YP – State economist says COVID-caused recession inevitable; impact could last till 2023
Senators sat for a hearing with State Economist Darrin Webb and Commissioner of Revenue Herb Frierson who both addressed the current financial impact COVID-19 is having on the state.
“I think this will be the most difficult choice for the State of Mississippi and their economics in the last 100 years that I’ve ever read about,” said Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann in regard to setting the state budget for next year amidst an unprecedented economic year…
…Projections currently indicate that the state might not show recovery from this economic impact until at least 2023. FY 2020 estimates represent a loss of $864.4 million below the November estimate and FY 2021 estimates show a decline of $367.1 million under estimates. Those reflect a shift of roughly $436 million from FY2020 to FY2021 due to late tax filing dates.
YP – Gov. Reeves delivers daily COVID-19 briefing
Today’s update focuses on case numbers, hospitalizations, testing, and delivering 2 million community masks to all 82 counties. The fight goes on.
YP – Hyde-Smith promotes bill to fix U.S. reserves of critical medical supplies
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) last week helped introduce legislation to strength U.S. supply chains and establish domestic reserves of critical medical supplies for future public health emergencies.
Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020, which would begin to rebuild the Strategic National Stockpile and strengthen domestic personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing to ensure better preparation for future public health emergencies.
MSDH: Coronavirus cases stand at 13,731 with 652 deaths
Today MSDH is reporting 273 new cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, with 17 new deaths. The total of #coronavirus cases since March 11 is now 13,731, with 652 deaths. See more case details and important preventive steps at https://t.co/QP8mlJ41AN pic.twitter.com/EG1er1cGZW
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) May 26, 2020
WLOX – COVID-drained tax revenues could force cities to considers furloughs, layoffs
Cities could be looking at furloughs and layoffs to cope with COVID-19-induced revenue loss, one mayor has said.
Gulfport tax revenues are down $1.4 million dollars in the last two months. In Biloxi, they are down $2 million, and that doesn’t include lost gaming tax revenues. Cities across the state and country are all in the same boat.
“We’re looking at everything from furloughs to layoffs to reorganization,” said Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes.
WJTV – MDES releases unemployment rate for April 2020
HATTIESBURG AMERICAN – Judge: Health Dept. must respond to public records request
A Mississippi judge ruled Tuesday that the state Health Department must respond to a newspaper’s public records request about long-term care facilities where outbreaks of the new coronavirus have occurred.
Hinds County Chancery Judge Tiffany Grove granted an emergency injunction in favor of Hattiesburg Publishing Inc., which owns the Pine Belt News.
Grove wrote that the Health Department has seven days to either provide information what the newspaper is requesting or cite a specific exemption in the state Public Records Act for denying the information.
Auditor White investigating unemployment fraud
For you, be aware this scheme is going on and be very skeptical if someone contacts you with any sort of get-rich scheme involving unemployment benefits.
Many times these schemes depend on help from "mules." Don't be a pawn in their game.
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— Shad White (@shadwhite) May 26, 2020
Rep. Porter to appear on Millennial Legislators Series
The #msleg begins tackling monumental challenges this week. Get an inside view of the action from Rep. Daryl Porter this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Our Millennial Legislators Speaker Series is fast, fun, & informative! Get a link to join here: https://t.co/ctOx5gb9eU #msedu pic.twitter.com/mvpTByW0ec
— Mississippi Collective (@TheMSCollective) May 26, 2020
