Critics had said it was nutty for Mississippi legislators to consider pecan harvesting bills during a year with big issues that required urgent attention — things like responding to the coronavirus pandemic or increasing teacher pay. Now, the last surviving pecan bill is dead. House Bill 284 and Senate Bill 2072 started as proposals to … Read more
A bill to overhaul Mississippi’s tax structure faces a critical deadline Tuesday in the state Senate, but it appears unlikely to survive despite a push from Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. The Senate president pro tempore, Republican Dean Kirby of Pearl, said in response to reporters’ questions Monday: “I cannot find any votes the way it’s … Read more
The Mississippi Department of Corrections said Monday that autopsies will be done on two inmates who were pronounced dead Sunday. Mack Wilcher, 76, died in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, where he was serving life without parole. He was convicted of capital rape on June 17, 1996, in Scott County. Willie Louis Lacey, 44, … Read more
Jackson State University is one of five schools to get a Scientific Leadership Award. WLBT-TV reports the schools _ described as a Minority-Serving Institution _ will receive up to $1 million in 2021, which is the first of a two-year funding effort. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate made the announcement … Read more
DeSoto County has earned a national Keep America Beautiful Award, recognizing the county for its litter control efforts. Keep DeSoto County Beauitiful has been awarded the 2020 President’s Circle Award. Criteria for the award includes initiatives to end littering, improve recycling in the county, and beautifying the county overall. This is the 6th year that … Read more
Former Vice President Al Gore was in Memphis on Sunday, speaking out against a massive pipeline project. Gore described the Byhalia Pipeline as a “scourge,” speaking to a crowd of about 200 people. The pipeline would carry crude oil about 49 miles from Memphis to Marshall County, Mississippi, connecting two existing pipelines in the area. … Read more
The Southaven Chamber of Commerce has named Debbie King as its next director. The chamber board of directors announced the appointment this week, as King will succeed Carmen Kyle, who resigned in February to take a new job. King has served with the Southaven Chamber as its assistant director for the past seven years.
Country stars Mickey Guyton and Keith Urban are taking over as hosts for the Academy of Country Music Awards in April. Guyton, who is nominated and performing at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, will be the first Black woman to host the show. Urban, who has won 15 ACM Awards over his career, hosted the … Read more
Tennessee officials are seeking applicants for grants to help agricultural, food and forestry businesses in distressed counties. The state Department of Agriculture says awards through the Agricultural Enterprise Fund will be prioritized for new and expanding businesses based on their impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. The deadline … Read more
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or women’s sports teams. Mississippi is the first state this year to enact such a ban, after a federal court blocked an Idaho law last year. Mississippi’s Senate Bill 2536 is set to become law July 1, although … Read more