Mississippi News
Want to try drawing new House, Senate districts? Here’s how.
Want to try drawing new House, Senate districts? Here's how.
The public will have access through the month of January to the computers and resources of the Mississippi Legislature Joint Redistricting Committee to draw their own legislative districts.
People wishing to do so should call 601-359-1226 and ask for Ted Booth, executive director of the Legislature's Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee, to schedule an appointment. The offices and computers will be available from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Senate Pro Tem Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, who is vice chair of the Redistricting Committee, said, “We had several people to come and draw congressional districts. But thus far we have not had people wanting to draw legislative districts.”
Late last year, the Redistricting Committee provided public access for people to draw their own congressional maps. The Legislature is currently in the process of passing a plan to redraw the state's four U.S. House districts. The Legislature is expected to take up the issue of redrawing the 52 state Senate and 122 state House seats later this session.
READ MORE: Groups allege Redistricting Committee violated public meetings law
The Legislature is charged with redrawing the U.S. congressional and state House districts every 10 years to adhere to population shifts gleaned from the decennial census. Federal and state law mandate redistricting based on the census data.
The guidelines of the Joint Legislative Redistricting Committee require public access for three weeks to allow the public to draw their own congressional districts and three weeks to draw their own state House and Senate districts. Members of the public can keep the maps they draw, and the maps also will be made available as part of the public record as the Legislature works to redraw the state's U.S. House districts and legislative districts.
The Legislature is in the process of completing the task of redrawing the four congressional districts. The reason for swift action on congressional redistricting is because the deadline for candidates to qualify to run for the congressional seats is March 1. The primary election will be held in June. A congressional redistricting plan is expected to be sent to Gov. Tate Reeves later this week.
The 174 legislative districts will be taken up later in the session. Legislative elections are slated for 2023.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Body found in Pearl River in Jackson
SUMMARY: Jackson police are investigating after a body was found in the Pearl River near South State Street and Gallatin Street. The deceased person, identified as a male, was found on Tuesday, April 30, prompting multiple emergency units to respond to recover the body. Rankin County deputies and Richland police also assisted at the scene. This incident is being considered a double homicide, with Detective Tommie Brown leading the investigation. Crews are currently working to recover the body from the river. The situation is still developing, and more information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
The post Body found in Pearl River in Jackson appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Protesters in custody after Columbia calls in police to end pro-Palestinian occupation
SUMMARY: Late on Tuesday, police arrested protesters after Columbia University requested their assistance in ending a pro-Palestinian occupation on campus. The police, equipped with helmets and riot gear, cleared out Hamilton Hall, a building that had been occupied by demonstrators for more than 12 hours. The decision to involve law enforcement came after protesters vandalized and blockaded the building, forcing campus security out. The nationwide campus protests started in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza, with tensions rising as administrators face pressure to clear protesters before commencement ceremonies. Despite negotiations and compromises at other universities, the protests continue amid accusations of antisemitism and calls for divestment.
The post Protesters in custody after Columbia calls in police to end pro-Palestinian occupation appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
West Point students participate in Financial Literacy Art Contest
SUMMARY: West Point High School in Mississippi hosted a Financial Literacy Art Contest for students in the accounting class. The goal was to equip them with skills to make good financial decisions as they transition into adulthood. Students chose a financial literacy topic and created artwork to represent it. The judging criteria included creativity, artistic execution, and incorporation of a financial literacy theme. The top five winners received trophies, and the top three also received cash prizes. The teacher emphasized the importance of knowing how to manage finances, such as avoiding maxing out credit cards and understanding bank statements and savings accounts.
The post West Point students participate in Financial Literacy Art Contest appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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