Mississippi News
Editor’s note on our welfare coverage
Editor's note on our welfare coverage
The conservative blog Y'all Politics published on Sept. 21, 2022, that my mother, in her role as special assistant attorney general, had signed off on the language of a lease agreement to construct a University of Southern Mississippi volleyball stadium — a project now a focus of the state's ongoing welfare scandal. I learned about this on the evening of Sept. 20, 2022, when the blog's editor began calling around for comment.
Without hesitation, I consulted with Mississippi Today colleagues and with veteran journalism leaders outside our newsroom about what had been, to that point, unknown to everyone on our staff. We immediately implemented a permanent policy that would allow any reporting that may present a conflict to go forward without my direction. And after continued internal discussions, we decided to add an editor's note to each future story mentioning the USM volleyball project, including retroactively adding the note to one earlier story that published after we learned the information.
None of this changes nor challenges a thing about Mississippi Today's relentless reporting about the misuse of federal welfare funding intended to help the state's most vulnerable people. In our three-plus years of coverage of the state's welfare scandal — including breaking the very first story about the USM volleyball stadium being funded with welfare dollars — we have never stopped even an inch short of reporting the whole truth for any reason, whether personal or political.
Multiple journalists on staff, independent of my involvement, reviewed the information published by Y'all Politics and determined we have sufficiently and consistently reported that the Attorney General's Office signed off on the volleyball contract. You can read some of that reporting here, here, here and here. And for years, we have made deliberate editorial decisions to not name dozens of state employees at multiple agencies who reviewed welfare-related documents or sat in relevant meetings but ultimately had no authority over how funds were spent.
That political actors are willing to leverage the bureaucratic role my own mother played in state government to try to discredit Mississippi Today's reporting is notable. But it should not distract readers from the real story: Powerful Mississippians appear to have used the state government system to steer millions away from our neediest residents into their own pockets and the pockets of their wealthy friends.
We will follow and report the story wherever it leads us, just as we always have.
READ MORE: Our full investigative reporting on the Mississippi welfare scandal
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
McComb PD launches app to help fight crime
SUMMARY: The McComb Police Department in Mississippi has introduced a new crime fighting tool, the McComb MS PD App, developed by Tip411. The app allows citizens to give anonymous tips directly to police via their smartphones or by text message. It aims to encourage community involvement in keeping the city safe from violent crimes like shootings and murders. The police chief emphasizes the importance of community policing and hopes that the public will use the app to help fight crime. The app has received positive feedback from some community members who see it as a valuable tool for safety.
The post McComb PD launches app to help fight crime appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Hatley students host living wax museum of famous Mississippians
SUMMARY: Fourth graders at Hatley School in Mississippi spent nine weeks researching famous Mississippians and brought their research to life in a wax museum. The students portrayed different Mississippi natives like Jimmy Buffett, B.B. King, and Britney Spears, sharing stories of their lives and careers. The teachers behind the project hoped to inspire the children to see that hard work and dedication can lead to success, despite their Mississippi roots. The students learned valuable lessons from the project, such as perseverance and never giving up, as they embodied their chosen famous Mississippians in the spotlight. This was the first year for Hatley's Famous Mississippians Wax Museum.
The post Hatley students host living wax museum of famous Mississippians appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Governor signs bill banning ‘squatted vehicles’ in Mississippi
SUMMARY: Beginning July 1, driving “squatted vehicles” with front fenders raised four inches or more higher than the rear fenders will be illegal on Mississippi roads. Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill 349 into law, making it a misdemeanor to drive these modified motor vehicles. The law aims to improve road safety, as the configuration of squatted vehicles poses visibility issues and potential dangers for other drivers. Truck owners are encouraged to ensure their vehicles comply with the new regulations, with local businesses offering free assistance in measuring and adjusting vehicle height. Violators could face fines or a suspended driver's license.
The post Governor signs bill banning ‘squatted vehicles' in Mississippi appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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