WJTV – Senate panel OKs last bit of teach pay for current year
WCBI – Bill calls for no Mid-Year cuts to MAEP
Mississippi currently has a surplus in its Rainy Day Fund.
If that money runs out, one lawmaker [State Sen. David Jordan] wants to make sure education is not impacted.
If the governor decides budget cuts are needed for state agencies to balance the budget, this bill would prevent MAEP from being touched.
Ivanka Trump thanks Sen. Wicker for hearing, legislation supporting Industries of the Future
Thank you @SenatorWicker, @CoryGardner & @SenateCommerce for introducing bipartisan legislation and holding a hearing on Industries of the Future with @USCTO. We must build upon the Admin’s work in AI, Quantum, & 5G and increase R&D funding in these critical technologies. https://t.co/wcvqLhxN7G
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) January 15, 2020
WLOX – Group of Mississippi physicians come out in support of medical marijuana initiative
A number of Mississippi physicians have voiced their support for Initiative 65, which would give sick Mississippians the option of using medical marijuana from licensed treatment facilities.
This after the Mississippi Board of Health released a statement expressing ‘strong opposition’ to the medical marijuana ballot initiative, pointing to what they say are known harms of using cannabis products.
The physicians supporting Initiative 65 say that the statement from the Mississippi Board of Health is “filled with misinformation and outdated arguments.”
WDAM – Hattiesburg mayor pushes for citywide camera system to reduce crime
After four different shootings over the weekend, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker and other city officials have pushed for a partnership with Project NOLA.
The partnership would bring a camera surveillance system to the city, but privacy concerns have some folks pushing back.
Barker’s Facebook post talking about the recent shootings in Hattiesburg has been shared more than 400 times. In it, he brings up Project NOLA, which is a nonprofit that works with cities, individuals and businesses to place cameras in needed areas to record potential crime.
Congressman Guest questions border agents about Wall
See my full statement here ⤵ https://t.co/sMEnhSlYgl
— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) January 15, 2020
DAILY LEADER – Mississippi board denies controversial landfill permit
Mississippi’s Department of Environmental Quality has denied a permit request that would have placed a third landfill inside a county where the project faces opposition.
The permit board voted 5-2 on Tuesday against NCL Waste’s request to establish a new trash dumping site in Madison County. If this latest landfill had been approved, Madison County would have had the most landfills of any county in Mississippi, news outlets reported. The board said it won’t consider any permits for the project until county supervisors decide whether they need another landfill in an updated needs assessment.
WJTV – Former Governor and First Lady attend History is Lunch event
DAILY JOURNAL – Mississippi could get piece of $20B rural broadband fund
Some 231,000 rural locations Mississippi could dip into a $20 billion pot for broadband access.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced this week initial estimates of how many homes and businesses in each state could benefit from Phase I of the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund…
…Several Mississippi rural electric cooperatives in recent months have voted to either study or roll out initiatives to provide broadband access to its customers.
The Mississippi Broadband Act passed last year by the state legislature allows electric power providers financial flexibilities like offering internet to customers outside of their electric service territories, allowing them to provide services in higher-population areas in order to fund the cost of expanding to more remote locations, teaming up and pooling their resources to lower costs, as well as federal grant opportunities to help cover some of the expenses.
Sen. Hyde-Smith comments on USMCA vote
I’m very happy the Appropriations Committee today approved U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement implementing legislation. Look forward to casting my vote to finalize the #USMCA this week. A #USMCAwin will build on MS exports and create jobs. https://t.co/tbker86Aek pic.twitter.com/pnv47cUpl0
— U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (@SenHydeSmith) January 15, 2020
WLOX – Mississippi Sound Coalition gathers support for laws to save the Sound
It’s a complicated problem that will require a complicated solution, and the Mississippi Sound Coalition is doing what it can to help lead the way.
The coalition voted today to urge the local governments in the coalition to:
*Support a project to restore the Lower Pearl River to it’s natural state
*Create a special federal management area in the Mississippi Sound
*Support the Mississippi Sound and Lake Pontchartrain Protection Act written by the Coalition.
Sen. Wicker issues statement on US-China trade deal
See my full statement here https://t.co/sMEnhSlYgl
— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) January 15, 2020
Congressman Palazzo reacts to signing of Phase 1 of trade deal with China
.@realDonaldTrump signed Phase One of the trade agreement between the United States and China today. The deal puts an end to unfair trade practices and levels the playing field for American workers. pic.twitter.com/VSRJHBwZtt
— Cong. Steven Palazzo (@CongPalazzo) January 16, 2020
