Mississippi State News

NWS Surveys Tornado Damage

Team from the National Weather Service in New Orleans is on the coast today surveying the damage from the tornado that touched down in Hancock County, traveling through Harrison County. Take a look at what the storm did to one…

Senator Roger Wicker Stops At MGCCC

Senator Roger Wicker heard from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College officials during a stop in South Mississippi today. Senator Wicker said he wanted to hear from state colleges before the senate looks at ways to re-work the higher education policy…

Trump Presidency Good For Mississippi

State lawmakers say a Donald Trump Presidency will be good for Mississippi. Legislators tell News 25, Governor Phil Bryant built a close relationship with the President Elect campaigning for him in a few states during the election. They say Trump…

Programs to Keep Ex Inmates on Track

The head of Mississippi’s prison system says the state needs to improve programs that help people get their lives on track as they leave prison. Corrections Commissioner Marshall Fisher says even with a tight budget, it’s a smart financial decision…

Defense Bill Heads to President’s Desk

A defense bill sits on the president’s desk for signature. The bill would give troops a pay raise and it takes closing bases off the table, rejecting the Pentagon’s plan to perform a new round of military base closings. This…

Senator Cochran Urges the Senate to Pass Bill

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran urged the senate to adopt legislation to keep the federal government open and fund urgent priorities around the nation. The resolution includes funding to continue counterterrorism operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. It also appropriates $872…

Opioid And Heroin Task Force Executive Order

Governor Phil Bryant is issuing a task force to help combat drug abuse in Mississippi. The Opioid and Heroin Study Task Force will make recommendations to the governor of how to best fight drug abuse and prevent it in the…

Lawmakers Propose Spending Cuts for 2017

Top lawmakers are proposing a Mississippi budget that would be three percent smaller for the coming year. House Speaker Philip Gunn says most state agencies should plan to operate on the leanest levels possible during fiscal 2018, which begins July…

"Blue Lives Matter" Bill Mississippi

As police ambushes have become more frequent across the country in the last year, state lawmakers want to ensure our men and women in uniform are better protected. A "Blue Lives Matter" bill will be introduced when the 2017 session…

Pearl Harbor Sailor Laid To Rest Today

A Mississippi sailor, killed at Pearl Harbor, was laid to rest today. Navy Fireman 1st Class Jim H. Johnston, was killed at pearl harbor in the attack on the USS Oklahoma. 429 casualties resulted and most of the dead were…

Pre-Legislative Briefing

The 2017 legislative session begins in one month. This session is one that is sure to be pivotal considering over $100 million in BP settlement funds is up for grabs in the state’s general fund. Coast lawmakers are ready to…

Gov. Bryant Named Chair-Elect Education Commission

Governor Phil Bryant has been named chair-elect of the education commission of the states. The national organization gathers, analyzes and disseminates information about current and emerging issues, trends and innovations in state education policies. Governor Bryant issued a statement saying…

21st Century Cures Act Approved

After many years of debate, federal lawmakers finally approved the 21st century cures act. The act will speed new medicines through the market and will authorize an additional four point eight billion in spending for medical research. Congressman Steven Pallazo…

"Eureka" Act Close To Becoming A Law

With the passing of the 21st century cures act, a proposal surrounding Alzheimer’s disease by US Senator Roger Wicker is closer to becoming a law. The "Ensuring useful research expenditures is key for Alzheimer’s" or eureka act is part of…

No State Flag at Tupelo Police Building

The Mississippi flag will not fly outside the new Tupelo Police Department building at least for a year. The City Council voted to fly a state bicentennial banner rather than the state flag. The City Council objected to the state…

Six Confirmed Tornadoes In Mississippi

Six confirmed tornadoes have been reported throughout the state. New video... Showing extensive damage across Northern Mississippi. This footage was taken last night... Just moments after the first wave of severe weather hit the region. The hardest hit area right…

Final BP Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow

Tomorrow is your last chance to voice how you think state legislators should spend BP oil spill disaster money in a public forum. This will be the third and final town hall meeting hosted by Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves. The…

Statewide Grade-Level Reading Initiative

Mississippi Department of Education officials announce they will launch a statewide campaign for grade-level reading initiative to encourage non-profits, business leaders, and schools to work together to support students reading on grade level by the end of third grade. The…

2017 Mississippi Legislative Preview

The three month 2017 legislative sessions begin January 3rd. This will be the second year of a four year term. Education funding is already front and center of preparation work with Republican leaders of the House and Senate hiring a…

Statewide Reading Initiative

Government education officials released the date for the announcement of the statewide reading initiative. On November 29th, officials will unveil a statewide initiative adding greater emphasis on grade-level reading. This comes in light of Mississippi’s literacy-based promotion act. State law…

Task Force Tackles Literacy in State

A task force on teacher preparation for early literacy instruction released recommendations on how to improve child literacy in the state. The task force was created by Governor Phil Bryant. It was formed in June 2016 and is made up…

Edbuild Contract will be Made Public

Mississippi’s legislative leaders have announced they will post their contract with Edbuild to the Transparency Mississippi website. This comes after state Attorney General Jim Hood wrote a letter to state leaders saying law required them to and after heavy backlash…

Update on Mississippi Voting

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says only a small percentage of Mississippi voters did not take photo identification to the polls for the presidential election. He said Monday that more than 1.2 million people voted in the state and 560…

Woman Sentenced for Scam in Chambers Death

A Mississippi woman is going to prison after using an internet scam to try to profit off the burning death of a teenager. Attorney General Jim Hood says 41-year-old Janet Lee Posey of Blue Springs pleaded guilty Thursday to one…