by Associated Press Published: April 10,2012
Tags: bill, cell phones, deregulation, executive, governor, law, lawmakers, legislation, legislative, legislators, Legislature, phones, state government, telecommunications, telephones
JACKSON — Mississippi would lose most of its remaining regulatory authority over AT&T under a bill the House gave final passage Monday. Telephone service in Mississippi was mostly deregulated in 2006, ending the Public Service Commission’s traditional power to set rates. House Bill 825 would remove the commission’s remaining ratemaking authority over 30,000 local-only landlines. [...] [...]
JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a bill allowing stronger beer in Mississippi. The law, which takes effect July 1, allows the brewing and sale of beer with alcohol content of up to 8 percent by weight, above the current 5 percent limit. Bryant signed the bill Thursday. Supporters of the bill say that [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 9,2012
Tags: animal rights, animals, judge, judicial, judiciary, law, seizure, tourism, tourists, visitors, wild animals, zoo
COLLINS — A judge has ruled that a January raid on a zoo in Collins and the seizure of animals there was unconstitutional. The Hattiesburg American reports Circuit Judge William Barnett ruled the seizure of the animals without notice to the owners or an opportunity for a hearing violated due process clauses. Barnett said Mississippi [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 3,2012
Tags: bills, illegal immigrants, illegal workers, immigration, law, law enforcement, lawmakers, legislation, legislative, legislators, Legislature
JACKSON — An immigration-enforcement bill has died because a chairman chose not to bring it up for a vote in a Mississippi Senate committee. However, the issue might not be dead. Some House members are trying to put immigration-enforcement provisions into other bills that are still alive. It’s unclear whether those efforts will succeed. Senate [...] [...]
JACKSON — A bill that would revise Mississippi’s workers’ compensation system survived attempts to kill it yesterday, but ended up farther away from passage. After earlier rejecting proposed changes to the system of worker injury insurance, House members reversed themselves and voted 60-56 Thursday to approve Senate Bill 2576. Yesterday, though, House members blocked sending [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 3,2012
Tags: banking, Banks, bill, financial institutions, interest, law, lawmakers, legislation, legislative, legislators, Legislature, lenders, loan companies, loans, state government
JACKSON — Mississippi borrowers could soon pay more for some kinds of loans if lawmakers approve a bill to allow higher interest rates. House Bill 1396 would allow loan companies to charge 99 percent interest for loans up to $1,500. The current cap is 36 percent. It would also change amounts that could be charged [...] [...]
by MBJ Staff Published: March 30,2012
Tags: agriculture, appropriations, aquaculture, bill, budget, catfish, diplomacy, federal agency, federal government, fish, food, food safety, funding, imports, inspections, international trade, law, lawmakers, legislation, legislative, Politics, Senator
WASHINGTON — Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) yesterday again stressed to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack the importance to U.S. food safety and the economy of implementing a program to more thoroughly inspect imported catfish. Cochran addressed the issue at Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY2013 budget request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: March 30,2012
Tags: bill, Charter schools, committee, education, elementary schools, law, lawmakers, legislation, legislators, Legislature, public schools, schools, secondary schools, vote
JACKSON — A Mississippi House committee has again delayed a vote on a charter school bill. It’s unclear whether Senate Bill 2401 can pass the House Education Committee, though it has been narrowed by amendments. Some Republicans and conservative Democrats on the 31-member panel continue to voice opposition. For example, Rep. Steve Massengill, a Hickory [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: March 29,2012
Tags: agriculture, bill, builders, building, chambers of commerce, contractors, county government, executive, farmers, farms, foreign workers, gorwers, governor, illegal immigrants, illegal workers, immigrants, immigration, law, law enfocement, law enforcement, lawmakers, legislative, legislators, Legislature, municipal government, municipalities, police, producers, sheriff, supervisors, workers
JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant said he doesn’t understand some of the opposition that’s developed to an immigration-enforcement bill, particularly from businesses that say they don’t hire illegal immigrants, anyway. “If they’re not hiring illegal immigrants I am baffled as to why they think this law would be detrimental to their work,” Bryant told reporters [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: March 29,2012
Tags: bill, Charter schools, education, elementary schools, law, lawmakers, legislation, legislative, legislators, public eduction, public schools, schools, secondary schools
JACKSON — A Mississippi House Education Committee vote on a charter schools bill will wait until today. Yesterday’s committee meeting ended abruptly without a vote, with Chairman John Moore, R-Brandon, promising to meet again today. Some Democrats said the Republican majority lacked votes to pass the bill. “It was going to be close right now,” [...] [...]
Loading ...