Better MS Report

From Better Mississippi Report: As Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Bryant swings across the state taking credit for this weekend’s sales tax holiday, Better Mississippi Report wants to set the record straight. Other than serving as president of the state Senate, Bryant had NOTHING to do with the legislation. State Rep. Percy Watson, a Democrat from [...]

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: The campaign for lieutenant governor has devolved into a debate over whether Treasurer Tate Reeves, the front-runner to capture the open lieutenant’s governor’s seat, is a watchdog for the taxpayers or a lapdog. Reeves’ Republican primary opponent, Senate President Pro Tem Billy Hewes of Gulfport, has run a television ad [...]

Bill Minor, syndicated columnist: In the Republican race for lieutenant governor, Billy Hewes is on the right track to unmask his opponent, Treasurer Tate Reeves, for claiming to be the “taxpayers’ watchdog.” Previously, published reports have shown Reeves fattened his campaign war chest with contributions from people who handle state bond business that the treasurer [...]

The Clarion-Ledger: In addition to picking a new governor and lieutenant governor for the next four years, Mississippi voters will elect a new Legislature when they head to the polls this fall. At this point, there are 83 contested races in the state House and 35 in the Senate, stretching from North Mississippi to the [...]

David Hampton, editorial director, The Clarion-Ledger: The most contentious and divisive political issue in the country is abortion. It is a religious/moral/ethical issue that does not lend itself to logic, or reason, middle- ground compromise or practical politics. It also does not lend itself to voter initiatives, but that is what Mississippi voters face with [...]

The Clarion-Ledger: We might not want to call it the Mississippi Miracle just yet, but news that state revenue has perked up should end some “poor mouthing” by politicians that there won’t be enough money to adequately fund education next year. State government ended the fiscal year June 30 with about $62 million in the [...]

Hattiesburg American: Last year, the Mississippi Department of Transportation informed residents and city leaders that it was spending more than $3 million to modify 29 railroad crossings in Hattiesburg. The modification that received the most outcry from residents was the closing of 10 railroad crossings throughout the city. Illinois Central/Canadian National Railway proposed the project [...]

The Clarion-Ledger: Americans from east to west celebrated the July 4 holiday with fireworks, barbecue and lengthy discussions of the American colonists’ grievances with the Colonial British. Well, maybe that is not precisely how it went. Many Americans are lacking in the knowledge of their nation’s early days. According to a survey published in Newsweek [...]

The Associated Press: A 39-year-old man is scheduled to plead guilty Monday in Mississippi in a telemarketing scam that allegedly targeted senior citizens around the country, telling them they had won cash prizes but had to pay taxes and fees to claim the money. Prosecutors say the scam netted tens of thousands of dollars from [...]

The Clarion-Ledger: The only time each week Dominique Caldwell gets to see her 2-year-old son is for an hour and a half at the Harrison County office of the Department of Human Services. She and her husband are accused of underfeeding their son, although his weight never registered below normal, according to court documents. The [...]