WJTV – Governor appoints Kenny Griffis to the Supreme Court
In a statement, Governor Phil Bryant praised Judge Griffis legal prowess.
“Judge Griffis has served exceptionally on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and his wealth of experience on the bench will prove very valuable as he moves into his new role,” Gov. Bryant said. “He has an outstanding legal mind and is highly respected among his peers. I have full faith Judge Griffis will be a real asset to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Additionally, I am thankful for Chief Justice Waller for admirably serving the people of Mississippi for more than 22 years on the state’s highest court, and I wish him well in retirement. The people of Mississippi owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Griffis has served since 2003 on the Court of Appeals for District 3, Position 2. He recently was named Chief Judge of the Court after the retirement of Chief Judge L. Joseph Lee.
WJTV – Governor taps state lawmaker to serve on Court of Appeals
Gov. Phil Bryant Appoints Representative Cory Wilson to the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
This announcement follows Court of Appeals Judge Kenny Griffis’ appointment to the Mississippi Supreme Court to fill retiring Justice Bill Waller’s seat.
“Cory has been a superb legislator for the people of Madison County and will be a wonderful judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals,” said Gov. Bryant. “He has an outstanding history of serving the people of the state of Mississippi in various roles, and this is only the next step for him in doing that. I am pleased he has accepted this appointment.”
NEWSMS – Buck Clarke announces run for Treasurer
Today, Senator Buck Clarke announced his candidacy for state Treasurer, citing his years of experience as a certified public accountant and fighting for conservative reforms in the legislature.
“My political philosophy is out of the pages of National Review and the Reagan Revolution,” said Clarke, a state senator who has championed smaller government, lower taxes and less spending. “Government in Mississippi holds us back when it taxes and spends too much. Mississippians succeed when we are allowed to keep more of what we earn to invest in new jobs and opportunity.”
Clarke says he has fought for years in the Senate against special interests who demand more taxes and spending.
“Every special interest in Jackson thinks it can spend your money better than you,” said Clarke. “I’ve fought that as a Senator. I’m a die-hard conservative who has seen every trick in the book when it comes to more spending, borrowing and taxing. Having a Treasurer who will be an advocate for the taxpayers instead of special interests matters. Having a Treasurer with the experience not to have the wool pulled over their eyes matters.”
CLARION LEDGER – Impeach Trump? Trent Lott: Impeaching Bill Clinton ‘probably should not have been done’
Democrats who are contemplating impeaching President Donald Trump after they take control of the House of Representatives next month are considering a cautionary tale: what happened the last time a president was impeached.
President Bill Clinton survived, but his top accuser, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, didn’t, and it was the Republican Party that lost seats in the next election.
Trent Lott, then the Senate majority leader, was one of 45 senators who voted to convict Clinton, but he has second thoughts of his own. “I do think he made mistakes,” Lott said in an interview. “But in retrospect, I think it probably should not have been done.”
VICKSBURG POST – HUD head Dr. Ben Carson, Bryant to tour sawmill
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson and Gov. Phil Bryant will be in Vicksburg Thursday to tour Vicksburg Forest Products LLC, 1725 North Washington St.
According to Information from HUD, Carson, who is chairman of the Opportunity and Revitalization Council organized by President Donald Trump, and Bryant will be visiting opportunity zones in Vicksburg and Jackson. The Vicksburg Forest Products visit at 10:30 a.m. is the first of two visits in the area. Carson and Bryant will visit a business in Jackson at 1:45 p.m.
The president signed an executive order establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council Dec. 12.
Sen. Hyde-Smith oversees vote to make lynching a federal crime
EARLIER TODAY: Senate votes to make lynching a federal crime https://t.co/H7ELw2pngL pic.twitter.com/RzsmL21Vbk
— The Hill (@thehill) December 20, 2018
WTOK – Webster County sheriff arrested on felony charges
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday that Sheriff Tim Mitchell has been arrested on multiple felony charges.
The 53-year-old Mitchell, of Eupora, was charged with two counts of embezzlement, two counts of trafficking in stolen firearms, one count of attempting sex and/or sexual acts with an inmate, one count of tampering with physical evidence, three counts of retaliation against a witness, one count of permitting possession and/or sale of controlled substances in jail and two counts of furnishing an inmate with weapons, cellphone and narcotics.
Mitchell was serving his second term as sheriff at the time of his arrest.
NEWSMS – Mississippi leaders debate statewide testing
State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Carey Wright, believes that all state testing and ACT testing should remain the same.
“I stand firm that our statewide assessment is an outstanding assessment and a valid reliable assessment,” said Dr. Wright. “Its gone through all of the measures and it aligns to our standards.”
She stated that Mississippi has continued to make progress every year and that our children are reaching proficiency and beyond…
…State Representative Tom Miles said we need to do whatever makes it easiest to limit the testing burdens for our students.
“When you talk to parents, teachers and administrators, they want to go in the direction of the ACT,” said Miles. “They understand that we have to have federal requirements, but at the end of the day, the question is, ‘Can it be done?’”
He added that it can be done, but said here in Mississippi, we are choosing not to do it.
