All results / Entries / adreher
MS Dept. of Mental Health Releases State Suicide Prevention Plan
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health released its first state plan for suicide prevention today; a workgroup composed of state agency workers and other advocates formed in April to help finalize the two-year prevention plan. In Mississippi, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 10-24 …
MDOC Plans to Use Walnut Grove Site for Alternative or Re-Entry Programs
The Mississippi Department of Corrections plans to use the former Walnut Grove Correctional Facility site for other purposes, like alternative or re-entry programs, a press release from the department says. Commissioner Marshall Fisher has mentioned the mental health of inmates as a pressing concern in his department at government working …
DOJ: Jackson Police Officer Indicted on Bribery Charges
Jackson Police Officer Melvin Williams was arrested today after a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against him for soliciting, demanding and accepting a bribe, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway said in a press release today. The indictment alleges that from …
Corrections and Mental Health Departments Team Up To Reduce Recidivism
Mississippi received a $647,461 federal grant aimed at reducing recidivism by addressing untreated co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders in offenders under community supervision. The Departments of Corrections and Mental Health will partner up to administer the program. The Second Chance Act Reentry Program for Adults with Co-Occurring Substance …
Community Stakeholders Ask Lawmakers to Address Mental Health Needs
Community stakeholders sent a letter to lawmakers on the Health Budget Review Committee asking them to take several steps in working to reform the state's mental healthcare system and focus more community-based mental healthcare. The letter is reproduced in full below: Dear Members of the Legislative Mental Health Tax and …
Gov. Bryant Declares October 'Racial Reconciliation Celebration Month'
Today, Gov. Phil Bryant declared October "Racial Reconciliation Celebration Month," only six months after he declared April "Confederate Heritage Month" earlier this year. Gov. Bryant's declaration is in coordination with Mission Mississippi, a religious racial reconciliation organization, that is hosting a series of events in October to promote "the unifying …
Community Leaders Call on Gov. Bryant to Apologize During 'Racial Reconciliation Month'
Community leaders will hold a press conference at the Mississippi State Capitol next week to call on Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to issue an apology to Mississippians during “Racial Reconciliation Month”. They are asking Gov. Bryant to apologize for his refusal to back the removal of the Confederate symbol from …
State Political Leaders React to Donald Trump's 'Locker Room Talk,' Second Debate
After the Washington Post released a 2005 video recording of Donald Trump and Billy Bush having a lewd conversation about permissible ways to treat women, several former Trump supporters backed away from their endorsements. Among these politicians were Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and two Alabama members of Congress. Mississippi political …
AG Hood Recovers $33 Million, Wants to Use Funds to Offset Budget Cuts
The attorney general's office recovered $33.95 million and delivered that money to the state Treasury on Monday. In a press release, Attorney General Jim Hood encouraged the Mississippi Legislature to use the money to offset budget shortfalls for vital state services. “Hopefully, this will undo some of the damage inflicted …
Gov. Bryant Hosts Reception for the Heritage Foundation
Gov. Phil Bryant hosted former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (SC) and representatives from the Heritage Foundation at the Governor's Mansion on Tuesday night for a reception in Gov. Bryant's honor for receiving the prestigious Conservative Leadership Award, an honor he received for signing House Bill 1523 into law (even though …
Factchecking Mississippi Governor Comments on Clinton, Abortion and Religion
Gov. Phil Bryant says Constitutional rights are at risk this presidential election, in an email sent from the Mississippi GOP. "The next President will fill Justice Antonin Scalia’s vacancy and will likely appoint three or four additional Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Putting liberals on the court could set …
No Emergency or Active Shooter at UMMC
This morning a weekly test of UMMC's alert system was sent out by accident. Reports of an active shooter or being on lockdown are not true, Marc Rolph UMMC director of public relations told the Jackson Free Press. The alert was sent out on accident, and Rolph said UMMC tests …
Nonprofits Call on Gov. Bryant to Address Race-Based Incidents
Several Mississippi nonprofits have called on Gov. Phil Bryant to address the several incidents of race-based violence in the past month from the Emmett Till Tallahatchie River marker covered in bullet holes to the African American Delta church set on fire and spray painted with the words "Vote Trump," which …
A Quick Guide to Voting in Mississippi
Nov. 8 is Election Day. Here are some tips, tricks and (most importantly) voter laws in Mississippi to remember tomorrow (via the Secretary of State): ·Polling Place Hours: Polling places are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A voter is permitted to cast a ballot if he or she is …
Election Day: Mississippi Voter Update
So far, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has received reports of very high voter turnout and long lines at the polls as Mississippians began casting their ballots this morning. “Despite poor weather in parts of the State, voters are getting out to vote for our next elected leaders,” Hosemann said …
Gov. Bryant: It'd Be 'Hard to Say No To' Trump Administration Job Offer
Gov. Phil Bryant isn't sending his resume to Washington D.C. to work in the Trump administration just yet, but he told reporters today that the offer would be "hard to say no to." "Of course, I’ve got the best job in the world, and I love being governor, and I …
EEOC Issues Guidance on 'National Origin' Discrimination
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued updated enforcement guidance on national origin discrimination to replace its 2002 compliance manual section on that subject today. “EEOC is dedicated to advancing opportunity for all workers and ensuring freedom from discrimination based on ethnicity or country of origin,” said EEOC Chair …
Updated: AG Hood: Legislature Has to Make EdBuild Contract Public
Attorney General Jim Hood sent a letter to legislative leaders today reminding them that they must release the EdBuild contract to the Transparency Mississippi website, despite their own House Management Committee rules. Last week, several news organizations attempted to get access to the contract between the Mississippi Legislature and the …
U.S. Justice Dept. Announces (More) Federal Prison Reforms
The Department of Justice announced a series of reforms for federal prisons today. Reforms include building a school district within the system and improving the halfway houses that serve as re-entry homes for inmates in the system. The DOJ also announced plans to improve programs for women in prison and …
Gov. Bryant Announces Opioid and Heroin Abuse Task Force
Gov. Phil Bryant created a task force today to address drug abuse in the state, specifically for the abuse of opioids and heroin. Opioid abuse is up nationally and has been for the past two decades. Opioids include prescription pain killers, some nervous system depressants and some stimulant drugs, according …