Mississippi State Legislature
Neurosurgeon tapped for spot on state health board

May. 25, 2021 02:19 PM EDT
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Neurosurgeon Dr. John Daniel Davis IV has been nominated by Gov. Tate Reeves to serve on a board that governs public health in the state,...

FILE - In this March 11, 2021, file photo, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks with reporters after signing a bill at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. A new Mississippi law will make more inmates eligible for the possibility of parole. Gov. Reeves signed Senate Bill 2795 on Thursday, April 22, 2021, and it becomes law on July 1. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Mississippi receiving virus relief money spread over 2 years

By Emily Wagster Pettus May. 10, 2021 04:43 PM EDT

A year later, Tupelo students work to complete tiny house

Apr. 04, 2021 11:54 AM EDT
TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — A group of Tupelo high school students is finishing construction of a tiny house a year after the project was put on hold because of the...

Advocates: Put early voting proposal on Mississippi ballot

By Leah Willingham Apr. 01, 2021 03:06 PM EDT
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Democratic state lawmaker is leading a group of activists who want to amend the Mississippi Constitution to create a broad system of...

Rep. Robin Robinson, R-Laurel, listens for debate over the specifics of a rural broadband bill in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi: No extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage

By Emily Wagster Pettus And Leah Willingham Mar. 30, 2021 09:05 PM EDT

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann answers a question about broadband legislation with reporters at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi teacher pay raise plan headed to governor

By Emily Wagster Pettus Mar. 18, 2021 06:26 PM EDT

Mississippi legislators chop pecan bill from to-do list

Mar. 15, 2021 02:30 PM EDT
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Critics had said it was nutty for Mississippi legislators to consider pecan harvesting bills during a year with big issues that required...

A lawmaker holds a House calendar with proposed legislation listed at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Lawmakers have a Wednesday deadline for original floor action on general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the other House. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Analysis: Mississippi grappling with tax-and-spend ideas

By Emily Wagster Pettus Mar. 14, 2021 09:00 PM EDT

Sen. Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, reviews a proposed bill on his laptop as he seeks clarification from its presenter during a debate in their chamber at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Senate panel advances plan for Mississippi teacher pay raise

By Emily Wagster Pettus Mar. 02, 2021 07:25 PM EST

Sen. Angela Hill, R-Picayune, adjusts her face masks while asking a question as lawmakers discuss and debate bills in their chamber at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Analysis: Mississippi finds wedge issue, even amid pandemic

By Emily Wagster Pettus Feb. 21, 2021 05:00 PM EST

Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, stands behind the safety barrier that surrounds the speaker's well and explains his opposition to legislation that would permit the Mississippi Department of Human Services using a simplified reporting system, during debate in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi Senate rejects 2 proposals to expand Medicaid

By Emily Wagster Pettus Feb. 09, 2021 07:35 PM EST

Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, center, listens as members of the Senate Appropriations Committee discuss a grant program supporting small businesses using federal funds proposed by Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, unseen, during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Friday, May 8, 2020 at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Lawmakers through various committees are considering requests for monies from the $1.25 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) fund. The coronavirus stimulus funds are destined to assist small businesses affected by COVID-19. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi considers longer postpartum Medicaid coverage

By Leah Willingham Feb. 02, 2021 02:43 PM EST

A sparse crowd of lawmakers, lobbyists and security, listen as Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves speaks about his policy priorities and the state's coronavirus pandemic response during his State of the State speech on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, on the south steps of the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Reeves requested the outdoor venue and a limited number of attendees following covid protocol. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
More Mississippi legislators test positive for coronavirus

By Emily Wagster Pettus Jan. 28, 2021 02:20 PM EST

Vicksburg, Miss., Mayor George Flaggs, left, speaks about the search committee's suggestion that Burl Cain, the former warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, seated second from left, be selected by Gov. Tate Reeves, second from right, as the new commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Correction, during Reeves' daily coronavirus update for media, Wednesday, May 20, 2020 in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
2 former lawmakers running again as mayors in Mississippi

Jan. 24, 2021 09:51 AM EST

CORRECTS DATE Senate Education Committee member Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, asks State Superintendent of the Mississippi Department of Education Carey Wright a question as she provides the committee an update on the pandemic's impact on K-12 schools at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Work patterns altered at Mississippi Capitol during pandemic

By Emily Wagster Pettus Jan. 21, 2021 05:08 PM EST

Mississippi teacher pay bill clears 1 step, goes to House

Jan. 21, 2021 01:20 PM EST
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi senators asked no questions Thursday before voting unanimously to move forward with a teacher pay raise proposal. ...

Teacher pay raise plan awaits Mississippi Senate debate

Jan. 19, 2021 05:50 PM EST
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A proposal to increase Mississippi teachers' pay is advancing at the state Capitol. Senate Bill 2001 passed the...

Mississippi Legislature again mulling teacher pay increases

Jan. 13, 2021 05:37 PM EST
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi legislators are once again mulling pay increases for the state's teachers. Senate...

State Superintendent of the Mississippi Department of Education Carey Wright provides the Senate Education Committee an update on the pandemic's impact on K-12 schools at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi schools chief: Ease mandates on some tests

By Emily Wagster Pettus Jan. 06, 2021 05:40 PM EST

Lawmakers returning to the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., will find an abundance of face masks, face shields and hand sanitizer for their use as both chambers have employed stringent COVID-19 precautions, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Additionally, a number of enhanced security measures have been employed including bag scanners to accompany existing metal detectors. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi works to formalize new flag without rebel icon

By Emily Wagster Pettus Jan. 05, 2021 01:02 PM EST