Governor’s veto power is the focus of Mississippi court battle
In August, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn and Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White filed a lawsuit against Governor Tate Reeves regarding his partial veto of spending legislation. The lawsuit claims that Reeves does not have the authority to line-item veto sections of individual legislation. Related Story On July 8th in a Facebook post, Governor Reeves explained his reasoning behind the vetos. Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. Photo by News Mississippi On Monday, Speaker Gunn spoke to the Stennis Institute of Government and Capitol Press Corps and reiterated the need for the lawsuit, calling it “unfortunate but necessary”, and by Tuesday evening, Governor Reeves posed the following questions to the public via Facebook: Photo by News Mississippi Should legislators be able to funnel money to friends with zero accountability? Or should the governor have some ability to stop outrageous and ridiculous spending deals? That’s the subject of a major Mississippi court fight right now. On August 5th, I told you that I had to veto two parts of an appropriation bill because I was concerned about the very unusual circumstances surrounding the expenditures. As a reminder, they tried to take $2 million in relief money for a business deal with a hospital that has been closed for years! (The more I learn about this deal the more concerned I get). And then there was a carve-out of $6 million for certain connected groups to spend on community organizing to “fix disparity.” I truly believe the majority of Republicans in the Legislature – in the House and the Senate – don’t want to spend your money on these projects…. they agree with me and are concerned about frivolous handouts. But the Speaker of the House has launched a lawsuit against me to get that money funneled to those two deals. He says the governor should have no right to veto their earmarks. Whatever they decide in the back room goes, and there can be no check or balance. This week he even held a press conference and doubled down on their taxpayer-funded earmark lawsuit. But the drafters of our Constitution were specifically worried about deals being cut that led to wasteful spending. They were thinking about you – the taxpayers who pay the bills – when they included Section 73 in our Mississippi Constitution: “The Governor may veto parts of any appropriation bill, and approve parts of the same, and the portions approved shall be law.” I see one way to interpret Section 73 of the Mississippi Constitution. I can’t imagine the lawyers who advised the Speaker to sue me interpreting that sentence any other way. I can’t imagine the state Supreme Court (where this will ultimately end up) interpreting that sentence in our Constitution any other way. What do you think? Governor Tate Reeves The lawsuit was filed in Hinds County Chancery Court on August 5th. The post Governor’s veto power is the focus of Mississippi court battle appeared first on News Mississippi.
Fitch to discuss online censorship with President Trump & AG Barr
This afternoon, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch is set to discuss online censorship with President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr along with a working group of several other state Attorneys General. “I am very excited to have been invited by President Trump and AG Barr to join with fellow Attorneys General to ensure that the digital town square remains open and free to all people’s voices,” Fitch said. “I look forward to this meeting and to the work to come to fight online censorship.” In a news release, Fitch explained how social media companies have been able to evade liability for content posted to their sites. “Social media companies have long used Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act to shield themselves from liability for content posted by third parties and to allow them to moderate and remove lawful content. In May, President Trump signed Executive Order 13925 specifically directed at combatting online platforms from censoring lawful speech based on political viewpoint. The Executive Order documented that “[o]nline platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse” and called on the federal government to take steps to “foster and protect diverse viewpoints in today’s digital communications environment where all Americans can and should have a voice.” Fitch also noted that the Executive Order directed the U.S. Department of Justice to consult with State Attorneys General on legal resources at the state level, inducing consumer protection laws, to address abusive, unfair, and deceptive practices like speech censorship and content moderation, data tracking, and inconsistent application of terms of service. The post Fitch to discuss online censorship with President Trump & AG Barr appeared first on News Mississippi.
MSDH confirms 552 new COVID-19 cases, 24 additional deaths
The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting 552 new cases of COVID-19. Today’s report brings the state’s total number of cases up to 94,573. With the confirmation of *24 additional deaths, 2,870 Mississippians have now passed away from the virus. *MSDH Note: 10 COVID-19 related deaths occurred between August 31 and September 14, identified from death certificate reports. In the latest data posted by the MSDH, overall hospitalizations continue to hover just above 500. As of Monday, the MSDH is able to estimate that 85,327 Mississippians have recovered from COVID-19. This would place the number of active cases around 6,400. The post MSDH confirms 552 new COVID-19 cases, 24 additional deaths appeared first on News Mississippi.
