Stay up-to-date on what’s in the news with the Y’all Politics Daily Roundup.
YP – State Senate District 32 special election runoff is Tuesday
Rod Hickman and Dr. Minh Duong will face off in a special election runoff for State Senate District 32 in Mississippi.
Hickman led a field of 9 candidates in the November 2nd special election to fill the open Senate seat. He drew 23% of the vote. The runner-up was Dr. Minh Duong who carried 21% of the vote.
Since then, both candidates have picked up endorsements in the race. While special elections are non-partisan, Hickman has been backed by the head of the Mississippi Democratic Party, among other Democratic officials, while Duong has been endorsed by three of the initial nine candidates in the race.
YP – U.S. Supreme Court issues opinion in Mississippi interstate groundwater case
The case involved groundwater from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, which borders Tennessee and Mississippi. Mississippi alleges that Tennessee’s pumping has taken hundreds of billions of gallons of water that were once located beneath Mississippi. It sought at least $615 million in damages, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief.
“At its core, this case is about state sovereignty,” Attorney General Lynn Fitch said when the case was before the Court. “Our Tennessee neighbors have pumped billions of gallons of groundwater out of Mississippi and across the border for their own profit. Just as fences make good neighbors, a strong decision by the Court that this violates basic principles of state sovereignty will serve Mississippi and all other states well.”
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in Mississippi v. Tennessee. The Court overruled Mississippi’s exceptions to the Special Master’s report, sustained Tennessee’s, and dismissed the case. The Court found that Mississippi failed to show that it is entitled to relief.
YP – Mississippi officials, media react to Rittenhouse acquittal
Opinions on verdict clearly split down left, right ideological lines.
On Friday, a jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges in the 2020 incident where the teen was attacked on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin and subsequently resorted to self-defense which resulted in the shooting death of two men and an injury to another.
The reaction to the verdict has run the gamut across the country, including here in Mississippi. Below are some of the reactions from Mississippi leaders followed by a few social media posts from those in the mainstream media in the Magnolia State…
YP – Jones County Supervisor arrested for embezzlement
State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Jones County District 5 Supervisor Travares Comegys after he was indicted for embezzlement by a local grand jury. A $5,719.24 demand letter was presented to Comegys upon his arrest. The demand amount includes interest and investigative expenses.
Comegys is accused of using a county-issued vehicle and cell phone to operate a beauty supply business for his own personal benefit from July 2020 to April 2021. In addition to traveling to multiple salons and barbershops outside Jones County, Comegys allegedly used his Jones County-owned vehicle on a trip to the New Orleans airport. Comegys also purportedly used his county-owned cell phone almost exclusively to operate his personal business.
Ag Commissioner invites Mississippians to Concert
Join us December 5th at the Standing for American Freedom event. pic.twitter.com/oz0q39uecx
— Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce (@MSDeptofAg) November 22, 2021
YP – Congressman Bennie Thompson among Democrats to appear in SPLC tribute
Last week, Mississippi 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson joined fellow Democrats in congratulating the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on its 50th Anniversary on a livestream event.
“The Southern Poverty Law Center has always been and continues to be unwavering in its resolve to promote justice and racial equality,” Thompson said. “The work that you do is vital to protecting the true ideals of our nation.”
Thompson encouraged the SPLC to keep the faith and “keep making people mad.”
YP – Ingalls announces $113 million contract award in advance of construction on LHA 9
On Friday, Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula was awarded a $113,649,258 Navy contract to purchase long-lead-time materials in advance of construction of LHA 9, an America-class amphibious assault ship.
The America-class amphibious assault ships are designed to deliver a Marine Expeditionary Unit using rotary lift and fixed wing aircraft, functioning in many ways like a smaller aircraft carrier.
The contract is the sixth increment of long-lead-time material for the ship, which will be built in Pascagoula.
MSDH COVID-19 Reporting – For 3 Days
Today MSDH is reporting 1,187 more cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi, 11 deaths, and 22 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. State #covid19 totals: 511,935 cases, 10,240 deaths, and 1,401,385 persons fully vaccinated. Full COVID-19 information: https://t.co/YCv9xPyJDk pic.twitter.com/RwAcwO6LPi
— Mississippi State Department of Health (@msdh) November 22, 2021
WTVA – Local power companies to collab on fiber internet service
Right now Tombigbee Electric Power Association staff is working on phase 3 of their fiber-to-home project.
CEO Scott Hendrix said the phase includes providing all customers with fiber internet service.
“We don’t know anything in science faster than the speed of light. Fiber lets us send internet signals at that speed,” said Hendrix.
Monday, Hendrix and Pontotoc Electric Power Association General Manager Frankie Moorman announced that phase 4 of the project will be providing the service to Pontotoc customers.
Magnolia Tribune
