INSIDER
Mississippi election officials argue against quick work on drawing new majority-Black districts
Read full article: Mississippi election officials argue against quick work on drawing new majority-Black districtsMississippi election officials say redrawing legislative districts in time for this Novemberās election is impossible because of tight deadlines to prepare ballots.
Mississippi is the latest state sued by tech group over age verification on websites
Read full article: Mississippi is the latest state sued by tech group over age verification on websitesA tech industry group says a new Mississippi law requiring users of websites and other digital services to verify their age will unconstitutionally limit access to online speech for minors and adults.
Mississippi governor signs law restricting transgender people's use of bathrooms and locker rooms
Read full article: Mississippi governor signs law restricting transgender people's use of bathrooms and locker roomsMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a new law regulating transgender peopleās use of bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in public education buildings.
Mississippi Medicaid expansion plan could struggle for bipartisan support, Democratic leader says
Read full article: Mississippi Medicaid expansion plan could struggle for bipartisan support, Democratic leader saysThe Mississippi House Democratic leader says a Medicaid expansion plan endorsed by Republican leaders could struggle for bipartisan support.
Mississippi lawmakers haggle over possible Medicaid expansion as their legislative session nears end
Read full article: Mississippi lawmakers haggle over possible Medicaid expansion as their legislative session nears endTop Mississippi lawmakers have started negotiating on what could become a landmark plan to expand Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands of people in one of the poorest states in the U.S. But even with Republicans controlling both the state House and Senate, itās far from clear that they will reach a compromise.
Southern governors tell autoworkers that voting for a union will put their jobs in jeopardy
Read full article: Southern governors tell autoworkers that voting for a union will put their jobs in jeopardyOn the eve of a vote on union representation at Volkswagenās Tennessee factory, Gov. Bill Lee and five other southern governors are telling workers that voting for a union will put jobs in jeopardy.
Mississippi has the nation's worst infant mortality. It will allow earlier Medicaid to help babies
Read full article: Mississippi has the nation's worst infant mortality. It will allow earlier Medicaid to help babiesMississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a new law that will allow women to receive Medicaid coverage earlier in pregnancy.
Gov. Abbott addresses President Bidenās border policies at Shelby Park
Read full article: Gov. Abbott addresses President Bidenās border policies at Shelby ParkTexas Gov. Greg Abbott hosted governors from several states at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass in response to President Joe Bidenās border policies.
There's a glimmer of hope for broader health coverage in Georgia, but also a good chance of a fizzle
Read full article: There's a glimmer of hope for broader health coverage in Georgia, but also a good chance of a fizzleLong-held Republican opposition to broader health care coverage may be softening in Georgia and Mississippi.
Judge allows new court in Mississippi's majority-Black capital, rejecting NAACP request to stop it
Read full article: Judge allows new court in Mississippi's majority-Black capital, rejecting NAACP request to stop itA federal judge will allow Mississippi officials to move forward with creating a state-run court in part of the majority-Black capital city of Jackson.
Ballot shortages in Mississippi created a problem for democracy on the day of a governor's election
Read full article: Ballot shortages in Mississippi created a problem for democracy on the day of a governor's electionPeople in Mississippiās largest county are demanding answers about why some polling places ran out of ballots and voters had to wait for them to be replenished on the day the state was deciding its most competitive governorās race in a generation.
Democrats won big on abortion rights Tuesday. Here's what the results say for the US going into 2024
Read full article: Democrats won big on abortion rights Tuesday. Here's what the results say for the US going into 2024Democrats have plenty of good news to celebrate from Tuesdayās elections and there's more evidence they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.
Democrat Brandon Presley seeks big turnout in Nov. 7 bid to unseat Mississippi's Republican governor
Read full article: Democrat Brandon Presley seeks big turnout in Nov. 7 bid to unseat Mississippi's Republican governorDemocrat Brandon Presley is trying to block Republican Gov. Tate Reeves from winning a second term in Mississippi.
Mississippi sees spike in child care enrollment after abortion ban and child support policy change
Read full article: Mississippi sees spike in child care enrollment after abortion ban and child support policy changeMississippi's human services director says the state has seen a consistent increase in the number of families accepting public assistance for child care since lawmakers banned abortion in almost all circumstances.
Mississippi governorās brother asked auditor to praise Brett Favre during welfare scandal
Read full article: Mississippi governorās brother asked auditor to praise Brett Favre during welfare scandalAs Brett Favre became ensnared in media attention for his connection to Mississippiās sprawling welfare scandal, Gov. Tate Reevesā brother suggested the state official investigating the case praise the retired NFL quarterback.
Mississippi GOP Gov. Tate Reeves will face Democrat Brandon Presley in the November election
Read full article: Mississippi GOP Gov. Tate Reeves will face Democrat Brandon Presley in the November electionMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has defeated two primary challengers to clinch the Republican nomination for a second term.
Mississippi governor ignores low-budget challengers in GOP primary, focusing on Democrat in November
Read full article: Mississippi governor ignores low-budget challengers in GOP primary, focusing on Democrat in NovemberMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves barely acknowledges his two challengers in next weekās Republican primary.