Awaiting eligibility decision, Ole Miss DB Otis Reese pleads with NCAA
Ole Miss opens its 2020 season against the Florida Gators in just three days, and they’re still waiting on the NCAA to make a decision regarding a transfer that arrived on campus back in January. After months of waiting, safety Otis Reese took matters into his own hands Tuesday by posting a letter directed at the NCAA and the SEC, detailing the factors that led to his decision to transfer from Georgia after two seasons. In the letter, the former 4-star recruit from Leesburg, Georgia alleged that he endured racial taunts on campus, police harassment, and manipulation by head coach Kirby Smart during his stint in Athens. He states that these events took a “mental toll” on him, leading him to decide to finish his collegiate career elsewhere. Additionally, Reese concluded by explained that the NCAA’s decision granting all student-athletes an additional year of eligibility should include him. Dear, @NCAA | @SEC | @GregSankey .. pic.twitter.com/bkmUDAuCXm — O Dog.. (@otisreese13) September 22, 2020 Head Coach Lane Kiffin, who is preparing to coach his first game with the Rebels, has voiced his frustration with the situation throughout the offseason, and that has now spilled over into game week. “Unfortunately, we still do not have an answer. We have not gotten an answer from the NCAA, and it’s got to go to the SEC after that. So, you know it kind of makes it difficult. You know because of trying to plan and figure out—same with Deane Leonard—here’s two guys that would potentially be starters for us that we don’t know what to do and we’re trying to practice. We really only have two practices left, really, Tuesday and Wednesday so sure be nice to know,” Kiffin said Monday. According to ESPN, the UGA Athletics Association released the following statement disputing the events detailed in Reeses’ letter. “We cannot comment on student-athlete eligibility matters due to federal privacy laws, but we would be happy to share our full response to Otis Reese’s waiver request, if he provides a signed release allowing us to do so. UGA disputes any suggestion that it maintains an unsafe, unsupportive, or racially insensitive environment.” This is not an unprecedented situation as star QB Justin Fields, now at Ohio State, left the Bulldog program after similar allegations of racism on the UGA campus and was granted immediate eligibility. The post Awaiting eligibility decision, Ole Miss DB Otis Reese pleads with NCAA appeared first on News Mississippi.
Mississippi Special Election: Unofficial Results
A Special Election was held Tuesday to fill four legislative vacancies. The unofficial results are coming in. It appears, in House District 66, De’Keither A. Stamps and Robert C. ‘Bob” Lee Jr., are heading to a runoff. House District 66, in Hinds County, was held by Jarvis Dortch who resigned in early July. Dortch was later named as the Executive Director of the ACLU in Mississippi. The following totals for Senate District 15 and House District 37 were reported by WCBI-TV in Columbus. All totals are pending until marked final. Senate District 15, which includes portions of Oktibbeha, Choctaw, Webster, and Montgomery counties, was held by Gary Jackson of French Camp. Jackson, who left the Senate in late June citing health concerns, had served for 17 years. Image courtesy of WCBI-TV House District 37, which covers Clay, Lowndes, and Oktibbeha counties, was previously held by Gary Chism of Columbus, who retired on June 30th. Chism had served in the legislature since 1999. Image courtesy of WCBI-TV In Senate District 39, Bill Sones and Jason Barrett may also face off again in a runoff. Here are the unofficial results of that race: Bill Sones 2,681 Jason Barrett 2,414 Michael Smith 1,401 Beth Brown 1,385 Prentiss Smith 797 Ben Johnson 647 Cindy Bryan 389 Michael Campbell 337 Josh Davis 282 Senate District 39, which encompasses Copiah, Lawrence, Lincoln, and Walthall counties, was held by Sally Doty of Brookhaven until she resigned in mid-July. Doty was then appointed by Governor Tate Reeves as Executive Director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff. Runoffs will be held on October 13, 2020. This story will continue to be updated. The post Mississippi Special Election: Unofficial Results appeared first on News Mississippi.
