Mississippi
Bill to protect women’s spaces moves forward in Mississippi
- The SAFER Act seeks to define sex-based terms by biological sex while providing protections for women’s spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms.
Mississippi Republican lawmakers continue to seek protections for women in the most vulnerable of spaces by advancing the SAFER Act, authored by State Senator Josh Harkins.
SB 2753 passed the Senate by a vote of 40-12 in mid-March.
The legislation was then amended in the House, passing on the floor by a vote of 80-31 on Wednesday after a robust challenge from Democrats opposing the bill, claiming it was nothing more than playing politics.
One Democratic lawmaker, State Rep. Zakiya Summers, said the bill would cause transgender people and their supporters not to move to the state while another Democrat, State Rep. Jeffrey Harness, warned of lawsuits should the bill become law.
The SAFER Act seeks to define sex-based terms such as woman, female, man, and male on biological sex instead of following trends in blue states that are using gender identify, or how a male or female view themselves, as the defining factor.
The SAFER Act also aims to protect women’s safe spaces, such as in bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms.
The legislation builds on the Mississippi Fairness Act, passed into law in 2021, which prevents males from competing in girls and women sports. Language that would have protected single-sex spaces was not in the final version of that bill, meaning for those seeking to protect those spaces for women additional legislation is needed.
Opponents of the legislation claim it’s an anti-transgender bill targeting an extreme minority. Yet, supporters point to recent polling of registered voters in Mississippi from the Independent Women’s Voice that shows 95% of respondents believe it is important that Mississippi law protect private spaces for women.
According to a 2022 report from UCLA’s Williams Institute, state-level estimates of person who identify as transgender in Mississippi is 9,600 over 18 years old and another 2,400 between the ages of 13 and 17.
The legislation now heads back to the Senate where lawmakers could concur and send it on to the Governor for his signature, invite conference to work out any differences, or let it die. Given the overwhelming support for the bill from the supermajority Republican chamber, the bill has a good chance of finding its way to Governor Tate Reeves’ desk.
Senator Harkins told Magnolia Tribune that he is glad to see that the Senate and the House of Representatives have now demonstrated that they support legislation defining sex according to biology and protecting safe public spaces for women and girls.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to get the SAFER Act on Governor Reeve’s desk to be signed into law,” Harkins said.
Tennessee is recruiting toward its 2029 football signing class. The Vols offered a scholarship to 2029 wide receiver Matthew Fletcher.
“Blessed to receive an offer (from) the University of Tennessee,” Fletcher announced.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver is from Central Hinds Academy in Raymond, Mississippi. He does not have rankings from 247Sports.
Ole Miss was the first school to offer a scholarship to Fletcher. Other schools to offer him scholarships are Akron, LSU, Mississippi State, Tuskegee, Jacksonville State, Hinds Community College and Jackson State.
Tennessee does not have a commitment for its 2028 and 2029 recruiting class.
The Vols have 13 commitments for their 2027 recruiting class: linebacker JP Peace, offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, defensive lineman Kadin Fife, quarterback Derrick Baker, athlete Jaden Butler, wide receiver KeSean Bowman, defensive back Carter Jamison, defensive back Brandon Leavell, tight end Malik Howard, defensive lineman Christian Mays, cornerback Dylan Haley, long snapper Sam McKeown and kicker Ford Fehling.
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Knowing when to call 911 and when to use a non-emergency number can save lives. Avoid diverting resources needed in actual emergencies.
Court records show all five suspects charged in the shooting death of a former Mississippi college football player, Idarrious Iantron “D.D.” Bowie, pleaded not guilty June 9 during their initial court appearance in Rankin County.
Ladarious J. Harrison, 18, Dominick Sanabria, 19, Semiko Crump, 46, Kaylee Trimble, 18, and Michael Mitchell, 19, all face charges in the June 5 shooting death of Bowie, 27, of Lena.
Harrison and Sanabria both face a murder charge. Crump, Trimble and Mitchell face an accessory after the fact of murder charge.
Not guilty pleas have been entered into court records for all five suspects.
Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said Bowie was shot multiple times in the front yard of a residence in the 100 block of Adams Road. Bowie later died from his injuries.
