Fervor grows for Tuscaloosa Marine Shale

by Ted Carter Published: May 17,2013

Tags: energy, fracking, Goodrich Petroleum, oil exploration, TMS, Tuscaloosa Marine Shale

Mississippi’s leaders expect a parade of oil drillers to converge on the southwest corner of the state and are happy to cover the cost of striking up the marching music. When a potential to fill seven billion barrels awaits, let’s get cracking, they say. So far, state officials are getting the answer they wanted when [...]

CRAWFORD: Taint of tyranny infecting our Medicaid standoff?

by Bill Crawford Published: May 17,2013

Tags: Bill Crawford, Medicaid, state legislature

The dictionary defines tyranny as oppressive power exerted by government. Founder Thomas Jefferson warned, “Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” Is a taint of tyranny infecting our Medicaid standoff? Compare the Senate’s actions with those [...]

Researchers preparing to take advantage of SMART Act

One of the centerpieces of Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s legislative agenda passed in the last session, and university researchers are getting ready to take advantage of it. The Strengthening Mississippi Academic Research Through (SMART) Business Act provides a 25 percent rebate to Mississippi companies that contract with Mississippi public universities and colleges for qualified [...]

Ryan Beckett appointed state tort claims chairman

by Stephen McDill Published: May 16,2013

Tags: Butler Snow, law, Ryan Beckett

Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC attorney Ryan Beckett has been appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant and confirmed by the Mississippi Senate as chairman of the Mississippi Tort Claims Board. Beckett is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group and Energy Industry Team, focusing on several realms of litigation, including energy, elections and [...]

Budget writer: Medicaid taking away from education funding

JACKSON — Funding for education is falling short because Medicaid is devouring a larger share of state money than it did a few years ago, a top Mississippi budget writer says in a letter to teachers and school administrators. House Appropriations Committee chairman Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville, wrote that expanding Medicaid would create more uncertainty about [...]

Dems crafting Medicaid proposal ahead of possible special session

JACKSON — Mississippi legislative Democrats say they’re working on proposals to keep Medicaid alive and funded in the budget year that starts July 1. They say they’re doing this in case Republican Gov. Phil Bryant calls a special session before the end of June. However, Bryant said last week he believes he can run Medicaid [...]

Coast residents to vote on tax hike to fund recreation projects

PASCAGOULA — Gov. Phil Bryant has signed legislation allowing Pascagoula residents to vote on a proposed 2 percent prepared food tax, says city recreation commission chairman Mike McElhaney. The tax would fund recreation projects outlined in the city’s recreation master plan, which the board adopted in October. Senate Bill 2921 was signed into law April [...]

Governor says he can run Medicaid; questions challengers

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant says he thinks he can run Medicaid even if lawmakers don’t reauthorize the program or set its budget by the time the state’s new fiscal year starts July 1. “As head of the Governor’s Division of Medicaid, I will do all I can to continue and to provide Medicaid to [...]

Local officials hoping for state help in funding Wynette museum

TREMONT — Officials in northeast Mississippi are hoping for some money from the state to help to finance construction of the Tammy Wynette Museum in Tremont. Wynette, a country music legend who died in 1998, is a native of the Tremont area in Itawamba County. She was married for six years to George Jones, who [...]

State officials concerned about La. levee plan

by Associated Press Published: May 5,2013

Tags: flood, flooding, levee, real estate, state agency, state government

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI — Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says he’s worried that a proposed levee in Louisiana could place low-lying areas of south Mississippi in danger of flooding. Hosemann told The Sun Herald he’s concerned about a proposal being considered to build a 24-foot barrier levee near Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. The plan is one of several [...]

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