NFL Week 2 – Top Mississippi Performers
Following a big show out from Mississippi players during the opening week of the 2020 NFL season, Week 2 didn’t stray too far away from that theme as plenty of players from the Magnolia State stepped up to help their teams. Here are the top Mississippi performers from Week 2. Chris Carson (Seattle Seahawks – RB) Chis Carson played a large role in the Seahawks’ 35-30 Sunday Night Football win over the New England Patriots. The veteran tailback ran the ball 17 times for 72 yards, but more importantly, he continued to provide current MVP favorite Russell Wilson with a true receiving threat out of the backfield. The Biloxi native finished the night with 36 receiving yards on three catches and a touchdown. It’s the second week in a row that Carson has brought in all of his targets. Mike Hilton (Pittsburg Steelers – DB) Originally an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, Mike Hilton is slowly but surely solidifying himself as one of the game’s best slot defenders. The Steelers’ nickelback has only given up a mere 11 yards in coverage over the course of the first two games, plus he’s second on the team in sacks, tackles for a loss, and quarterback hits. In Sunday’s 26-21 win against the Denver Broncos, Hilton had himself a day with eight solo tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery. Elgton Jenkins (Green Bay Packers – OL) The big man from Mississippi State has made this list for the second week in a row as Elgton Jenkins is not only proving that he’s one of the best Mississippi players in the league; he’s proving that he’s one of the best players in the entire league. After the Packers’ 42-21 win over the Detroit Lions, Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Jenkins as the game’s highest-graded pass blocker (84.6). The versatile lineman, who has already lined up at two positions this year, has not given up a single quarterback pressure throughout the team’s first two contests. If all goes accordingly, expect Jenkins to find his name on an All-Pro list at the conclusion of the 2020 season. Bernardrick McKinney (Houston Texans – LB) Veteran inside linebacker Bernardrick McKinney, who leads the AFC in total tackles since 2016, had an impressive outing in the Texans’ 33-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. With a team-leading 10 total tackles, the Tunica County native and former All-SEC player was rated as the game’s top-graded tackler (84.1), according to PFF. D.K. Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks – WR) While his cross-country counterpart, A.J. Brown, has not yet found his groove this season, D.K. Metcalf continues to thrive in his sophomore campaign. During the team’s win over Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, the Oxford native hauled in four receptions for 92 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown. As the Seahawks keep rolling, I think it’s a safe bet to assume that the names of D.K. Metcalf and Chris Carson will be landing on this list pretty often. Gardner Minshew, II (Jacksonville Jaguars – QB) Try to ignore the two interceptions and take into account that Gardner Minshew, II, and the Jaguars were just one drive away from beating the Tennessee Titans, who were a mere two possessions away from reaching last year’s Super Bowl. Outside of the turnovers, Minshew had a pretty respectable day statistically: 30/45 passing (66.7%), 348 total yards, and two touchdowns. Jacksonville is starting (emphasis on “starting”) to resemble a playoff team—even after this past off-season’s mass exodus—and it wouldn’t be possible without the solid play from their second-year signal caller. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys – QB) On Sunday, Dak Prescott provided Falcons’ players, at least the ones who played in Super Bowl LI, with a sense of déjà vu as the Mississippi State product led his team back from a 20-point deficit to beat the Dirty Birds by a score of 40-39. In one of the best showings of his career, Dak did it all, throwing for 450 yards and one touchdown. Oh yeah, and he provided three touchdowns on the ground, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 400 yards and have three rushing touchdowns in the same game. It was Prescott’s fifth career game with 400+ yards, which ties him with his predecessor, Tony Romo, for most 400-yard passing games in Cowboys’ history. Pay that man! Jeffrey Simmons (Tennessee Titans – DE) Coming off a 2019 knee injury, I am overly impressed with the production level of Jeffrey Simmons thus far into the 2020 season. Seemingly, the former Mississippi State stud is controlling the line of scrimmage on more plays than not, and on top of that, he’s making the hustle plays that don’t pop out on the stat sheet. In week one, Simmons made a big third-quarter fumble recovery after Jurrell Casey strip-sacked Lamar Jackson. In week two, Simmons deflected a last-second pass that turned into a game-sealing interception for the Titans. He also tacked on three tackles and two quarterback hurries. The post NFL Week 2 – Top Mississippi Performers appeared first on News Mississippi.
Are you eligible to vote absentee?
This years election is approaching quickly and here’s a guide on how you can vote absentee. According to the Secretary of State website, some registered voters are eligible to vote absentee if they fall under one of these categories: If you will be away from your county on Election Day for any reason; If you are a student, teacher, or administrator at a school that would effect your absence from your county on Election Day; You have a temporary or permanent physical disability that makes you unable to vote in person; you are the parent, spouse, or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability who is hospitalized outside of their county of residence or more than 50 miles away; you are 65 years of age or older; you are required to work on Election Day while the polls are open; you are a member, spouse, or dependent of the congressional delegation; you are a disabled war veteran (or spouse or dependent of such person) in a hospital; you are a member (or spouse or dependent of such person) of the American Red Cross or Merchant Marine Absentee voting is now available in Mississippi and the deadline is October 31st at 5 P.M. You must already be registered to vote, and the deadline for that is October 5th. For how to register click here. If you aren’t sure if you are registered or not, you can check your status here. For this election, Mississippians do have some important items on the ballot. They will vote for a president, on the new state flag and the marijuana initiative along with some . RELATED: 65 or 65A: Marijuana Initiative Election Day is November 3rd, 2020 and polls will be open from 7AM to 7 PM. Below is a sample ballot: FINAL 2020 Sample GE Ballot with Flag The post Are you eligible to vote absentee? appeared first on News Mississippi.
