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Humanist Group Says Rankin County School District Violated Establishment Clause (Again)
The Rankin County School District is under fire for one teacher's disparaging comments against atheism. The American Humanist Association's legal center sent the district a letter on Tuesday detailing a complaint from a student and her parent that said the student's history teacher, who is also a pastor at a …
Laurene Powell Jobs Backs Initiative 42
Education topped the talking points at the Women's Foundation of Mississippi annual meeting on Thursday. Laurene Powell Jobs (Steve Jobs' widow), Donna Barksdale and Toni Cooley discussed education at national and statewide levels. Jobs is passionate about transforming the educational system in the U.S., and she recently launched a project …
108 Mississippi United Methodist Pastors Endorse Initiative 42
108 Mississippi United Methodist pastors have released an open letter endorsing Initiative 42. The letter states that each signing pastor's position on the upcoming ballot initiative stems from John Wesley's passion for meeting educational needs even in 18th century England and Jesus' command to let the "little children come to …
Four Mississippi High Schools Awarded Career Education Grant
Mississippi is one of three states selected to receive the Toyota USA Foundation Grant for career education. The $1.5 million grant will be shared amongst students in Mississippi, New York and Kentucky. The grant will span over a three-year project that focuses on increasing student interest in STEM (science, technology, …
Report: Fewer Mississippians Have Health Insurance Now Than in 2014
The number of Mississippians without health insurance has grown over the past year. Over 16 percent of Mississippians don't have health insurance in all but six counties, according to data from Enroll America and Civis Analytics. This number supersedes 2014 numbers and can be seen visually on the New York …
State Office Election Campaign Finance Reports
Candidates running for state office filed their final pre-election campaign finance reports on Oct. 27. Click a candidate's name to view the full report. Governor Phil Bryant (Republican) Amount spent this election: $2.74 million Amount still on-hand: $1.38 million Robert Gray (Democrat) Amount spent on this election: $3,100 Amount still …
Initiative 42 Campaign Responds to Defeat
Below is the verbatim press release from 42 For Better Schools sent out today. To the Supporters of Initiative 42 and All Proponents of Public Education: As another school day began this morning, the 500,000 candidates for whom we fought in the campaign for Initiative 42 took their seats in …
Mississippi Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Divorce Legal
The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled Lauren Czekala-Chatham's divorce legal in concurrence with the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage in June. Czekala-Chatham filed for divorce from her estranged wife in 2013 in Mississippi, and has been waiting for an order from …
Mississippi Earns D- on State Integrity Investigation
Mississippi has earned a D- grade on the Center for Public Integrity's 2015 investigation of state government transparency and accountability issues. The state's overall rank nationally is 33rd out of 50 states. After this year's election, it should come as no surprise that Mississippi was ranked last in the campaign-finance …
Study: Mississippi Has Highest Percentage of "At-Risk" Hospitals in U.S.
A new study found that Mississippi has the highest percentage of at-risk hospitals, mainly rural facilities that are caught in the crunch of rising healthcare costs and less reimbursements while serving at-risk populations that need the care. Researchers from the Center for Mississippi Health Policy, Mississippi State and the University …
Bryant: Allowing Syrian Refugees in U.S. is 'Extremely Dangerous'
Gov. Phil Bryant joined 15 other governors in pledging to refuse Syrian refugees should they be sent to Mississippi, following the terrorist attacks in Paris over the weekend that left 129 people dead and hundreds wounded in France. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has pledged to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees …
District 79 House Race Will Be Decided by Drawing Straws
Run-offs are old-school anyway, right? The fate of District 79's representation in the House of Representatives will be decided on Friday by drawing straws, according to Mississippi election law. Rep. Bo Eaton, D-Taylorsville, has represented the district since 1996, but in this election he pulled in the exact same number …
Mississippi Infant Mortality Rate at All-Time Low; Still Ranked 50th
Infant mortality rates have decreased by 15 percent in the past five years according to the latest report from the Mississippi Department of Health. The infant mortality rate in 2014 was 8.2 percent compared to 9.7 percent in 2013. Mississippi still has the highest rate in the country, however, and …
New National Education Law Shifts Power Back to States
The "No Child Left Behind" Act was overruled and replaced with the "Every Student Succeeds" Act this week. The new law signed will shift a lot of decision-making power for education policy back to the states. President Barack Obama called the law "a big step in the right direction," and …
Mississippi Supreme Court Lineup Filled
Gov. Phil Bryant has filled both Mississippi Supreme Court vacancies, following the departure of Justices Randy Pierce and David Chandler. Former District 1 Court of Appeals Judge James Maxwell and tenth district chancellor Dawn Beam will join the state's highest court in the new year. Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. …
Dec. 30 Airport Delays and Cancellations Due to Weather
The Jackson Municipal Airport released updated flight delays and cancellations due to inclement weather in several destinations. Travelers are encouraged to check their airline for up-to-date flight information. Arrivals: American Airlines Flight #4986 from Charlotte, NC CANCELED Delta Airlines Flight #5055 from Atlanta, GA DELAYED ETA: 4:50 p.m. Delta Airlines …
Lane Closure; Construction on Woodrow Wilson Drive
Woodrow Wilson Drive's eastbound lanes will be reduced to one lane in preparation for major repair work on the water lines below the road. Once repair work begins, traffic will be re-routed to State Street, but no contractor has been named so the street will remain open until a contractor …
Report: Mississippi Foster Care System 'Well Beyond Crisis'
A report in the Olivia Y case, filed on Jan. 6, found that an infant died within five days after entering the state's foster care system. The report found that the state had not inspected the home where the baby died before the baby was placed there. Judith Meltzer, from …
Senator Will Longwitz Headed to Madison County Court
Sen. Will Longwitz, R-Madison, is leaving the Senate to accept his recent appointment to the Madison County Court. In a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. announced the appointments of Longwitz to Madison County Court and Judge Jim Greenlee to the Court …
Secretary of State Proposes Revisions to MS Election Laws
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has announced several revisions to Mississippi election laws that will bring our code up to date with current elections procedures and technology. Some of the changes include tightening down campaign finance disclosure laws for political committees and moving Mississippi's presidential primary vote day to the …