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Walmart Closes 6 Mississippi Stores; Raises Worker Wages
Walmart is closing six Walmart Express stores in Mississippi, all located in the northern part of the state in small towns. The store closures translate to about 180 lost jobs, but the national corporation said its main focus is to take care of the associates, offering them the option to …
Airport Bill Touching Down Next Week
Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, is touching up a bill that proposes to change the Jackson airport commission structure. Harkins told the Jackson Free Press he will likely file his bill on Monday or Tuesday next week, which will change who appoints and who qualifies to serve on the airport's governing …
Mayor: Jackson Recognizes Seriousness of Mental Illness
Mayor Tony Yarber announced his support of reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in county jails on Tuesday. Yarber presented a resolution in his role of Mayor of the City of Jackson at a rally that the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, held at the Capitol on …
House Bill Seeks to Protect Churches by Arming Members
"Church protection" would come with firearms if a House bill passes through the Legislature this session. Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, introduced the "Mississippi Church Protection Act" this week which would give churches legislative permission to create a "security program" that would designate certain members to carry weapons at church. The …
Second Jackson Airport 'Takeover' Bill Filed in House
The much-anticipated Senate bill that would change the governing authority of the Jackson airport has attracted most of the attention in the airport "takeover" fight between Republican lawmakers and Jackson city officials and citizens, but Rep. Mark Baker, R-Brandon, filed a second airport bill earlier this week in the House …
Southern Poverty Law Center: 19 Hate Groups Active in Mississippi
The Southern Poverty Law Center has published a map of active hate groups in the United States, and in Mississippi, there are 19 groups, including several Ku Klux Klan factions. SPLC defines a hate group as having "beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically …
With Deadline Looming, 19 Flag Bills Are Stalled in Legislative Committee
If [the state flag][1] is going to change, lawmakers from either the Senate or House Rules committee will have to pass a bill through in the next 24 hours.
All Flag Bills Die; House Speaker on State Flag: 'I have not wavered'
House Speaker Philip Gunn released a statement defending his position on the state flag, after all filed bills to change the state flag referred to the House Rules Committee died today. No Senate or House flag bill made it out of committee by today's deadline. Gunn's statement is below, verbatim: …
State Health Department Issues Advisory on Jackson Water
A news release from the Mississippi State Department of Health about City of Jackson drinking water is reproduced in its entirety below: Today the Mississippi State Department of Health– after consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency, is advising all residents who receive …
Mayor: Jackson Water Is Safe
Mayor Tony Yarber reiterated during a press conference at City Hall Wednesday night that the city’s drinking water system is safe, while at the same time mentioning meetings with Jackson Public Schools superintendent about needed renovations to the corrosion control system. “I spent a little time today with the superintendent,” …
Black Legislative Caucus: We Will "Slow Down Process"
The Mississippi Black Legislative Caucus will continue to slow down Republican lawmakers and the legislative process after House Bill 868 set off a debate Wednesday. Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson, said his caucus is not going to give up their slim majority and even after a meeting with the Speaker today, …
Election Reform Bill, Including Early Voting, Passes Mississippi House
Mississippi is one step closer to election reform after the House passed the 283-page election code bill this morning. The bill is the product of a committee formed by the secretary of state last year, which included lawmakers, circuit clerks and election commissioners from around the state. Secretary of State …
Today is Deadline for Airport, Sanctuary Cities and AG Bills
This afternoon is the deadline for general bills held on a motion to reconsider to pass through both the House and the Senate. The Senate calendar includes Jackson airport "takeover" bill and a bill that would prohibit "sanctuary cities" in the state, while the House could take up a bill …
State Health Department to Offer Lead Testing for Children
The Mississippi State Department of Health if offering lead testing for children on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until further notice at the Hinds County Health Department located at the Jackson Medical Mall, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson, Suite 411. No appointment is needed. This service is only provided for children 6 …
JSU Community Engagement Director Will Move to President's Office
Jackson State University announced some personnel shifts this morning. Dr. Kimberly Hilliard will transition from the Office of Community Engagement to work under President Carolyn Meyers as the Executive Assistant to the President for Special Initiatives. Read the full press release below: Dear JSU Family: As previously announced, Mrs. Sandra …
House Minority Whip Statement on Speaker Gunn's Refusal to Follow Bipartisan Agreement
Below is a verbatim press release from Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, the House minority whip leader, released today: House Democratic Caucus Leader David Baria issued the following statement regarding Speaker Philip Gunn’s refusal to adhere to agreed upon promises for debate and discussion in the chamber: "I want …
Here are (some of) the Groups, Organizations, People Opposing House Bill 1523
The Senate passed House Bill 1523 on March 30, which would allow certain elected officials, businesses and religious organizations to not offer services based on their religious belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. Although the bill's proponents say it protects individuals from government discrimination, its critics …
Nissan Releases Statement Denouncing LGBT Discrimination
The Jackson Free Press obtained a statement from Nissan after inquiring about their stance on House Bill 1523. The statement is reproduced in full below: “Nissan is committed to providing our employees with an inclusive workplace environment that supports diversity. It is Nissan’s policy to prohibit discrimination of any type, …
U.S. District Judge: State's Same-Sex Adoption Ban Violates the Equal Protection Clause
A U.S. District Judge ruled Mississippi's adoption ban for same-sex couples unconstitutional today. U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan released an order in the Campaign for Southern Equality v. Mississippi Department of Human Services preliminary enjoining MDHS from enforcing Mississippi's same-sex adoption ban. Jordan dismissed the complaints against the governor …
Senate, House Democrats: Revive SB 2147; Change the State Flag
Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, held a press conference this morning with House and Senate Democrats calling on the legislative leadership to suspend the rules and bring back Senate Bill 2147, Horhn's bill that would create a commission to re-design the Mississippi state flag. Horhn and other lawmakers called on the …