YP – Mississippi legislators may be poised to vote on a state flag alternative next week
Though details remain murky, there are several legislators commenting on the record that they expect a proposal for a vote regarding the Mississippi state flag sometime next week during the last scheduled week of legislative session.
Talk was rampant around the state capitol today as legislators huddled in conference committee meetings trying to attend to the final stages of a COVID-19 interrupted legislative session. Meanwhile, there were reports of various groups of Senators and Representatives meeting throughout the capitol on the flag issue.
Philip Gunn, Speaker of the House, seems to indicate legislative solutions could range from a referendum to some sort of flag change or multi-flag alternative.
<<READ MORE: YP – Real movement on the Mississippi flag issue . . . and what everyone needs to understand>>
WLOX – ‘Stennis Flag’ becomes ‘Hospitality Flag’ as creator steps down
Stennis announced in her note she is leaving because of the hurt and potential harm that her last name could cause.
Laurin Stennis is the granddaughter of the late U.S. Senator John C. Stennis, who served 41 years before retiring in 1989. He was segregationist for much of his career.
The flag design which contains red vertical bars on each side and a white center with a large blue star encircled by 19 smaller ones appears to have been renamed the “Hospitality Flag” according to the flag’s website.
MS Democratic Party issues statement supporting flag change
#TakeDownTheFlag#TakeItDown pic.twitter.com/9BgPCAuV6k
— MS Democratic Party (@msdemocrats) June 20, 2020
YP – Mississippi direct wine ship bill headed to the governor for signature
Mississippians will likely soon be able to order hard to get wines shipped direct to their local package store. This comes after years of legal wrangling that at one point featured a lawsuit brought by former Attorney General Jim Hood who sued out of state companies for shipping into Mississippi directly.
The HB 1088 conference committee report was adopted in both houses and will soon head to Governor Tate Reeves. The bill will allow Mississippi consumers to ship up to 10 full cases from any winery directly to their local package store each year starting in January 2021.
MSDH reports COVID-19 hospitalizations
MSDH is reporting 483 persons currently in Mississippi hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 infection as of June 20. Another 179 persons are currently hospitalized with suspected COVID-19. Find more COVID-19 information and guidance at https://t.co/QP8mlJ41AN pic.twitter.com/u3qfUKcKOF
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) June 22, 2020
Congressman Thompson says President puts thousands at risk with rally
By going forward with his rally, President Trump is putting thousands of people at risk. He should listen to the medical experts.
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) June 20, 2020
YP – Robinson, Walker vie for HD 88 in Tuesday’s Special Election
The special election to fill the vacancy left by former freshman legislator Ramona Blackledge in House District 88 is Tuesday, June 23rd.
Blackledge resigned from the Mississippi House of Representatives in January following the squabble over a handful of lawmakers collecting both their legislative compensation and state retirement through PERS.
Three candidates qualified for the HD 88 seat: Robin Robinson, Michael Walker and Jason Dykes. However, Dykes has since withdrawn his candidacy and has stated he will not take the office if elected, per the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office.
YP – MS-02 Republican Congressional Runoff features Flowers, Carey; winner will face Thompson
The Republican Primary runoff election in the 2nd Congressional District is set for Tuesday, June 23rd. This will determine which Republican candidate will face Democrat Incumbent Congressman Bennie Thompson in the November General Election.
On the ballot will be Brian Flowers and Thomas Carey.
#MSSen: Warren endorses Espy
I’m so grateful to receive @ewarren’s endorsement today. Senator Warren is a Democratic leader who fights from the heart for working families.
It’s an honor to have her on #TeamEspy! https://t.co/gnmXhVU7lc
— Mike Espy (@MikeEspyMS) June 20, 2020
Espy appears on MSNBC with other black candidates
“This New South – which is bold, diverse, and inclusive – is about closing a chapter on the old South and starting a very new one.”
My brothers on this panel all share my vision of a New South and I’m honored to be fighting alongside them to make it a reality. pic.twitter.com/jyncQEK6Ss
— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) June 21, 2020
WLOX – Moss Point mayor shares painted message of ‘Black Lives Matter’ on street in front of city hall
The trend of painting the message “Black Lives Matter” on roads and streets has made its way to South Mississippi.
Early Saturday morning, Moss Point mayor Mario King took to social media to show off the street in front of city hall that now says “Black Lives Matter.”
Magnolia Tribune
