YP – Wicker Reflects on George Floyd, Medgar Evers, and Juneteenth
My colleague U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a black Republican, is developing legislation that would improve police training in de-escalation tactics and increase accountability for officers who use excessive force. I look forward to its consideration by the full Senate.
As we consider reforms such as these, we should also renew our commitment to building bridges across lines that have too often divided us. Now is a time for us to come together, to look to the future, and to listen. We may not agree on everything, but we know that love covers a multitude of sins and paves the way for healing and trust. That is an outcome for which we should all strive.
Reeves celebrates Flag Day, Trump’s birthday
YP – Gov. Reeves provides updates on COVID-19 and other measures being taken to ensure safety
YP – Mike Espy’s money coming from increasingly radical wing of Democratic party
Though he tried to portray his candidacy as that of a unifying moderate in the 2018 race to succeed Thad Cochran, Mississippi Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy, like many other Democrats across the nation, utilizes ActBlue as the donation portal to fuel his 2020 campaign. That was evident in the April FEC filing where some $224,000 was funneled through ActBlue to Espy.
By its own definition, ActBlue is a platform available to Democrat candidates and committees, progressive organizations, and nonprofits that share their values. The majority of the top users benefiting from ActBlue’s services are those on the far left of the political spectrum.
And it also just so happens to be the same platform being used by Black Lives Matter to support their movement to “Defund the Police.”
MS Legislative Black Caucus: State flag should be changed by Legislature
Jackson County Chamber calls for new state flag
WDAM – Hattiesburg protesters call for change, equality
As well as a continuous cry for change, not only in revamping how police departments approach and treat minorities, but also in removing symbols that many consider repressive and racist.
“Tear it down, tear it down, tear it down,” came in response from the crowd to a stream of speakers’ demands that the Forrest County Confederate monument be removed from its place adjacent to the courthouse near the corner of Main and Eaton streets.
“We are looking at a statute of a great man who fought for all of us,” Ward 2 Hattiesburg Councilwoman Deborah Delgado said, gesturing eastward in the other direction toward the more recently installed memorial to Civil Rights figure Vernon Dahmer.
Forrest County District 4 Supervisor Rod Woullard got one of the largest roars during the two-hour rally when he said he intended to make a motion in Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, asking that monument be removed.
WTVA – Oxford mayor addresses Confederate statue on courthouse lawn
Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill issued a statement Friday in regards to relocating the Confederate statue from the lawn of the Lafayette County Courthouse.
Her statement below:
“During my years serving as an Alderman and now as Mayor of the City of Oxford, I have received numerous inquiries about relocating the Confederate statue from the lawn of the Lafayette County Courthouse. As the Mayor of Oxford, I have no authority over county property – nor does the Oxford Board of Aldermen. It has long been my view that the statue needs to be moved to a more appropriate place. Just like the current Mississippi state flag does not represent our diverse state or our desire to make every resident and visitor feel welcome, the Confederate statue does not represent our diverse community and certainly does not make every resident or visitor feel welcome. I echo Chancellor Glenn Boyce’s sentiment that we should not allow our past to prevent the cultivation of a better present and future.”
MSDH: Coronavirus cases up to 19,516 with 891 deaths
Today MSDH is reporting 168 new cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, with 2 new deaths. The total of #coronavirus cases since March 11 is now 19,516, with 891 deaths. See more case details and important preventive steps at https://t.co/QP8mlJ41AN pic.twitter.com/XSeNxznhjP
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) June 14, 2020
WTOK – State Senator discusses teacher pay raise
The Senate passed a bill in February to give most teachers a $1,000 pay raise and a larger raise for incoming teachers during the budget year that begins July 1st. However, as a result of budget concerns amid the pandemic, the bill died at the Mississippi Capitol. State Senator Tyler McCaughn of District 31 hopes this issue is addressed again in the near future for the sake of the younger teachers and those interested in entering the profession.
“We hope in the future that we can come back to this issue. I expect you would have the same unanimous consent from the senate side to make sure this is a priority on our agenda. We’re not done with this yet. There’s still a little hope out there that we could revive it. Unfortunately, I am concerned that it is dead this year. But I promise you will be back looking at this next year,” said State Senator Tyler McCaughn of District 31.
WJTV – Mississippi Senate confirms keeping Medicaid director on job
The director of the Mississippi Medicaid program has received approval to remain on the job.
The state Senate on Thursday confirmed Gov. Tate Reeves’s nomination of Drew Snyder to continue leading the government health insurance program for the needy.
Snyder had held the job the past two years after being chosen by Reeves’s predecessor as governor, fellow Republican Phil Bryant.
MERIDIAN STAR – Analysis: Mississippi could erase multistep election system
Mississippi voters might get a chance to purge a Jim Crow-era provision from the state constitution and simplify the process of electing the governor and other statewide officials.
Legislators are close to agreeing on House Concurrent Resolution 47. It would put a proposal on the ballot this November, letting people decide whether to erase an Electoral College-type provision from the state’s 1890 constitution. The proposal says that a candidate who wins a majority of the popular vote would win a statewide election. If nobody receives a majority in a race with three or more candidates, the top two would go to a runoff.
SOS Watson: Absentee voting underway for 2nd Congressional District runoff
Circuit Clerks’ offices in Congressional District 2 will be open on Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. until noon to allow voters the opportunity to cast an absentee ballot for the 2nd Congressional District Republican runoff election. #YallVote #MSelex #TrustedInfo2020 pic.twitter.com/cSXKl6Kvem
— Mississippi Secretary of State's Office (@MississippiSOS) June 12, 2020
