WTVA – Poll looks at one-on-one matchups in governor’s race
NBC News and SurveyMonkey revealed on Friday how Mississippians said they would vote if the election for governor was held now.
The online survey of more than 1,000 registered voters showed Republican Tate Reeves would defeat Democrat Jim Hood 51 percent to 42 percent. Six percent had no answer.
It also showed Republican Bill Waller would win over Hood 53 percent to 41 percent. Again, six percent had no answer.
Franklin Graham posts Facebook comment on Robert Foster
WJTV – Months in the making: WJTV to air one-and-only Republican debate Tues. night
DAILY JOURNAL – Candidates offer different Medicaid expansion ideas
The Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, allows states to expand eligibility for Medicaid, with federal funds covering a large share of the expansions costs. Mississippi has not accepted the expansion.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates, however, are openly campaigning on the idea of expanding Medicaid rolls, and even some Republican candidates are toying with versions of the idea.
Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Bill Waller and Robert Foster say they want Medicaid “reform” – a modified version of expansion, with certain work requirements or income-based requirements to pay premiums.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has promised that, if elected governor, he’ll continue to fight any expansion of Medicaid.
In the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican Delbert Hosemann has also discussed the idea.
CLARION LEDGER – What candidates for Governor are saying about roads and bridges, gas tax
Jim Hood: Hood would not say whether or not he would support raising the state’s gas tax to help pay for road and bridge fixes. While there has been legislative support for raising the tax in the past, Hood said legislators should first seek to “cut out this waste, and giveaways, and (bad) contracts” in state government, suggesting the savings could be used to fund some repairs. The gas tax “is a regressive tax, however it would capture a lot of out-of-state money — all of those trucks going up and down our highways,” he said. “You want to do it so that it’s the least burdensome on Mississippi taxpayers.”…
…Robert Foster: To pay for road and bridge repairs in Mississippi, Foster suggests shifting to a “use-based tax system” where gas and sales taxes are raised, but state personal income taxes are eliminated entirely. He said eliminating a personal income tax would also encourage more people and businesses to move to the Magnolia State.
Bill Waller Jr.: Waller supports raising the state’s gas tax to pay for maintenance of the state’s roads and bridges. Mississippi’s gas tax rate hasn’t been increased for three decades. “When you’re dealing with roads, it’s the purest user fee that exists, and if we can do it in a planned, deliberate way, we can minimize any burden (on drivers),” he said.
WTOK – Marijuana group still aiming for 2020 Mississippi ballot
A group petitioning to legalize medical marijuana in Mississippi says it needs about 28,700 more signatures to put the initiative on the November 2020 ballot.
Jamie Grantham is communications director for Medical Marijuana 2020. She said organizers have gathered more than 86,000 signatures. That’s about two-thirds of what’s needed.
Sen. Hyde-Smith takes on Rep. Omar to support Israel
Rep. Omar is wrong. Israel is one of America’s greatest allies. We should be doing all we can to support Israel. https://t.co/O9vqeWVgSV
— Cindy Hyde-Smith (@cindyhydesmith) July 20, 2019
WTOK – Number of jobs rises again to historic high in Mississippi
Mississippi’s unemployment rate in June 2019 was 5%, unchanged over the month from May 2019.
The June 2019 rate is three-tenths of a percentage point higher than a year ago, in June 2018, when the rate was 4.7%.
The number of non-farm jobs in Mississippi rose by 2,100 in June to 1,168,100, which are the most jobs ever recorded in Mississippi.
MBJ – Bill Crawford: Will humdinger primary finally yield a Republican attorney general?
Unless there is a big surprise in November, Mississippi’s next Attorney General will likely be one of these pro-life Republicans, Andy Taggart, Lynn Fitch, or Mark Baker.
Each would bring different strengths to one of the more complex offices in the state. The Attorney General serves as the state’s chief prosecutor, chief legal counsel representing all state agencies, and manager of over 100 lawyers, dozens of investigators, and scores of support staff, nearly 300 in all…
…This should be a humdinger primary with a likely runoff. Who will survive to take on Collins?
Democrat legislators show support for Hood for Governor
Great turnout at the Hinds County Democratic Party’s Get Out the Vote Rally today! Thank you to Senator Hillman Frazier, Senator Sollie Norwood, Rep. Earle Banks, and Rep. Jarvis Dortch for the support! #msgov #mselex pic.twitter.com/DaWRGAJHAx
— Jim Hood (@HoodForGovernor) July 20, 2019
WCBI – Attorney General candidate stops by Columbus coffee shop
NRA endorses Hosemann for Lt. Governor
“Delbert Hosemann will protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” NRA-PVF Chairman Jason Ouimet said. “The NRA encourages all freedom-loving Mississippians to vote Hosemann for Lieutenant Governor on August 6.”
View the NRA’s press release here: https://t.co/2gPbsHpf03. pic.twitter.com/g3u40h3Uw0
— Delbert Hosemann (@DelbertHosemann) July 19, 2019
WLOX – Mississippi’s Tax Free Holiday to include school supplies
Mississippi’s tax-free holiday is right around the corner, and thanks to new legislation, another category will be included in the tax break.
School supplies have been added to the list which already includes clothing and footwear.
Crowds of shoppers are expected to be heading out to stores on July 26 and July 27 to take advantage of the tax break.
NEWSMS – MDE: Students make significant gains on statewide assessment
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, the results of Mississippi’s statewide assessment of learning in pre-K and kindergarten show the majority of the state’s youngest students continue to make significant gains during the academic year.
Kindergarteners take a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in the fall and spring of each school year. In fall 2018, 36.9% of students scored kindergarten ready. When kindergarteners were retested in the spring of 2019, 65.6% of students met the end-of-year target score.
“Mississippi kindergarten teachers are continuing to do an outstanding job helping students build the foundational literacy skills they need to be successful in their education,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Reading instruction must remain a major focus through the 3rd grade so that all children complete elementary school with strong reading skills.”
Gov. Bryant: Buzz Aldrin still packs a punch
Buzz Aldrin, American Hero, still packs a punch.? https://t.co/yh6Oioiwd2
— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) July 21, 2019
WDAM – Pine Belt transportation agencies to benefit from grant announcement
The Mississippi Transportation Commission recently announced $10.1 million in funding for projects throughout the state.
The commission approved the Mississippi Department of Transportation to award grants to regional and municipal airports, railroads, ports and public transit systems.
Funding for the grants come from the Multi-modal Transportation Improvement Fund. Money from this fund is allocated specifically to support multi-modal grants each year. Grant applications, which include project details and funds requested, are reviewed and approved by a committee specific to each separate mode of transportation.
WTVA – Mental health services ending for thousands in Mississippi
Mental health services will soon end for thousands of adults and children in four Mississippi Gulf Coast counties because of a lack of funding.
News outlets report the Gulf Coast Mental Health Center notified the boards of supervisors in Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River and Stone counties that the grant-funded agency will be unable to fund services after Aug. 11. And, officials say they will inform the state’s chancery courts that the agency will be unable to accept involuntary commitments after Aug. 1.
Employees were notified Thursday of the pending closure.
Magnolia Tribune
