Host Adam Ganucheau and the Mississippi Today political team bring you intimate access to the most connected players and observers in Mississippi politics. This podcast is a continuation of the mission that Mississippi Today serves: To present facts, perspectives and appropriate context on all sides of a political debate. With no focus on one side of the aisle or the other, we'll also provide you the other side of a story, giving our award-winning journalists a platform to share their insigh ...
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Former auditor recalls his (authorized) government spending study
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Former Auditor Steve Patterson joins Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender to discuss a government waste study he conducted in the 1990s. Patterson draws contrasts between his 1990s study, which was legally authorized by the Legislature, and a highly scrutinized 2024 study from current Auditor Shad White, who did not g…
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Ray Higgins: PERS needs both extra cash and benefit changes for future employees
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison talks with Ray Higgins, executive director of the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System, about proposed changes in pension benefits for future employees and what is needed to protect the system for current employees and retirees. Higgins also stresses the importance of the massive system to the Mississipp…
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Fitch vs. White vs. Hosemann: What on earth is going on?
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender recap a wild situation in which three prominent Republicans with 2027 gubernatorial ambitions — Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Auditor Shad White — are engaged in an intra-party food fight.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Steve Holland recounts strange events leading to Tupelo-based Netflix crime documentary
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender talk with former state Rep. Steve Holland about the bizarre case of a Tupelo martial arts instructor mailing ricin to elected officials and attempting to frame an Elvis Presley impersonator for the crime. The episode is now the subject of a Netflix documentary entitled “The Kings of Tupelo: A Sout…
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Private school vouchers, teacher pay, teacher shortage: Education advocate outlines likely issues for Mississippi Legislature in 2025 session
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Nancy Loome, director of the public education advocacy group The Parents Campaign, outlines major issues for the Mississippi Legislature's 2025 session to Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender, Bobby Harrison and the newest member of the politics team, Simeon Gates, who will be covering education issues at the Capitol.…
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Mississippi Hospital Association's Roberson discusses Medicaid expansion outlook under Trump, other 2025 legislative health care issues
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Richard Roberson, president and CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association, tells Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender a new Trump administration would likely approve Mississippi Medicaid expansion work requirements. He says revamping the state's certificate of need laws is likely to be a major issue before lawmakers, and he discuss…
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A critical Mississippi Supreme Court runoff
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Voters will choose between Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens and state Sen. Jenifer Branning in a runoff election on Nov. 26, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Mississippi Today’s Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, and Taylor Vance break down the race and discuss why the election is so important for the future of the court and policy in Mi…
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Jim Kitchens touts his experience in Supreme Court runoff election
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Mississippi Today’s Taylor Vance and Bobby Harrison interview Central District Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens about his Nov. 26 runoff election. Kitchens is being challenged by state Sen. Jenifer Branning, R-Philadelphia. (Note: Mississippi Today also has extended an invitation to Branning to appear on “The Other Side” podcast.)…
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Mississippi's top election official discusses Tuesday's election
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Secretary of State Michael Watson talks with Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender, Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance ahead of Tuesday's election. He urges voters to remember sacrifices many have made to protect Americans' voting rights and get to the polls, and he weighs in on whether a recent court ruling on absentee vote counting will impact this year'…
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How are patients faring with Mississippi's medical marijuana program?
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Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison get an update on the state's medical cannabis program from Angie Calhoun, founder and CEO of the Mississippi Cannabis Patients Alliance. Calhoun became an advocate for medical marijuana when her son suffered debilitating Lyme Disease symptoms but could not try cannabis treatment in Mississippi. He…
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A paved road, a push poll, and an uber-political Supreme Court race
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Mississippi Today’s Adam Ganucheau, Geoff Pender, and Taylor Vance discuss three major political news events: the funding of Rep. Trey Lamar’s Jackson street replacement, a poll from Speaker Jason White on tax elimination, and a contentious Mississippi Supreme Court race that could come down to the wire.…
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Mississippi Today's investigation of Rep. Trey Lamar's state-funded projects
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau sits down with politics editor Geoff Pender and reporter Taylor Vance to discuss their new investigation of state-funded projects that benefited Rep. Trey Lamar’s neighborhoods. They detail how the story came about and share their key takeaways from the investigation.…
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Bill Waller Jr.: State faces same woes as in 2019 when he ran for governor
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison talks with former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. about his life after retiring from the judiciary and running for governor in 2019. He says he still is concerned about issues facing the state and does not completely rule out another campaign for governor.…
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The push for Mississippi income tax elimination continues
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Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender, Bobby Harrison and Adam Ganucheau discuss the continued effort to eliminate Mississippi's income tax. They discuss what that could mean for Mississippi and how the process could play out moving forward.Autor: Mississippi Today
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This Mississippi elected official wants his office off the statewide ballot
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Bobby Harrison discuss Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney's recent proposal to change his office's traditionally elected position to an appointed one. Chaney is not the first Mississippi elected official to suggest such a bold step, and the politics of the state could make this debate a fiery one in 2025.…
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Sen. David Blount discusses tax cuts, retirement system, mobile sports betting
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State Sen. David Blount sits down with Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Adam Ganucheau to discuss the push for income tax elimination and how that would affect the state's budget. He also talks about needed funding for the state's troubled retirement system and whether Mississippi will soon adopt mobile sports betting.…
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Who, really, is pushing for an income tax elimination?
