Mississippi State News

Feud Between Co-Workers Ends In Gunshots

A feud between co-workers at manufacturing company in Marshall County ended with one having to be airlifted to a hospital and the other a fugitive on the run. Police say two workers at a plant that makes armored vehicles got…

Special Session On Education Funding

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant says he will call a special legislative session on education funding only after lawmakers reach broad agreement on the main points of a proposal. Top Republicans in the House and Senate say they want to rewrite…

Senator Wicker votes to confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator

Today Senator Roger Wicker voted to confirm Scott Pruitt as the next Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. In a speech delivered to the Senate in support of Pruitt’s nomination, Wicker says he believes Pruitt can take on polluters and finalize multi-state…

Tax return scams

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood warns of possible scams targeting W2 tax returns. According to the IRS, scammers are combining two common scams into one. First, they pose as the company’s CEO and ask for copies of the W2 form…

Mississippi economy

An expert says Mississippi’s economy is growing at a modest pace, but continues to lag behind the national average. Today, state economist Darrin Webb told lawmakers Mississippi has struggled to gain momentum since 2000. The state had the second lowest…

School Funding Budget Mississippi House And Senate

The Mississippi house speaker says an effort to rewrite the school funding formula will not be limited by the regular budget deadlines. Republican Philip Gunn said Tuesday two big education bills will be handled later most likely in a special…

BP Bill Moves to House

The Mississippi House will get to debate a bill setting aside $750 million in oil spill economic damage payments for projects on the Gulf Coast. The Senate passed Senate Bill 2634 last week, but put it on hold. That hold…

Bodies of Missing Fishermen Found

The bodies of the two missing fishermen at Moon Lake in Coahoma County have been found. Search crews located the bodies. The two men were on a job when their boat capsized. The men were reported missing late Friday night.

Bill aims to Allow Water on School Buses

It is a policy set by local school boards, but Mississippi lawmakers are taking matters into their own hands. A bill, which passed the state House last week, says students are allowed to drink water on school buses. Republican Representative…

Wicker Meets with Supreme Court Nominee

US Senator Roger Wicker met with President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, this morning. After the meeting, Senator Wicker talked about the judge’s track record and why he thinks he’d be perfect for our nation’s supreme…

"Demon Chipmunk" Ruling.

The Mississippi Supreme Court says it has no power to settle a dispute over how the legislature operates. By ruling this way, a majority of justices handed a victory to Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn of Clinton. Democratic rep. Jay…

Fantasy Sports Betting Regulations

The Mississippi House has reversed itself and passed a bill to regulate tax operators of daily fantasy sports betting. House Bill 967 failed Wednesday, but it passed after a second vote Thursday. The bill would set an eight percent tax…

MS Senate Prohibits Sanctuary Cities

The Mississippi Senate voted today to prohibit towns, counties, or universities from defying federal immigration laws. Senate Bill 2710 passed in a 32-16 vote. The bill which is sponsored by Republican Senator Sean Tindell of Gulfport heads to the House…

Latest On The Lottery Bills Mississippi

The Mississippi house is down to a single bill that might be used to create a state lottery. And, it's unclear whether that bill will come up for a vote before a today's deadline. Going into Wednesday, three bills had…

Campaign Finance Reform Bill Passes Mississippi Senate

State senators unanimously agree there should be limits on Mississippi public officials spending campaign money on themselves. Senate Bill 26-89 passed Wednesday and now moves to the house for more debate. The house passed a similar bill last month. Right…

AG sues to Recover Bribe Tainted Money

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is suing 25 individuals and companies associated with a prison bribery scheme, saying they should have to repay more than $800 million in revenue they received from the state. Hood, a Democrat, announced the 11…

Back The Badge Act Of 2017

While a "Blue Lives Matter" bill has already passed the Mississippi senate, the house is debating a separate bill that would enhance penalties for crimes committed against law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency responders. House Bill 645 is referred to…

Bills To Change Election Laws Advance

Proposals to update some of Mississippi's Election Laws are advancing in the legislature. House Bill 373 would authorize online, first-time voter registration for people with a valid Mississippi Driver's License. House Bill 1054 would create a group to study a…

Mississippi Lottery

No bill in the Mississippi Legislature Soley deals with a state lottery, but there are multiple ways one could come out of the legislative session. Three bills have been amended to add a state lottery two dealing with gambling in…

Still No Education Funding Proposal

Lawmakers have agreed that any new education funding formula won't raise the share that local districts must pay but still no word yet on when we could see a proposal. Placeholder bills could be amended with details as lawmakers consider…

Bills Regulating Road Behavior Advance

Buckle up and drive right: the Mississippi House advances two bills to further regulate behavior on the roads. The house voted Tuesday to Pass House Bill 539, requiring all back-seat passengers to wear seat belts. Current state law requires seatbelts…

Bicentennial Celebration South April 1

Mississippi celebrates its 200th birthday this year and three major events are planned across the state one of them scheduled for April in Gulfport at Centennial Plaza. Today city leaders will lay out some of the plans for the celebration…

BP Settlement Legislation Moves Forward

Legislation meant to direct BP settlement dollars to a new Gulf Coast restoration fund heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 2634 written by Senator Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula creates the Gulf Coast New Restoration Reserve Fund.The…

Four People Killed in Yazoo City

The four victims of a Yazoo City nightclub shooting have been identified: 36- year-old Edward Johnson, 30-year-old Kevin Johnson, 32-year-old Jerrandan Allen, and 35-year-old Gabriel Townsend. U.S. Marshals took 27-year-old Briddell Barber, the man accused in the killings, into custody…