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It is common for some prisoners to work while incarcerated. There is not a mandate on how much the prisoners can earn during this time. This bill would require those individuals be paid minimum wage for their hours. Corporations would be subject to payment no less than the federal mandate. HB 368 reads: “The corporation…

Today, Rep. Bennie Thompson released the following statement about the Department of Justice’s announcement to investigate the conditions of four Mississippi prisons. “I commend the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division decision to open an investigation into the conditions of confinement in four of Mississippi’s prisons,” Thompson said. “The Mississippi prison system is in a state…

State Auditor Shad White held a joint press conference with Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens today on the front steps of the Hinds County Courthouse in Jackson to discuss the Department of Human Services eight month investigation that has resulted in arrests of the former head of DHS and co-conspirators. Here is the full…

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst issued the following statement today regarding the State’s  investigation and the local arrests relating to fraud at the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Hurst said: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has received numerous inquiries regarding the State Auditor’s investigation into the Mississippi Department of Human Services and local indictments returned by a…

The House Appropriations Committee voted on Wednesday to kill the bills relating to whether or not a legislator could serve in the House or Senate and still draw PERS retirement. It has been the position of Speaker of the House Philip Gunn that state law does not allow for this action to take place. Four…

Mississippi college football fans aren’t accustomed to having a coach speak out on the political issues of the day. But they have never had a coach quite like Mike Leach. Mississippi State’s new Head Football Coach is known to be an outspoken, opinionated guy who doesn’t shy away from saying what’s on his mind… even…

Close to 23% of Mississippi public students in the graduating class of 2019 took an Advanced Placement (AP) exam during high school, according to the College Board’s AP Cohort Data Report for Class of 2019 issued today. The participation rate is a slight increase (+0.4%) from the class of 2018. AP courses are college-level courses…

Legislation Would Boost Shipbuilding, Provide Path to 355-Ship Fleet U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today introduced the Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Implementation Act, S.3258. The legislation would build upon Wicker’s 2017 SHIPS Act, which was signed into law by President…

Mississippi’s Third District Congressman Michael Guest has been endorsed by the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA). MMA is committed to enhancing manufacturing in Mississippi by supporting and championing programs and legislation that create the ideal environment for present and future manufacturers while operating in an ethical and professional manner. In their endorsement letter, MMA announced that…

Senator Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula was recently honored with the prestigious James L. “Jim” Bean, Jr. Health Care Leadership award from the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi’s (CHCAMS) Board of Directors.  The James L. “Jim” Bean Jr. Award recognizes an individual for their active support of Mississippi’s Community Health Centers and for outstanding innovative legislative leadership to provide access to quality healthcare for all Mississippians. This award was established in 1999 to honor Bean, who served in the Mississippi State Senate for many years and invested a substantial amount of time into healthcare law. Bean impacted many lives and…