Stay up-to-date on what’s in the news with the Y’all Politics Daily Roundup.
YP – Small business optimism falls in May after previous high reports
Labor shortages continue to impact businesses across the U.S. and in Mississippi. Because numbers of unfilled jobs have stayed high small businesses are losing their optimism after a steady increase in 2021 after the crux of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NFIB reported a record high of 48% of business owners had unfilled job openings.
Mississippi leaders have worked to rectify this problem. Governor Tate Reeves announced that Mississippi would no longer receive federal unemployment benefits effective June 12. He said his decision came in order to help restore the economy of the state.
MSDH daily COVID-19 reporting
Today MSDH is reporting 57 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, 10 deaths, and 15 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. The state's #covid19 totals are now 318,578 cases, 7,343 deaths, and 918,204 persons fully vaccinated. Full information: https://t.co/YCv9xPyJDk pic.twitter.com/J5SjqkIwDN
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) June 8, 2021
YP – Captain James Wilson Appointed as Director of Auto Theft and Salvage
Captain James Wilson began his career with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) and later served with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI). Prior to his appointment to Director of Auto Theft and Salvage, Wilson served as the Director of the Criminal Information Center, Director of Safety Responsibility, Director of Driver Records, and Director of the Internal Affairs Division.
Wilson received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Alcorn State University. He is a graduate of the FBI Command College for Leadership and Organizational Success and the FBI National Academy.
“It is an honor to announce the appointment of Captain James Wilson to Director of Auto Theft and Salvage,” said Lieutenant Colonel Lee Morrison, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Director. “Captain Wilson’s extensive career in law enforcement and leadership experience make him the ideal candidate for the position.”
YP – AG Lynn Fitch Files Lawsuit Against Insulin Manufacturers and PBMs over Insulin Pricing Scheme
Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed a lawsuit yesterday at the Chancery Court of Hinds County against drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) working in tandem to manipulate and inflate insulin prices.
“As the mother of a diabetic, I know the emotional, physical, and financial toll the unconscionable price of insulin has on families,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I filed this lawsuit on behalf of every Mississippian who relies on this medication to survive. These companies are exploiting the vulnerable. I’m fighting back because you should never have to decide between paying the ever-increasing price of insulin or compromising your care.”
The complaint states, “Mississippi has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the United States with 13.6% of its population – over 400,000 people – living with diabetes… Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations and is the seventh leading cause of death in Mississippi despite the availability of effective treatment. Over 22% of all hospitalizations in Mississippi are attributable to diabetes.”
YP – PSC Commissioner Bailey Announces Approval of Two Telecom Carriers to Receive Millions in Funds for Broadband Expansion
Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey announced the final approval for federal funds to Aristotle Unified Communications LLC and Windstream Communications LLC to support the deployment of high-speed internet service to customers across six counties in the Central District.
The Commission conducted a special open meeting on Thursday. Following a unanimous vote by the Commission, Windstream Communications, LLC was approved to receive funds through the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase 1 Auction. Aristotle Unified Communications, LLC was approved by the Commission at a later date.
YP – Mississippi’s Senators, Congressmen raise concerns over Fauci, origins of COVID-19
Since the release of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s emails last week, many are questioning whether the White House Chief Medical Advisor should be allowed to stay in his role in the Biden Administration…
…Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) recently shared a Newsmax article where a Stanford epidemiologist called out Fauci on FoxNews.
“I think his credibility is entirely shot,” professor Jay Bhattacharya is quoted as saying, adding, “In the early days of the epidemic, he was quite a sensible person… He understood immunity, he understood the necessity of not panicking the population. Something happened in late February where he just flipped on a dime.”
Senator Hyde-Smith agreed with that assessment, posting on Facebook, “I can’t disagree with this: Anthony Fauci’s credibility is shot.”
YP – Bipartisan U.S. Senate Releases Report Investigating Failures at Capitol on January 6th
The Senate Rules Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which have been investigating the security, planning, and response to the invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, released a bipartisan report on Tuesday. It includes a series of recommendations for the Capitol Police Board, United States Capitol Police (USCP), federal intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense (DOD), and other Capital region law enforcement agencies.
According to the report, the Committees’ investigation uncovered a number of failures leading up to and on January 6th that allowed for the Capitol to be breached. These breakdowns ranged from federal intelligence agencies failing to warn of a potential for violence to a lack of planning and inadequate-preparation by USCP and law enforcement.
Magnolia Tribune