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As Republican lawmakers begin a series of fall hearings to consider an elimination of the individual income tax, Mississippi Today’s Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, and Geoff Pender break down the recent history of tax cut and the politics surrounding the idea.Autor: Mississippi Today
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State economist: On average, Mississippi economy is stable
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Corey Miller, state economist and director of Mississippi's University Research Center, gives Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender a briefing on the economic state of the state, unemployment and workforce participation. He also tells a funny economist joke!Autor: Mississippi Today
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Lt. Gov. Hosemann on tax cuts, Medicaid expansion, campaign finance reform, Auditor Shad White and more
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Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann tells Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender, Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance the state's financial position should allow for cutting the state's grocery tax next year. He covers numerous other topics and also talks about state Auditor Shad White's political scorched-earth from his new book on the welfare scandal.…
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After close 2023 election loss, Brandon Presley eyes helping other Democrats
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Brandon Presley, who was elected to public office at age 23, tells Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance that he is not eyeing another run for public office after narrow loss in 2023 gubernatorial election. But Presley did not completely rule out another election run, adding that he is excited about attending this week’s Democratic Na…
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Is anyone not running for Mississippi governor in 2027?
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The 2027 statewide election might seem far off to most folks, but the Neshoba County Fair made clear that Mississippi politicians are already jockeying to run for higher offices, particularly the governor's seat that will be open. Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance discuss who's looking to make a move for the state's …
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Haley Barbour recalls chaotic 1976 RNC Convention and Mississippi’s crucial role in it
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Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour talks with Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance about the contentious 1976 Republican Convention between Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. He recalls how he filibustered the media from eavesdropping on members of the Mississippi delegation as they argued by reciting the state’s 82 coun…
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DNC delegate Robert Johnson says Kentucky Gov. Beshear could make impact in South as Harris’ running mate
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State Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, talks with Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance about whirlwind events surrounding the Democratic presidential nomination. Johnson is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Senate Elections chairman says the public wants early voting
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Senate Elections Chairman Jeremy England tells Mississippi Today’s Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance that he plans again in the 2025 legislative session to push for in-person early voting and for campaign finance reform — measures he introduced this year that were unsuccessful.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Democratic strategist says questioning Biden’s health is understandable
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance talk with former Democratic state House member and attorney Brandon Jones about President Joe Biden’s health, about state Supreme Court races and a litany of ongoing federal lawsuits that could impact Mississippi politics. Jones is the director of political campaigns for the Southern Poverty Law C…
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State Sen. Hob Bryan says roads, drinking water more important than tax cuts
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State Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, covers a wide array of issues facing the state during an interview with Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender. Bryan argues Mississippi’s ability to deal with major issues will be stymied if the personal income tax is eliminated as some politicians advocate.…
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State Democratic Chair Taylor remains committed to Biden
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender interview Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor about President Joe Biden’s debate performance and the future of the Democratic Party in Mississippi. Taylor, a state House member from Starkville, also expressed hope that the Legislature will finally approve Medicaid expansion in the …
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Mississippi GOP Chairman Mike Hurst talks elections, party platform
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New Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst talks with Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance about November 2024 and 2027 elections, Medicaid expansion and party platform and why state Republicans should celebrate Juneteenth.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Insurance Commissioner Chaney says creating state health insurance exchange is a win-win
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender interview Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney about the impact of legislation allowing him to create a state exchange where Mississippians can sign up for health insurance instead of doing so on a federal exchange. Chaney said the new exchange would be a positive for the about 250,000 Mississippian…
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A look inside Speaker Jason White’s tax cut proposal
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance provide an overview of House Speaker Jason White’s plan to cut the state’s grocery tax and phase out the income tax. They also break down the select committee White formed to study state taxes.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Behind the reporting: Latest on the Rankin County “Goon Squad”
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Investigative journalists Brian Howey and Nate Rosenfield join Adam Ganucheau to discuss their latest report on the Rankin County Sheriff Department’s “Goon Squad.” The reporters discuss shocking new internal police communications they obtained and published, and they discuss the importance of the ongoing reporting.…
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Presumptive Medicaid eligibility promises to improve Mississippi's high infant, maternal mortality rates, save taxpayers' money
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Community health reporter Sophia Paffenroth discusses with Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison a new law set to take effect July 1 that will provide more timely prenatal care via more easily accessed Medicaid health coverage. A majority of Mississippi births are covered by Medicaid, but delays in getting the coverage approval postpo…
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The controversial day that Robert Kennedy came to the University of Mississippi