Wasted welfare money sparks candidates' feud in election for Mississippi governor
Read full article: Wasted welfare money sparks candidates' feud in election for Mississippi governorThe Democrat trying to unseat Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is pushing hard to tie the Republican incumbent to tens of millions of dollars in welfare misspending that happened while Reeves was lieutenant governor.
Families with transgender kids are increasingly forced to travel out of state for the care they need
Read full article: Families with transgender kids are increasingly forced to travel out of state for the care they needFamilies around the U.S. are scrambling to navigate new laws that prohibit their transgender children and teenagers from accessing gender-affirming care.
A year after fall of Roe, 25 million women live in states with abortion bans or tighter restrictions
Read full article: A year after fall of Roe, 25 million women live in states with abortion bans or tighter restrictionsA year after the U.S. Supreme Court rescinded a five-decade-old right to abortion, 25 million women of childbearing age now live in states where the law makes abortions harder to get.
Tornadoes clobber Mississippi. Hours later, its governor attends Republican fundraiser in Alabama
Read full article: Tornadoes clobber Mississippi. Hours later, its governor attends Republican fundraiser in AlabamaMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves traveled to Alabama for a Republican fundraising event as people in his state were still reeling from death, injury and destruction from back-to-back storms.
No sign of Mississippi governor fulfilling pledge on campaign funds tied to welfare case
Read full article: No sign of Mississippi governor fulfilling pledge on campaign funds tied to welfare caseFinancial documents show no sign that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has fulfilled his pledge to give away campaign donations from people charged with misspending welfare money in the stateās largest public corruption case.
Transgender health: Comparing model bills to real proposals
Read full article: Transgender health: Comparing model bills to real proposalsAn Associated Press analysis has found that many of this yearās statehouse proposals to restrict gender-affirming care for youths are identical or very similar to some model legislation.
'Affront to democracy': Concern about appointing Mississippi judges where most are elected
Read full article: 'Affront to democracy': Concern about appointing Mississippi judges where most are electedThree residents of Mississippiās capital city say their rights are undermined by a new state law that would create a court inside Jackson with judges who are appointed.
Lawsuit: Mississippi violates rights by appointing judges
Read full article: Lawsuit: Mississippi violates rights by appointing judgesMississippi is violating its own constitution with a law that requires some judges to be appointed rather than elected in the stateās majority-Black capital city and its surrounding county.
Biden: Feds 'not leaving' Mississippi town hit by tornado
Read full article: Biden: Feds 'not leaving' Mississippi town hit by tornadoPresident Joe Biden pledged during his visit to a Mississippi town ravaged by a deadly tornado vowed that the federal government is ānot leavingā until the area is back on its feet.
Sheriff: Gunman kills 6, including ex-wife, in Mississippi
Read full article: Sheriff: Gunman kills 6, including ex-wife, in MississippiA Mississippi sheriff says a lone gunman killed six people including his ex-wife and stepfather at multiple locations in a small, rural town near the Tennessee state line.
Doctor, GOP governor clash over private Medicaid discussion
Read full article: Doctor, GOP governor clash over private Medicaid discussionA former University of Mississippi chancellor says Republican Gov. Tate Reeves spoke privately with him years ago about the benefits of expanding Medicaid to people in low-wage jobs.
EPA: Water in Mississippi's capital city is safe to drink
Read full article: EPA: Water in Mississippi's capital city is safe to drinkThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the water in Mississippi's capital city is now safe to drink, following months of sampling at a water treatment plant overwhelmed by late August flooding.
EPA civil rights case targets Mississippi over Jackson water
Read full article: EPA civil rights case targets Mississippi over Jackson waterThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced it is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the stateās majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements for its failing water system.
NAACP says Jackson's water problems are civil rights issue
Read full article: NAACP says Jackson's water problems are civil rights issueThe NAACP on Tuesday accused Mississippi of discriminating against Black residents by denying badly needed federal funds for drinking water infrastructure in Jackson and instead diverting money to largely-white communities that needed it less.
Funds to fix Jackson's water crisis held up as governor rose
Read full article: Funds to fix Jackson's water crisis held up as governor roseYears before he became Mississippi governor, Tate Reeves served as the state's treasurer and had a hand in delaying funds for water system repairs in the capital city of Jackson.
EPA preparing plan to help fix Jackson's water system
Read full article: EPA preparing plan to help fix Jackson's water systemEnvironmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan has returned to Mississippiās capital city to meet with Jackson officials about the cityās troubled water system.
Governor: Mississippi capital's water is again safe to drink
Read full article: Governor: Mississippi capital's water is again safe to drinkAfter nearly seven weeks of being forced to boil their water before drinking it or using it to brush teeth, people in Mississippiās largest city are being told that water from the tap is safe to consume.
EPA leader: Jackson needs 'fair share' of money to fix water
Read full article: EPA leader: Jackson needs 'fair share' of money to fix waterThe head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says he wants Mississippiās capital city to receive āits fair shareā of federal money to repair a troubled water system.
