Mississippi State News

Statement by Attorney General Jim Hood on HB 1523

Attorney General Jim Hood says he will not appeal the ruling that blocked controversial House Bill 1523 from going into effect July 1st. In a statement released, Jim Hood says “I am convinced that continuing this divisive and expensive litigation…

Lottery for Special Needs Scholarships

The Mississippi Department of Education will hold a scholarship lottery for students with special needs. The Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act of 2015 provides scholarships to parents of students with disabilities who want to remove their child…

Lawsuit aims to Block Charter Schools

A lawsuit filed this week seeks to block charter schools in Mississippi, arguing they violate the state constitution by making school districts share property taxes with schools they don’t control. The suit was filed in Hinds County Court on behalf…

Three New Zika Cases in Mississippi

Today the Mississippi State Department of Health reports three new cases of Zika virus. This brings the 2016 total to eight. The cases were in residents from Chickasaw, Hinds and Rankin counties who recently traveled to St. Thomas, Nicaragua and…

Endangered/Missing Child Alert

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has issued an Endangered/Missing Child Alert for 15-year-old James Wesley Lott. He is described as a white male, five feet, two inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. He may be accompanied by his…

Bryant Appeals Rejection Of HB 1523

Governor Bryant breaks away from co-defendants and files his own appeal against a federal judge’s rejection of the Religious Accommodations Act. In a motion filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, Bryant argues the plaintiffs in the four lawsuits contesting House…

Federal Judge Blocks Religious Accommodations Act

A federal judge killed Missississippi's controversial "religious freedom" law Thursday night minutes before it was set to take effect. U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves stated that the bill was an unfortunate example of mississippi trying to write discrimination into…

Legal Defense Of HB 1523

Tomorrow many laws will go into effect, the biggest and likely most controversial one being House Bill 1523. It’s been several months since Governor Phil Bryant signed the Religious Accommodations Act into law. It is a law allowing private businesses…

BP Money Will Arrive to State on Friday

The first installment of BP money is finally making its way to the state. Mississippi is set to receive $150 million from the oil giant on Friday. $46 million of that money has already been included into the budget which…

Special Session Addressing Budget Comes to a Close

Contention in the Mississippi House special legislative session has come to a close. One day after the Senate, the Mississippi House agreed to a plan to fill deficits in the final days of the budget year. The bill gives Gov.…

State Executions Could Return To MS

Executions could soon be back in the state of Mississippi.  Recently, the fifth circuit court of appeals denied re-hearing a case challenging a drug the state plans to use in lethal injections. Now, State Attorney General Jim Hood could be…

House Goes To 2nd Day Of Session

The Mississippi house will convene again *today* for a second day of a special session addressing the state's budget deficit. State Senators passed a bill Tuesday to let Governor Phil Bryant dip further into the state's financial reserves to plug…

Special Session Addresses Budget

The Mississippi House will convene again tomorrow for a second day of a special session addressing the state's budget deficit. State Senators passed a bill today to let Governor Phil Bryant dip further into the state’s financial reserves to plug…

Changes Regarding College Scholarships

Some college students across Mississippi will need to add an extra class in order to receive state scholarship money this fall. The change comes after the definition of a full-time student for the purposes of receiving state financial aid shifted…

Supreme Court Denies Mississippi Abortion Appeal

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Mississippi seeking to put in place restrictions on abortion clinics that were struck down by lower courts. This morning, the justices refused to hear the appeal involving a law that would have…

Special Session Addresses Budget

A special session at our state capitol is happening right now. Lawmakers are addressing significant budget shortfalls, a deficit that could ring to the tune of $75 million. While Republican officials are hoping for a quick session, there’s no guarantee…

Judge Strikes Down Part of HB 1523

Mississippi circuit clerks must provide equal treatment for all couples, gay or straight, who want to obtain marriage licenses. This ruling was handed down today by federal U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves. Reeves is extending his previous order that…

State Senator Sentenced to Jail

Former state senator Tommy Robertson has been sentenced to ten years in prison by Special Judge Richard McKenzie in Jackson County Circuit Court on embezzlement charges. Robertson will serve two years for embezzling over $379,000 of a $484,000 construction loan…

Judge Blocks Part of House Bill 1523

Mississippi Circuit Clerks must provide equal treatment for all couples, gay or straight, who want to obtain a marriage license. This ruling was just handed down by Federal U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves. News 25’s Kendra Turley has the details.

Governor Bryant Calls Special Session

State Legislators will be making a trip to the capital tomorrow. Governor Phil Bryant has called a special session to address shortfalls in Mississippi’s 2016 budget. The session will open at 10 am with one item on the agenda legislation…

New Leaders Elected

The Mississippi Democratic Party has elected new leaders to head the organization for the next four years. In a statement Sunday the organization said its executive committee voted on the six positions during a meeting Saturday. Bobby Moak will take…

Reeling from HB 1523: Set to go in Effect July 1st

In just seven days, House Bill 1523 is set to go into effect. But our state has already felt its effects, as some people, businesses and entertainment companies have already pulled their projects from our state, calling the bill discriminatory.…

House Bill 1523 Objection

A professor says Mississippi is the only state to enact a law listing specific religious beliefs to be protected in reaction to the legalization of same-sex marriage. UCLA Law Professor Douglas Nejaime testified Thursday during a federal court hearing in…