YP – Biden’s gun control measures draw reaction from Mississippi political leaders
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced steps to “curb the epidemic of gun violence” in the United States, a problem he believes is also a public health crisis.
“Every day in this country, 316 people are shot. Every single day. A hundred and six of them die every day,” President Biden said in the White House Rose Garden surrounded by Administration officials, Congressional leaders, and families of those who have died, referencing recent incidences in Georgia and Colorado. “This is an epidemic, for God’s sake. And it has to stop.”
The President said he asked Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to identify “immediate, concrete actions I could can take now without having to go through the Congress.”
MSDH daily COVID-19 reporting
Today MSDH is reporting 117 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, no deaths, and 15 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. The state's total of #covid19 cases is now 307,449, with 7,096 deaths. More on case details, vaccinations and prevention: https://t.co/YCv9xPyJDk pic.twitter.com/6iA7Ug1Br4
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) April 11, 2021
YP – SENATOR WICKER: Coca-Cola, MLB Spreading Lies
In recent days, prominent members of the media, government, and big business have spread a wildfire of misinformation about a newly-passed voting law in Georgia. Critics have panned the law as “Jim Crow 2.0” and “voter suppression.” President Biden has denounced it as “un-American.” Corporate executives have piled on as well. The CEOs of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola and Delta have condemned the legislation, and Major League Baseball has decided to punish Georgia by moving this year’s All-Star Game out of Atlanta – a decision MLB’s former commissioner, Fay Vincent, called a “serious mistake.”
If these individuals actually took time to read the bill, they would learn that it makes voting easier in Georgia, not harder. The law expands the window for early voting, allows no excuse mail-in voting to continue, adds 100 new ballot drop boxes, and allows voters to get a government-issued ID at no charge. It also makes elections more transparent by prohibiting ballot counters from stopping the count in the middle of the night. The idea that these changes are somehow akin to the oppression of Jim Crow is a complete falsehood designed to inflame divisions in this country. Those who have spread this lie should be ashamed of themselves.
PSC Commissioners continue broadband rollout
Excited to join members of the legislature, leadership and staff from East MS Connect, and my fellow Commissioners in Meridian, MS today to present a signed copy of the order releasing $38 million of federal funds awarded through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). 1/2 pic.twitter.com/kUnzJIi6GF
— Dane Maxwell (@DaneMaxwellMS) April 9, 2021
Congressman Thompson visits El Paso
LIVE NOW: Tune in to watch my press conference with Chairman @BennieGThompson and El Paso Leaders as we discuss Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas’ Visit to El Paso 👇🏽https://t.co/83cuG7zl9L
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) April 8, 2021
MBJ – BILL CRAWFORD: State indifference leads to “hungriest county”
With unemployment decreasing, jobs growing, and state tax revenues up, rosy days lie ahead for Mississippi’s economy. “The outlook for our economy is pretty optimistic for the state and for the nation,” state economist Corey Miller told Mississippi Today.
But not for all parts of the state.
Consider Jefferson County in southwest Mississippi. No boom looming there. This rural county, population 6,990, looks to continue suffering persistently high unemployment. The unemployment rate for 2021 averages 16.3%, higher than last year; the highest average since 2014. The state averages 6.2%.
