Mississippi Today

Lawmakers appropriate extra $620 million for roads as they work to finish budget

Published

2 years ago

March 30, 2023

Lawmakers appropriate extra $620 million for roads as they work to finish budget

by Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today
March 30, 2023

Mississippians over the next two years could see a boom in new major road projects after lawmakers agreed to give the Mississippi Department of Transportation an extra $620 million Thursday as legislators worked to finish budget work and end the 2023 session.

For two decades, lack of funding and rising repair costs have forced MDOT to focus mostly on maintenance instead of new projects or major expansions. But under a measure originally offered by the Senate, $450 million over the next two years will go to traffic “capacity” projects to build or expand major thoroughfares that have been on MDOT’s planning list for years.

The agreement also earmarks $100 million for the state’s Emergency Road and Bridge Repair program to help local governments with roads and bridges that have fallen into disrepair. It provides $40 million to MDOT to match federal dollars and provides $30 million for “multi-modal” projects, including $10 million for work at state ports.

Senate Transportation Chairwoman Jennifer Branning, R-Philadelphia, noted that even more road funding is included in other bills passed in the final hours of the legislative session. She said the long-deferred capacity expansion projects are crucial.

“I am really pleased with this focus on infrastructure,” Branning said. “Expansion with these projects is critical. Moving freight and goods is so critical to the success of our state.”

Late in the legislative session, Gov. Tate Reeves held a press conference and called on lawmakers to earmark $1.3 billion for road work, and essentially let him choose which projects to build. Legislative leaders, who were already discussing increased infrastructure spending, viewed it as an election-year campaign move for the TV cameras.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson said MDOT told him the increased funding “is about all they can handle for right now” to manage large projects. But he said he hopes the Legislature can continue with increased road funding next year.

The funds for highway fund were part of the overall deal legislative leaders reached late Wednesday. The plan was for the Legislature to vote on that agreement Thursday and perhaps end the session. But legislators will be returning for at least Friday.

Despite that, House Speaker Philip Gunn said, “the budget is on track.”

Gunn said it just takes time to write, print and proofread the budget bills. So, instead of waiting until late on Thursday night to take up those bills, lawmakers opted to come back Friday. It is possible that legislators also will have to work Saturday.

The largest budget bill still pending if the approximately $2.8 billion appropriation for kindergarten through 12th grade education. Reaching agreement on that bill has delayed for almost a week an overall budget deal. But Gunn said the deal reached Thursday placing an additional $100 million in the public education classrooms is still in place.

Among the bills passing both chambers Thursday was a proposal to earmark $71 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for infrastructure improvements for rural water associations. The legislation marks the second consecutive year legislators designated federal COVID-19 relief funds for rural water associations.

There also are some general bills pending for legislators to consider as the session wraps up.

Legislators are working with an unprecedented amount of revenue thanks in large part to COVID-19 relief funds that have poured into the state spurring the economy. Those funds are making it possible to increase funding for transportation, education and for other items.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Up Next

State board names interim superintendent a day after Senate rejection of Robert Taylor

Don't Miss

Department of Health will choose state’s next burn center, Legislature says

Mississippi Today

UMMC holds free cancer screenings

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @EricJShelton – 2025-04-30 12:00:00

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Resident physician Claire Babin, right, performs an oral cancer screening on Ella Holmes during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Physicians prepare for oral, head and neck cancer screenings during a free screening event at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, screens Diane Carter for oral cancer as medical students Mason Nodurft, left, and Eva Kiparizoska observe during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Educational giveaways advocating against smoking are available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Sharon Terry, senior tobacco treatment specialist, waits for patients during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Skylar Robinson, medical office assistant, left, and Kiandria Bruce, registered nurse, review materials at the patient sign-in table during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Head and neck cancer literature is available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Dr. Alex Brooks and registered nurse Angela Noble talk during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Nina Brown, clinical manager, helps Ned Bostic with paperwork during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin performs an oral cancer screening on Ned Bostic at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Ned Bostic receives a neck cancer screening during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, and medical student Hanna Watson examine Ned Bostic during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hosted a free oral, head, and neck cancer screening Wednesday at the Jackson Medical Mall as part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The event featured quick, noninvasive screenings aimed at catching cancer early — when treatment is most effective. Onyx Care provided free HPV vaccinations, while the ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education, and Research offered resources on smoking cessation and free services.

“These screenings take about 10 minutes and can save lives,” said Dr. Gina Jefferson, head and neck surgical oncologist at UMMC. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better chance we have of curing it.”

Tobacco and alcohol use remain major risk factors for these cancers. However, physicians say an increasing number of cases are linked to HPV, especially among younger adults with no history of smoking or drinking. Dentists are often the first to spot early signs, which can include persistent sores, lumps in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

Oral, head and neck cancers are among the most common globally. When found early, survival rates can exceed 80 percent.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post UMMC holds free cancer screenings appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about a free cancer screening event without showing a clear ideological stance. It primarily focuses on the health benefits of early cancer detection and the availability of free resources, such as HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation support. The language used is neutral and the content is centered around public health education rather than promoting a political viewpoint. The inclusion of factual statistics, such as survival rates and risk factors, adds to its informative and objective tone. There are no signs of bias or advocacy for a particular political agenda, making this a centrist piece.

Crooked Letter Sports Podcast

Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball?

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @rick_cleveland – 2025-04-30 10:46:00

by Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi State didn’t even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.

Stream all episodes here.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball? appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-30 10:21:00

by Mississippi Today, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi Today is looking to speak with current and former mobile sports betting users. We’d like to speak with people who spend considerable amounts of time and money betting on sports through online gambling sites.

We’re interested in hearing the experience of people who have suffered from gambling addiction or problems, or friends and family members of people who have. We also would like to talk with people who believe legalizing mobile sports betting would benefit Mississippi and its residents.

We want to hear from you. Please take the survey below or contact Political Reporter Michael Goldberg by email at mgoldberg@mississippitoday.org

TAKE THE SURVEY:

Loading…

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article from Mississippi Today appears to present a neutral stance, focusing on gathering input from various groups of mobile sports betting users, including those who may have experienced addiction issues. The content does not advocate for or against the legalization of mobile sports betting but instead seeks to gather diverse perspectives, including those of individuals who may support or oppose it. The language used is objective and does not suggest a particular ideological perspective, allowing for a balanced exploration of the issue at hand.