SUMMARY: Misty Burgess of Lee County, Mississippi, pled guilty to theft of government funds in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, according to State Auditor Shad White. In May 2020, she submitted an unemployment benefits application using her sister's personal information; her sister was an inmate at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and ineligible for these benefits. The U.S. Attorney's office will sentence Burgess in September 2024. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor's office via their website or by calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during business hours.

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SUMMARY: Despite a recent Mississippi Supreme Court ruling allowing $10 million in public funds for private schools, 2024 has not favored school vouchers supporters. The legislature, ending their session, enacted stricter regulations and did not pass new voucher bills. Noteworthy is the increased oversight for special-needs scholarships, mandating detailed academic progress reporting and specific educational services. Efforts to expand tax credits were also defeated. While the Supreme Court ruling temporarily supports voucher funds, it hinged on technicalities about federal versus state funds, leaving the constitutional ban on public funding for private schools intact. The conservative legislature did not expand voucher programs this session.

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SUMMARY: Hinds County District 2 Supervisor Tony Smith was expelled from a board meeting for bringing a gun, which he claimed was empty, inside the building. Smith stated he was asked by Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones to place the gun in his vehicle during a recess. However, before Smith could return to the meeting, he was barred from re-entering. He explained he had the gun on him because he had been checking his rental properties earlier and forgot to remove it. Smith believes the incident is being used by other supervisors to discredit him, emphasizing there was no hostile intent.

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