Marco downgraded as Laura looms next
Hurricane Marco was downgraded to a tropical storm in the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Marco is expected to make landfall today along the Louisiana coast.
Tropical Storm Laura is projected to be a Hurricane by Tuesday, with it current path taking it towards the Louisiana/Texas border.
Governor Reeves declares state of emergency ahead of storms
Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency in preparation and response to Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco, which are expected to make landfall early next week.
“This has happened ten times since 1869 that two storms are anticipated to hit the United States of America within a one week period. We are monitoring very closely both Tropical Storm Marco and Tropical Storm Laura,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Both of these storms have a number of landmasses that they have to likely go over, and we know that that brings significant lack of predictability. We have a lot to learn about these storms over the next two or three days before we know for sure what’s going to occur.”
YP – Legislature set to reconvene Monday to pass DMR budget
Mississippi House and Senate leaders will call their chambers back to the Capitol on Monday afternoon. They say the plan is to pass a pre-negotiated budget for the Department of Marine Resources.
Governor Tate Reeves told the press earlier this week that he was in discussions with legislative leaders to try and reach an agreement to have the agency funded, leaving open the possibility that he would be forced to call a special session. However, it appears that calling legislators will not be necessary as they will return on their own.
WJTV – Jackson city councilman running for House District 66 seat
Jackson City Councilman De’Keither Stamps is running for the House District 66 seat.
MSDH: Cases near 78k
Today MSDH is reporting 626 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, 3 deaths, and 172 active outbreaks in long-term care facilities. The total of #covid19 cases for the year is now 77,894, with 2,240 deaths. Case details and prevention guidance at https://t.co/QP8mlJ41AN pic.twitter.com/4SIb5CWiIv
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) August 23, 2020
YP – MSDH: Drive-Through Testing Sites Now Available for Teachers
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will be hosting drive-through COVID-19 testing sites for Mississippi teachers and staff at various county health departments over the next few weeks.
Any K-12 teacher, staff or administrator can be tested for free at the county health department locations below. Testing hours are noon to 7 p.m., and no appointment is necessary.
Visit the MSDH website at www.HealthyMS.com/locations for addresses of the county health departments.
WTVA – Mississippi to receive federal Lost Wages Grant
81.jpg)
Mississippians who are unemployed because of the coronavirus pandemic can now receive $300 a week in addition to their unemployment benefits.
FEMA Administrator, Pete Gaynor, approved Mississippi for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program.
FEMA’s grant funding will allow Mississippi to provide $300 per week on top of their regular unemployment benefit to those unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Republican Convention gets underway with Mississippians on hand
Proud to represent the @MSGOP at this year’s RNC summer meeting and national convention. Mississippi has a long history of leadership in the @GOP. Our extraordinary national committeewoman Jeanne Luckey was appointee by @GOPChairwoman to chair the Committee on Contests. pic.twitter.com/i7Nlef49fa
— Lucien Smith 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 (@LucienSmith) August 22, 2020
WLOX – Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes on Mississippi Aquarium opening, CARES Act spening
Lots of activity happening in downtown Gulfport as the Mississippi Aquarium prepares to open. Mayor Billy Hewes is here to talk about that and how Gulfport is using CARES Act money.
Watch the full interview here.
YP – Wicker: Postal Service Is Fully Equipped for Election
Presidential elections are often the subject of misinformation. Unfortunately, some of the most vocal proponents of the latest conspiracy theory are members and leaders of the United States Congress. This past week, a pair of House Democrats called on the FBI to investigate Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Their allegation is that Mr. DeJoy is intentionally slowing down mail deliveries and undermining his own organization in an effort to affect mail ballots in the November election.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed this unfounded claim by accusing the President of “manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters.” She has called the House back into session to “save the Postal Service” because “lives, livelihoods, and the life of our American Democracy are under threat from the President.” This theory has no basis in fact. Yet Speaker Pelosi’s words have ignited a media firestorm around the USPS, leading to unnecessary fears about the upcoming election.
Congressman Thompson supports Democrats’ Post Office funds
Today, I look forward to voting for H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act. This critical bill saves the U.S. Postal Service and the right to vote from the Trump Administration’s ongoing assaults. #DontMessWithUSPS pic.twitter.com/83pfoQpjJ7
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) August 22, 2020
WJTV – Protesters call for prison reform in Mississippi
The Mississippi Prison Reform Coalition protested Saturday afternoon. They called for Governor Tate Reeves to put people over politics when it comes to making laws that affect those who are incarcerated.
MBJ – BILL CRAWFORD: Gunn out to limit Reeves’ spending authority
Back to Speaker Gunn. So far, the Senate does not agree with him on GOMESA spending, seeing this more as a process issue than a control issue. A number of senators, including Sen. Scott DeLano of Biloxi, are concerned that some projects approved by Gov. Bryant did not conform to GOMESA guidelines. DeLano told WLOX he wants to make sure the money is going to worthy projects to enhance water quality and fisheries.
Unless this is just Gunn getting back at Reeves for stifling House favored projects while he served as lieutenant governor, memorializing GOMESA guidelines in statute might be more appropriate than individual project approval.
But, that won’t work if Gunn’s goal is to take away all governor spending authority…
…This Gunn-fight with Reeves could turn into all-out war. If so, how long can Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and the Senate stay on the sidelines?
State Economist Webb to retire
https://twitter.com/EconMs/status/1297850221888765953?s=20
Magnolia Tribune