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Retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Edward Ellington talks with Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender about former U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy’s speech at the University of Mississippi less than four years after the riots that occurred after the integration of the school. Ellington, who at the time headed the Ole Miss Speaker’s Bur…
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House Minority Leader reflects on breakdown of Medicaid expansion negotiations
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Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, the House minority leader, talks with Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance on how efforts to expand Medicaid broke down during the chaotic final days of the 2024 legislative session. He hopes those efforts are revived in the 2025 session.Autor: Mississippi Today
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How the 2024 Medicaid expansion debate died
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Mississippi Today’s Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender, and Taylor Vance discuss the breakdown of Medicaid expansion negotiations in the Legislature.Autor: Mississippi Today
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The contentious final days of the 2024 legislative session
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender break down the final negotiations of the 2024 legislative session's three major issues: Medicaid expansion, education funding, and retirement system reform.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Rep. Sam Creekmore says Legislature is making progress on public health, mental health reforms
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House Public Health Chairman Sam Creekmore, R-New Albany, tells Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance he's hopeful he and other negotiators can strike a deal on Medicaid expansion to address dire issues in the unhealthiest state.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Medicaid expansion, other issues could make end of 2024 session chaotic
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance discuss the biggest issues – Medicaid expansion, school funding and PERS – that could spur contentious final days of the 2024 legislative session.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Inside faith leaders' push to expand Medicaid in Mississippi
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau sits down with Rev. Dr. Jason Coker, a Baptist pastor who is helping lead a coalition of faith leaders who are advocating for Medicaid expansion. Coker discusses why his own Mississippi upbringing and his faith have inspired him to be a leader in the push for expansion, and how the policy change could help many Mi…
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Explainer: The Legislature's dueling Medicaid expansion plans
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Bobby Harrison break down the differences in the House Medicaid expansion plan and the Senate Medicaid expansion plan. They discuss where the legislative debate currently stands, where it's headed, and why some powerful leaders are still against expansion.Autor: Mississippi Today
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In funding Mississippi schools, how important is an objective funding formula?
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance speak with House Education Vice Chair Kent McCarty, R-Hattiesburg, about his proposal to change the way Mississippi’s K-12 public schools are funded and whether his plan is good for education.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Title: Two-thirds majority votes key for Medicaid expansion, restoring initiative
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance discuss a busy week at the Capitol, where legislators work to garner two-thirds majorities to pass Medicaid expansion and to restore the initiative process. As it turns out, it is the Senate thus far having trouble reaching those two-thirds majorities.…
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Attorney Rob McDuff provides update on lawsuit to create more Black-majority legislative districts
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance talk with Jackson attorney Rob McDuff about lawsuits involving legislative redistricting and school funding and how newspaper articles led an inquisitive 12-year-old in Hattiesburg to pursue a legal career focusing on civil rights and other social justice issues.…
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Head of initiative advocacy group optimistic for 2024 session
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Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance talk with Spence Flatgard, chair of Ballot Access Mississippi about legislation pending in 2024 session that would restore the initiative process, giving citizens right to bypass Legislature and place issues on the ballot. He cites positives and negatives from the perspective of his group with ini…
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Inside the Medicaid expansion debate at the Capitol
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau, Sophia Paffenroth, Geoff Pender, Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance detail the first earnest debate about Medicaid expansion at the Mississippi State Capitol. They discuss what various proposals would do, who is supporting them, who is opposing them, and what might be on the horizon as the debate heats up.…
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MDOT Director Brad White looks down the road at infrastructure funding needs
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Mississippi Department of Transportation Director Brad White says an influx of “one-time” state and federal money is allowing the agency to again build and widen roads. But he said the agency needs long-term, steady revenue streams to maintain them once they’re built.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Major issues developing during the 2024 session
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, and Taylor Vance discuss several major issues that are being debated during the 2024 legislative session. Medicaid expansion, income tax cut, retirement system changes, and felony suffrage restoration are among the topics covered.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Senate minority leader hopes Medicaid will be expanded in 2024
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Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, tells Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance that expanding Medicaid, restoring the initiative and helping the Mississippi Delta are topics he hopes will be addressed during the 2024 legislative session.Autor: Mississippi Today
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Senate Finance chairman breaks down recent economic development projects
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Senate Finance Chair Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, discusses with Mississippi Today’s Bobby Harrison and Taylor Vance the passage of the two major projects in consecutive weeks. The key committee chair also says he will consider tax cuts, but reiterated he wants to move cautiously and examine the overall impact of any tax reduction.…
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The ironies of Mississippi's new green energy plant
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Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, and Taylor Vance break down last week's special session in which lawmakers appropriated at least $350 million to close a deal that will bring a new green energy plant to north Mississippi.Autor: Mississippi Today
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