census Bureau, shows data from 2007, the most recent data available, according to WREG in Memphis.
Most-Endangered Places List Includes Jackson and Raymond Sites
The Mississippi Heritage Trust has unveiled its 2009 list of the 10 most-endangered places. This year's list includes the Hinds County Armory in Jackson and the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Raymond.
Governor Signs Tanning Bill
Yesterday, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed a bill into law that restricts the use of tanning beds by those under the age of 18.
Unemployment Rate Jumps Again
The unemployment rate in Mississippi increased a full percentage point from April to May, inching toward 10 percent once again, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. That one point, from 8.6 percent to 9.6 percent, represents an additional 14,300 Mississippians potentially collecting unemployment from the state.
Murrah Student Wins Economics Award
[Verbatim] Zachary Yoder from Murrah High School in Jackson was named the 2009 Economics Student of the Year, an honor given to the student with the highest individual scores on the Mississippi Council on Economics' statewide Economic and Financial Literacy Challenge. Students compete on the topics of microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics and current events.
Gov. Mabus Tapped for Navy Secretary
President Barack Obama nominated former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus to serve as secretary of the Navy, reports The Associated Press.
Doris Shavers Killer Pleads Guilty
Henry Lee Phillips pleaded guilty today to murdering his former girlfriend, Doris Shavers, 40, on Sept. 17, 2007, as Shavers combed her 12-year-old daughter's hair before leaving for work. The day of the murder was Jessica's birthday.
Runoff Will Decide Three Council Seats; May Decide Next Mayor
In a town where the majority of residents vote Democratic, tomorrow's runoff election in Jackson will decide the winner in many races. With historically low voter turnout in runoffs, however, tomorrow's winners may not be the people the majority of voters want in those positions if they don't turn out to vote tomorrow.
Will Senate Allow Stimulus Discussion?
Last week, the Mississippi House passed a resolution to override Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to reject some of the stimulus funds for the state. Barbour has stated that he will not accept more than $50 million to extend unemployment benefits.
Resuscitating Voter ID
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant wants the voters to decide whether the state should require Voter ID