Stay up-to-date on what’s in the news with the Y’all Politics Daily Roundup.
YP – Mississippi leaders react to President Biden’s address to Congress
President Joe Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday evening, highlighting what he believes to be successes from his Administration’s first 100 days in office and outlining his legislative agenda for the months ahead.
Mississippi’s federal delegation was quick to respond, with the state’s Republicans taking issue with much of what the President put forward while the lone Democrat representing the Magnolia State in D.C. seemed pleased with his party’s occupant of the White House.
YP – Challenges could come to previous ballot initiatives if MS Supreme Court rules against Initiative 65
The Court has yet to make their ruling as to whether or not the medical marijuana program could be shut down, but some in support of Initiative 65 have already indicated that they will challenge previous ballot initiatives certified in the same way.
Marcy Croft of the Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association told Paul Gallo on the SuperTalk morning show that if the state Supreme Court invalidates Initiative 65 she will personally file an action challenging Voter ID. Croft said she will not be doing so as a representative of MCTA, but as an individual.
However, she is hopeful it won’t come to that.
“I don’t think our Supreme Court is going to do that looking at the law, looking at the facts,” said Croft.
MSDH daily COVID-19 reporting
Today MSDH is reporting 161 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, 2 deaths, and 29 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. The state's total of #covid19 cases is now 311,654, with 7,195 deaths. More on case details, vaccinations and prevention: https://t.co/YCv9xPyJDk pic.twitter.com/yfGaLr5JCz
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) April 29, 2021
YP – Mississippi Senate set to equip an additional committee room with webcasting before 2022 session
Hosemann and the Mississippi Senate have led the effort to webcast committee meetings, in addition to floor debate, to increase transparency in the legislative process. After the first emergency order related to the pandemic was issued in March 2020, the Senate began webcasting its meetings in Room 216, the former courtroom of the Mississippi Supreme Court. In January, the Senate added Room 409, the next largest Senate committee room to its webcasted spaces.
Room 210 on the Senate side of the Capitol is currently being equipped with webcasting technology, and will be ready to broadcast by the 2022 Legislative Session.
Almost 158,823 views generated in the past year were from people located in Mississippi, according to analytics from YouTube, with the next highest amount at 17,500 from Georgia. Viewers were from all 50 states. During the 2021 Legislative Session, 77 percent of those watching were under 54 years of age. About 22 percent of viewers were under 34 years of age.
YP – Bids being received for construction of new VA Home on Mississippi Gulf Coast
Mississippi Veterans Affairs Executive Director Stacey Pickering joined Y’all Politics to talk about the progress being made on the new VA Home on the Gulf Coast at Tradition. He also provided an update on how the state’s veterans are doing as COVID-19 protocols have been relaxed, allowing families to reunite and visit.
Pickering said 30% of Mississippi’s veterans live in the state’s lower three counties of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson. The closest VA nursing facility is nearly two hours north in Collins, making it difficult on families to access the care and services those veterans deserve.
YP – Senator Hyde-Smith responds to Biden’s speech and talks current work happening in Washington
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith sat down with Y’all Politics to discuss her reaction to President Joe Biden’s speech on Wednesday night in which he talked about his American Jobs Plan, free community college for two years and free preschool for two years.
Hyde-Smith expressed her concerns as to whether or not that was an actual financial reality for the country at this time. She also touched on Republican Senator Tim Scott’s response to the President’s remarks.
YP – Congressman Palazzo recaps Biden’s first address to Congress, expresses concerns over John Kerry
Mississippi’s 4th District Congressmen Steven Palazzo joined Y’all Politics Thursday afternoon to recap President Joe Biden’s address to Congress. He spoke to the Democrats’ efforts to “weaken America,” as he sees it, through policies that will have lasting negative generational impacts.
Palazzo also expressed his concerns over President Biden’s Climate Czar John Kerry after reports surfaced that Kerry leaked military secrets to Iran concerning U.S. ally Israel.
YP – Wicker, Schatz, Hyde-Smith Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., along with 47 other senators today reintroduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021. The bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to safely connect with their doctors.
“Telehealth is enabling more people to receive the care they need, leading to improved outcomes and lower costs,” Wickersaid. “This bipartisan legislation would build on the success of telehealth in states like Mississippi to eliminate existing barriers and expand access to lifesaving care for more Americans.”
YP – School District Looks to Reduce Ineffective Spending With Help from State Auditor
A partnership with the State Auditor has helped the Starkville Oktibbeha School District (SOSD) identify ways it could spend more money inside its classrooms. A report released by the State Auditor’s office today shows the school district could save up to $5.3 million by eliminating ineffective annual spending.
“The Starkville Oktibbeha School District expressed interest in improving their spending and operations,” said Auditor White, “and I was excited to partner with them to tackle ineffective education spending in Oktibbeha County.”
The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor also partnered with the advanced data analytics firm GlimpseK12 for this performance audit.
WLOX – Mississippi Gaming Commission rolls back COVID-19 restrictions
Beginning on Friday evening, all casinos in Mississippi will no longer be required to implement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including masks and social distancing.
The Mississippi Gaming Industry released a letter Thursday saying all requirements related to COVID-19 that were previously mandated on March 4 will be canceled on April 30. The ordinance goes into effect at 5 p.m. statewide.
Casinos are still required to abide by state and local rules for ordinances pertaining to COVID-19.
WLBT – Sales taxes exceeding expectations in several Mississippi cities
Several area cities say things are looking up when it comes to local businesses. In Ridgeland they’ve seen a five percent growth in sales tax collections in the first seven months of the fiscal year…
…Flora, Madison and Canton also are reporting sales tax revenues exceeding expectations. In Flora, Mayor Leslie Childress says the surrounding community kept his businesses thriving even through the pandemic.