MHP now accepting applications for Cadet Class 65
Now is your chance to answer the call to become a Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper as the application process for Cadet Class 65, which will begin in early 2021, is now open. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety announced that applications can be found online, at any MHP district office, driver service office, or at the MHP headquarters in Jackson. “I am very pleased to announce that we have begun the recruitment phase for MHP Cadet Class 65,” Colonel Randy Ginn, Director of MHP, said. “The need for men and women of integrity, moral character and a desire to serve their state has never been greater or more important than it is today.” During the rigorous 22 weeks of Trooper School, you’ll be trained to perform the various duties entrusted to the MHP including: Assisting the public, enforcement of criminal and traffic laws, motorcycle patrol, crash investigation, crash reconstruction, criminal interdiction, criminal investigations, special operations, S.W.A.T., K-9 narcotics, K-9 explosives, diving, aviation, executive protective services, training and much more. “Becoming a part of the Mississippi Highway Patrol Cadet Class 65 is a great opportunity for anyone seeking a career in law enforcement that is full of opportunities to advance both professionally and personally,” DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell said. “The Mississippi Highway Patrol is a storied law enforcement agency and is the cornerstone of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome this next generation of state troopers.” The deadline to apply for Cadet Class 65 is October 31, 2020. For more information, click here. The post MHP now accepting applications for Cadet Class 65 appeared first on News Mississippi.
Halloween in the COVID-19 era: Tips to enjoy it safely
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. The CDC advises, if you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween, and here are a few ideas: Low risk activities Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends Decorating your house, apartment, or living space Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance Having a virtual Halloween costume contest Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house Moderate risk activities Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard) If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags. Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face. Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask. Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus. Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus. Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs. Higher-risk activities The CDC advises you to avoid these higher-risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19: Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots Attending crowded costume parties held indoors Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behaviors Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19 The post Halloween in the COVID-19 era: Tips to enjoy it safely appeared first on News Mississippi.
Agencies issue warning linking fentanyl to North Mississippi overdoses
National, state and local law enforcement agencies are joining forces to issue a strong warning that the deadly substance known as fentanyl has been linked to a recent string of overdoses and deaths in North Mississippi. The joint warning comes from the DEA, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, the Oxford Police Department and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department. In Lafayette County alone, there have been 11 overdoses and three deaths tied to counterfeit pills in 2020. The drugs in question—counterfeit Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Xanax, Lortab, Percocet, Ecstasy and even some methamphetamine—are often cut with fentanyl, which according to the DEA, is a powerful opioid that is 100x more potent than morphine and lethal even in small amounts. The agencies warn that, while the pills may look like legitimate medications, they are often manufactured and imported from Mexico or China. According to the joint statement, a recent investigation revealed that a number of counterfeit pills and sedatives are being sold in the illegal drug market and causing a significant number of overdoses. Last week, the Oxford Police Department explained that the use of the “dark web” was making it more difficult to track where these drugs are coming from. Based on a nationwide sampling of counterfeit pills seized in 2019, the DEA found that 27% of them contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. “DEA investigations have uncovered rogue manufacturing labs in China that directly supply U.S. distribution networks with synthetic opioids and the chemicals used to make them,” explained Kevin J. Gaddy, the DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Mississippi. “In addition, traditional Mexico-based drug trafficking networks with established infrastructure and smuggling routes continue to supply the United States with heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl-based compounds. These networks operate in Mississippi, and we will continue to work in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, MBN, and all state and local law enforcement agencies to target and stop these organizations from distributing this poison on the streets of our communities.” U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar urged everyone not to take any pills that are not prescribed to you and purchased at a pharmacy. “If a pill is not prescribed by your doctor and purchased at a pharmacy, there is a really good chance that it is counterfeit. Counterfeit drugs may look identical to those legally prescribed, but the difference is that counterfeit drugs are not regulated in any form or fashion,” Lamar explained. “We know that there are bad batches of pills here in our area that contain fentanyl and that are causing overdoses and deaths. The bottom line is that if you are thinking of taking a counterfeit pill, don’t do it. If you do, you are playing Russian roulette with your life.” Steven Maxwell, the Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics shared a similar warning for Mississippi residents. “The use of illicit drugs poses a perilous danger and threat to the life of those who consume them,” said Maxwell. “The introduction of counterfeit pills and sedatives into the North Mississippi market adds an additional layer of risk. It is critical that drug users realize that the next high could be their last.” Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills also present a threat to anyone who comes in contact with them, including law enforcement officers. The joint release stated that in mid-August, deputies with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle on U.S. Hwy 82 and a probable cause search of that vehicle resulted in the discovery of 1,300 tablets of apparent Xanax and Ecstasy. As the investigating deputies examined the pills, two deputies began having symptoms consistent with fentanyl exposure. Both deputies were treated at a local hospital as a result, and Naloxone or Narcan, a drug that counteracts the toxic effects of opioids, was administered to one deputy. The post Agencies issue warning linking fentanyl to North Mississippi overdoses appeared first on News Mississippi.