Mississippi State News

U.S. Judge To Hear Anti-1523 Arguments

On Monday, a federal judge will hear arguments over challenges to a law that many are labeling discriminatory. House Bill 15-23 or the religious accommodations act will become law July first unless it is blocked by U.S. district judge "Carlton…

U.S. Judge To Hear Anti-1523 Arguments

Today, a federal judge will hear arguments over challenges to a law that many are labeling discriminatory. House Bill 1523 or the Religious Accommodations Act will become law July first unless it is blocked by U.S. District Judge "Carlton Reeves".…

Planned Parenthood Sues Mississippi

Planned Parenthood is suing Mississippi over a new state law that bans Medicaid from spending money with any abortion provider. The suit was filed Wednesday in a Jackson Federal Courtroom. It says the Hattiesburg clinic does not offer abortions so…

Special Session On Budget Possible

Governor Phil Bryant could be forced to call a special session to balance the state budget if a record revenue is not generated this month. By law, the governor is requiring to keep the state's budget balanced at all times.…

Epps' Hearing Now Uncertain

Plans to sentence former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps and Brandon businessman Cecil McRory on July 19th are now uncertain. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate delayed hearing sentencing-related evidence on Thursday. This gives defense lawyers more time to review materials…

Department of Justice Starts New Division in South Mississippi

The head of the U.S. justice department’s civil rights division says there’s more work to be done to guarantee the rights of citizens both in Mississippi and nationwide. The head of the division, Vanita Gupta, spoke at a conference in…

Hearing For Former MDOC Commissioner

This morning, a hearing began in federal court on evidence of how much the bribes taken by former corrections commissioner Christopher Epps cost Mississippi taxpayers. That determination will in turn influence how long Epps spends in prison for money laundering…

One Of The Miners Found In Gravel Pit

Crews recover the body of one of the miners who were buried when the gravel pit they were working in collapsed in Copiah County. The rescue team worked all morning to remove that worker from the equipment. Officials are not…

Changes Coming to DHS

Two-thirds of all children in foster care in our state are in the three coastal counties. That’s according to Senator Brice Wiggins who spoke in front of the Jackson County Republican Club today, along with Senator Michael Watson and Representative…

Coasts Legislators ‘Appalled’ at BP Money Spending

The first $150 million of BP money is coming to our state soon and South Mississippi legislators say some of their initial fears about how that money will be spent are coming to fruition. Senator Michael Watson says what is…

Search for Missing Miners Continues

The search continues in Mississippi for two miners who were buried inside construction equipment at a gravel pit last Friday. Officials say Emmitt Shorter and James Hemphill were buried under 10 feet of mud after a landslide at the Green…

Search Continues For Two Buried

Rescue crews are still trying to find two men who were buried in a pit collapse in Copiah County. Officials say Emmitt Shorter and James "Dee" Hemphill were trapped after the collapse of a gravel pit at green brothers gravel…

Mississippi Ranks High in Early Learning Quality

Mississippi’s early learning collaboratives have been rated among the top five in the nation for quality standards. Public pre-k began in 2013 when the legislature passed the early learning collaborative act, providing free pre-kindergarten to local communities throughout Mississippi. While…

Annual Defense Bill is over $600 Billion

Hundreds of billions of dollars could be headed to help our military. Senator Roger Wicker is leading the charge. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act is slowly but surely making its way through the Senate. The bill would allocate just…

Two Missing in Mississippi After Landslide

An effort is underway to find two equipment operators who are trapped after a landslide at Green Brothers Gravel Pit in Crystal Springs. Two men are completely buried in 10 to 12 feet of mud and slush at the Copiah…

Kemper Plant Now Costing $20 Million More

Mississippi Power reported the under-construction Kemper energy plant will cost $20 million more. This is according to our media partner, the Sun Herald. The total cost now stands at $6.7 billion. Company spokesman Jeff Shepard said $19 million of the…

June Declared LGBT Pride Month

Declaring that “no person should be judged by anything but the content of their character,” President Barack Obama signed a proclamation yesterday designating June as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.” Every year since the start of his presidency,…

Memorial Day Weekend Accidents: 132 Crashes and 2 Deaths

The Mississippi Highway Patrol says two people were killed and 49 were injured on state and federal highways during the Memorial Day Weekend. The patrol’s enforcement period began Friday evening and ended at Midnight Monday. State troopers investigated 132 crashes…

Governor Bryant Speaks on House Bill 1523

Governor Phil Bryant says the “secular, progressive world” vented anger at him for signing a bill that would let clerks cite religious beliefs to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Governor Bryant spoke in Washington as the…

Missing Mississippi Teen Found in Leaf River

The search is over for a teen missing since Sunday afternoon after his body was found in a Mississippi river. Forrest County dive teams and responders searched in and around the Leaf River for the 15-year-old boy. Emergency crews first…

West Nile Virus in Mississippi

Mississippi is reporting its first human case of West Nile Virus for 2016. The state department of health says it is the first in the nation this year. The department said the case of the mosquito-borne virus is in Lamar…

Filmmakers Call HB1523 a Bust

A local filmmaker is addressing the division HB 1523 is causing within the state. “Meanwhile in Mississippi” is a screenplay written by Tammy Devin, a Long Beach native wanting to make a statement to the world that not everyone in…