Mississippi lawmakers have reached their first three-month session deadline. Tuesday was the final day for committees to act on general bills originated in their own chamber. Surviving bills will move to the full House or Senate for debate. Here’s a…
A bill prohibiting abortion in cases where a fetal heartbeat is detected passed the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee today, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said. Senate Bill 2116, which provides an exemption for cases of medical emergencies, heads to…
Mississippi legislators are making their opening bid on an increase in teacher pay. The House Education Committee passed House Bill 1349 which proposes $500 increases in teacher salaries for each of the next two years. It would also boost the…
Twenty five electric cooperatives now have legal authority to offer high-speed internet service. Governor Phil Bryant signed House Bill 366 and it became law immediately. Cooperatives provide electricity to nearly 800,000 Mississippi customers. The law allows the co-ops to enter…
Earlier today, another big announcement was made on the steps of the Harrison County Courthouse. Sam Britton announced that he is officially running for secretary of state. Britton currently serves as the public service commission for the southern district. If…
In a bipartisan move, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed House Bill 571 which strengthens the state’s human trafficking laws. The bill passed by a vote of 115-1. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries with 100,000…
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith voted to proceed to legislation that would establish a permanent and government-wide ban on the use of federal funding for abortions. The Senate voted 48-47 on a motion to proceed to the ‘No Taxpayer Funding for…
This morning, Republican state Treasurer Lynn Fitch stopped by Gulfport City Hall to officially announce her run for attorney general. The fourth-term attorney general, Democrat Jim Hood, is running for governor this year. Fitch has served the state of Mississippi…
The Mississippi Senate chose Senator Gray Tollison as president pro tempore today. Tollison has represented district 9 in the state senate since 1996 and serves as chairman of the education committee. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves says Tollison’s "24 years of…
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann made his lieutenant governor campaign announcement in Gulfport this afternoon. Current Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves cannot run for a third term, meaning this position will be filled by someone else. Hosemann is currently in…
It is day two of the state legislative session and one of the hot topics is sure to be a possible pay raise for Mississippi teachers. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and Lt. Governor Tate Reeves said before the 2019 session…
Mississippi’s third-term Republican secretary of state says he’s running for lieutenant governor. Delbert Hosemann is announcing his candidacy at events around the state, including one today in the Jackson suburb of Richland. The 71-year-old is an attorney who grew up…
Mississippi legislators are beginning their three month session today with Republican Governor Phil Bryant proposing a teacher pay raise. House and Senate leaders say they would also like to consider raises for state employees. Lawmakers say changes to Mississippi’s criminal…
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker was sworn into the United States Senate for another six-year term today. Vice President Mike Pence administered the Oath of Office on the Senate floor. Wicker has represented Mississippi in the United States Senate since December…
Lawmakers throughout the state are hoping they can all work together to get their bills passed into law in the 2019 Mississippi Legislative Session set to open next Tuesday. The 2019 state legislative session doesn’t open until next Tuesday, but…
Mississippi Republican Lt. Governor Tate Reeves has filed to run for governor. Reeves submitted qualifying papers Thursday at the state Republican headquarters. Governor Phil Bryant cannot seek a third term. Republican State Rep. Robert Foster of Hernando announced last month…
The flu is on the rise in Mississippi and nationwide. This is according to a report released this afternoon by the Mississippi Department of Health. The hardest hit group so far are children age four and under with more hospitalizations…
Governor Phil Bryant says the state is receiving a $10.6 million federal grant for preschool programs. Bryant announced the grant Wednesday on Twitter. He says it will expand a system developed by his State Early Childhood Advisory Council and the…
Mississippi Highway Patrol says at least five people died on the state’s roads during the New Year’s holiday. Captain Johnny Poulos said that 27 other people were hurt in wrecks from 12:01 a.m. Monday until midnight Tuesday. Troopers investigated 92…
Mississippi has a new standard license plate that includes the state seal with the phrase ‘In God we Trust.’ The new design is being phased in during 2019, replacing one featuring the guitar of blues legend B.B. King. The standard…
Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith was sworn in today on Capitol Hill after winning her seat in the runoff election last month. Hyde-Smith was sworn in on the Senate floor. Afterwards, she took part in a ceremonial swearing in with Senator…
Governor Phil Bryant says he’ll support efforts to reduce the number of Mississippians in prison in the 2019 legislative session. He made the remarks at a meeting on criminal justice reform put on by a coalition of groups that favor…
When Thad Cochran stepped down from his Senate seat in March it left a spot open to fill his shoes. Cindy Hyde-Smith was appointed by the governor shortly after. Now, nearly eight months later, she can officially stay in that…
Cindy Hyde-Smith has defeated Democrat Mike Espy in the 2018 Senate runoff election. News 25's Gabby Easterwood is in Jackson, listening in on what Hyde-Smith had to say.