YP – Statewide officials sworn in
Statewide officials were sworn in on the floor of the Mississippi House of Representatives on Thursday. The ceremony took place during a Joint Legislative Session in which members of the Senate joined those in the House on the floor.
The searing in included seven of the eight statewide officials. The only one left is Governor Tate Reeves who will take office next Tuesday, January 14. All eight offices are held by Republicans.
YP – Mike Espy qualifies to run for U.S. Senate
With his family and Chairman Bobby Moak looking on, Mike Espy walked in to the Mississippi Democratic Headquarters and held a press conference to announce that he was qualifying to run for U.S. Senate again.
This time, Espy says, he believes he has a better chance at defeating sitting Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith with a longer campaign season ahead and what he hopes is the opportunity at more funding to support his cause.
WJTV – Mississippi House passes bill to cover gap in teacher raise
YP – Biloxi Councilman challenging Congressman Palazzo
#MS04: Third primary challenger qualifies against @CongPalazzo.https://t.co/rY7gf2tQHc
— Yall Politics (@MSyallpolitics) January 9, 2020
YP – Tulp challenging Congressman Guest
#MS03: @jamestulp qualifies to challenge @RepMichaelGuest in @MSGOP primary.https://t.co/gq9tEodflq
— Yall Politics (@MSyallpolitics) January 10, 2020
CLARION LEDGER – Will Phil Bryant issue pardons on his way out like other Mississippi governors?
Gov. Phil Bryant, who departs Tuesday, said he plans to grant zero pardons.
The Republican has long said he’s against them. If he sticks to his pledge, he would be the only Mississippi governor in recent history not to approve any clemency applications. Governors have the power to reduce criminal sentences as well as forgive crimes.
“I just don’t think it’s right,” Bryant told the Clarion Ledger on Thursday. “I even asked the Legislature to do away with that authority. We would have had to change the Constitution. I just don’t think because I get elected governor, I just get to arbitrarily say, ‘You murdered someone, but I can make that go away.’ That sounds like some feudal king that has that authority.
WLOX – From the Coast to the Capitol, Michael Watson sworn in as Secretary of State
Jackson County’s Michael Watson was sworn in as Secretary of State, replacing Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann who’s leaving to lead the Senate.
With his wife and three children by his side, Michael Watson became Mississippi’s 36th Secretary of State on Thursday. It was an emotional experience for the former state senator who grew up in Pascagoula.
“The American dream is tied up in this office,” Watson said.
Before being sworn in, Watson sat down with WLOX in his new office. He’s the first person from the Coast to win a statewide election in two decades.
YP – MDOC contracts with private company to house Parchman inmates
BREAKING: MDOC contracts with private prison company to house Parchman inmates #msleg READ MORE>>https://t.co/g4ij0MVvBD
— Yall Politics (@MSyallpolitics) January 9, 2020
WTVA – Attorney Carlos Moore to be reprimanded
The state tribunal handling attorney complaints ordered the reprimand after the Mississippi Bar brought the complaint against Moore for what he did with BP oil spill settlement money for one of his clients.
The tribunal said Moore collected his fees and expenses, then paid the rest of the money to his client. However, another lawyer was supposed to get some of the money.
Moore’s client got a loan from that lawyer to buy a bulldozer, and the settlement money was supposed to go to the lawyer if the loan wasn’t paid back.
