Latest Mississippi state government News

Mississippi high court blocks appointment of some judges in majority-Black capital city and county

Sep. 21, 2023 20:08 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday struck down part of a state law that would have authorized some circuit court judges to be appointed rather than elected in the capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, which are both majority-Black. Critics...

Mississippi GOP governor says his plan would aid hospitals; Democrat pushes for Medicaid expansion

Sep. 21, 2023 18:15 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves released a proposal Thursday aimed at helping some of the state's financially struggling hospitals, even as the Democrat who is trying to unseat him has spent months hammering Reeves for opposing Medicaid expansion in one of the...

Federal appeals court reverses ruling that found Mississippi discriminated in mental health care

Sep. 20, 2023 20:39 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that found Mississippi relies too much on institutionalizing people with mental health conditions rather than providing care in their communities. The decision came Wednesday from three judges on the...

Mississippi should revive process to put issues on ballot, Secretary of State Watson says

Sep. 13, 2023 18:39 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi should revive a process that lets voters put initiatives on the statewide ballot, Secretary of State Michael Watson said Wednesday, although he hasn’t yet settled on the exact number of signatures people would need to gather. Mississippi has been...

Outrage intensifies over New Mexico governor's temporary gun ban as sheriff vows not to enforce it

Sep. 11, 2023 21:12 PM EDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal lawsuits, cries for impeachment and outside protests. Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she would welcome a fight after announcing an emergency order to suspend the right to carry firearms in most public places around...

Mississippi Democrats name Pinkins as new nominee for secretary of state, to challenge GOP's Watson

Sep. 07, 2023 15:18 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Democrats on Thursday named attorney Ty Pinkins as their new nominee for secretary of state to replace a candidate who left the race because of health problems. Pinkins will face Republican incumbent Michael Watson in the Nov. 7 general election. ...

Mississippi Democrats given the go-ahead to select a new candidate for secretary of state

Sep. 06, 2023 18:11 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's governor and attorney general have approved a secretary of state candidate's withdrawal from the race due to illness, allowing the state Democratic Party to choose a new one. Shuwaski Young submitted his request last month, just weeks after...

Minnesota seeks unifying symbol to replace state flag considered offensive to Native Americans

Sep. 05, 2023 17:30 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state commission went to work Tuesday on designing a new state flag and seal for Minnesota to replace a current emblem in both that's considered offensive to Native Americans. One of the main elements of Minnesota's state flag includes a prominent state seal...

A federal judge strikes down a Texas law requiring age verification to view pornographic websites

Sep. 01, 2023 11:21 AM EDT

A federal judge has struck down a Texas law requiring age verification and health warnings to view pornographic websites and blocked the state attorney general's office from enforcing it. In a ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge David Ezra agreed with claims that House Bill 1181,...

Mississippi Democrat wins primary, set to become the state's first openly gay lawmaker

Aug. 30, 2023 17:11 PM EDT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi will have its first-ever openly gay state legislator after a House candidate won his Democratic primary election runoff Tuesday. Fabian Nelson, a 38-year-old realtor from Byram, prevailed over Roshunda Harris-Allen, an education professor at...