Some improvement seen as Jackson water woes continue
Read full article: Some improvement seen as Jackson water woes continueThe White House says the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will visit Mississippi's capital city on Friday as local, state and federal officials deal with a water system crisis.
Mississippi capital: Water everywhere, not a drop to drink
Read full article: Mississippi capital: Water everywhere, not a drop to drinkMississippiās capital city is struggling with multiple water problems ā there's been too much on the ground after heavy rainfall in the past week, and not enough safe water coming through the pipes for people to use.
Storms blamed in deaths of 3 in Michigan, Ohio, Arkansas
Read full article: Storms blamed in deaths of 3 in Michigan, Ohio, ArkansasSevere storms that brought damaging winds, heavy rains and flash flooding to parts of the Midwest and the South are being blamed for the deaths of three people, including two children in Michigan and Arkansas.
Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states
Read full article: Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from statesWhen the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a right to abortion, it sparked legal changes and court challenges in states nationwide.
Talk about race: Mississippi House passes bill to set limits
Read full article: Talk about race: Mississippi House passes bill to set limitsThe Republican-controlled Mississippi House has divided largely along lines of race and party in passing a bill that would limit how race can be discussed in classrooms.
Austin to governors: Guard troops must get COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: Austin to governors: Guard troops must get COVID-19 vaccineDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in letters to seven governors, is reaffirming the need for members of their states' Army and Air National Guards to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine or lose their Guard status.
Mississippi abortion activists protest as justices weigh ban
Read full article: Mississippi abortion activists protest as justices weigh banAbortion activists are protesting in Mississippiās capital as the state takes center stage in a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court case that could end a nationwide right to abortion.
Ida Updates: Neighboring states send assistance to Louisiana
Read full article: Ida Updates: Neighboring states send assistance to LouisianaMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that state and local emergency responders conducted 20 rescues from flooded areas in the stateās three coastal counties.
US drop in vaccine demand has some places turning down doses
Read full article: US drop in vaccine demand has some places turning down dosesDemand for the coronavirus vaccine has fallen off in some places around the United States to the point where some counties are turning down new shipments of doses.
A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key post
Read full article: A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key postVoting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate on March 24, confirmed Levine to be assistant secretary of health. She becomes the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. (Caroline Brehman/Pool via AP, File)Voting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate has confirmed former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be the nationās assistant secretary of health. She is the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. She won confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate.
Mississippi to increase lowest welfare payments in the US
Read full article: Mississippi to increase lowest welfare payments in the USā Mississippi will increase the lowest monthly welfare payments in the nation under a bill signed into law Wednesday by the state's Republican governor. The payments in Mississippi have been $146 for a family of two, $170 for a family of three and $194 for a family of four. AdEven with the increase, the Mississippi welfare payments will still be only a fraction of the federal poverty level, according to the liberal-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Brandon Jones, a Democratic former Mississippi House member and current policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund in Mississippi, called the increase long overdue. āThis $90 increase gets Mississippi off the bottom and is desperately needed by struggling families throughout the state."
A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key post
Read full article: A first: US Senate confirms transgender doctor for key postVoting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate on March 24, confirmed Levine to be assistant secretary of health. She becomes the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. (Caroline Brehman/Pool via AP, File)Voting mostly along party lines, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be the nationās assistant secretary of health. She is the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. She won confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate.
Medicaid incentive so far not enough to sway holdout states
Read full article: Medicaid incentive so far not enough to sway holdout statesHenry McMaster remains firmly opposed to the Medicaid expansion. The bump in federal funding would last two years for the states that join the Medicaid expansion. Laura Kelley this year called for legalizing medical use of marijuana and using the tax revenue to pay for expanding Medicaid. "Itās a nonstarter, and we will continue to oppose the liberal wish list item of Medicaid expansion,ā he said. Kay Ivey left open the possibility of expanding Medicaid at some point in the future, but there are no plans to do so.
Mississippi gov signs bill limiting transgender athletes
Read full article: Mississippi gov signs bill limiting transgender athletesTate Reeves signs the first state bill in the U.S. this year to ban transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams, as supporting lawmakers gather behind him, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Tate Reeves signed a bill Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or womenās sports teams. Alphonso David, president of the LGBTQ civil rights organization Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement Thursday that the Mississippi law could lead to more bullying of transgender people. āThis law is a solution in search of a problem, and legislators in Mississippi have not provided any examples of Mississippi transgender athletes gaming the system for a competitive advantage because none exist,ā David said. Republican legislators who pushed the bill gave no evidence of any transgender athletes competing in Mississippi schools or universities.
Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rules
Read full article: Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rulesTate Reeves decided to eliminate mask requirements, limits on seating in restaurants and most other binding restrictions. AdAlabamaās state health officer on Friday advised residents to keep following standard infection-prevention recommendations even though the governor is letting the stateās mask mandate expire next month. AdThe National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade association in the U.S., issued a statement Wednesday encouraging shoppers to wear masks. McDonaldās cook Cornejo, 43, said the end of Texasā mask mandate next week alarms her because several of her co-workers already were lax about keeping their faces covered. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, said individuals who wear masks still risk infection from unmasked shoppers and diners.