According to previous Clarion Ledger reporting, Bowie was a former four-star wide receiver and MHSAA’s Mr. Football 3A who played a big part in Morton’s success as a quarterback and wide receiver. Bowie was a 2016 Dandy Dozen player.
Originally signing with Ole Miss as its top prospect, Bowie left the Rebels for personal reasons in 2018 and then signed with Northeast Mississippi Community College. For the 2019 football season, Bowie joined Jackson State University as a wide receiver.
Court documents state Sanabria and Harrison got into a verbal argument with Bowie which led to the shooting.
Below are more details regarding what each suspect is accused of related to the murder:
Ladarious James Harrison, 18
Rankin County Court Judge David Morrow denied bond for Harrison, who is accused of shooting Bowie multiple times while in the front yard of the home on Adams Road. If convicted, Harrison faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
At the time of shooting, court records state Harrison was on bond for an attempted murder charge for a 2025 shooting in Rankin County. His bond conditions required GPS monitoring.
Court records reveal investigators obtained GPS records which show Harrison “was at the location during the time of the shooting.”
“During an interview with Harrison, he stated that he heard a gunshot and then took off running. He denied any involvement in the death of Idarrious Iantron Bowie,” court records state.
Dominick Delricco Sanabria, 19
Judge Morrow denied bond for Sanabria, who is also accused of shooting Bowie multiple times while in the front yard of the Adams Road home. If convicted, Sanabria faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to court records, Sanabria surrendered himself at the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.
Court documents state while being interviewed, Sanabria said he and other individuals traveled to Adams Road. Upon arrival, a verbal altercation occurred.
Sanabria told investigators he did have a gun on him during the argument but “did not intend to use the firearm.”
“But when the altercation escalated, (Sanabria) and Bowie were fighting over control of the gun when it discharged wounding Bowie,” the court filing states.
After the initial discharge of the gun, Sanabria told investigators, “Bowie began running away at which time Harrison fired multiple rounds striking the victim.”
Semiko Nakuna Crump, 46
Judge Morrow denied bond for Crump, who is accused of assisting Harrison and Sanabria “knowing they had feloniously shot another person with the intent to enable them to avoid arrest.”
Court records state a Toyota Camry, used to transport the suspects to the crime scene, later arrived at a residence on Cherry Bark Drive in Brandon. Investigators said at the residence, Crump came out of the garage.
Court filings state Crump allowed men to enter the residence through the garage “at which time she begins looking down the street as if she is filling the role of a lookout.”
At some point later, the Toyota Camry leaves the residence.
“Crump continues her lookout behavior for several minutes which is evidenced by her walking back and forth from the front of the residence toward the roadway and looking down the street,” court records state.
During the time of the shooting, Crump was out on felony bond for trafficking-controlled substances in a correctional facility.
If convicted, Crump faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Kaylee Dewanna Trimble, 18
Judge Morrow set Trimble’s bond at $500,000. Trimble, the daughter of Crump, had no previous criminal history.
Trimble was required to wear a GPS monitor and have no contact with the victim’s family or co-defendants.
Trimble is accused of assisting Harrison and Sanabria “knowing they had feloniously shot another person with the intent to enable them to avoid arrest.”
“During an interview with Kaylee Trimble, she stated that Dominick Delricco Sanabria came to her house and stated that he was robbed and believed he was shot in the leg. She stated that they then left the residence and went to an address in Jackson, MS,” court records state. “Trimble was taken into custody at this time.”
After that statement, investigators went to the Rankin County Jail and photographed Sanabria’s leg.
Court documents state investigators “noticed red marks that Sanabria stated that he sustained during a struggle over the firearm with Bowie.”
If convicted, Trimble faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Michael Jerome Mitchell, 19
Judge Morrow set Mitchell’s bond at $500,000. Mitchell was also required to wear a GPS monitor and have no contact with the victim’s family or co-defendants.
According to investigators, witnesses told authorities during interviews that Mitchell was at the scene of the shooting.
Mitchell is accused of assisting Harrison and Sanabria “knowing they had feloniously shot another person with the intent to enable them to avoid arrest.”
Investigators said they were unable to find Mitchell and the Toyota Camry used to transport the suspects to the crime scene, the vehicle’s tag was listed on a “hot list as being a wanted subject.”
Court documents state officers with the Flowood Police Department located the Toyota Camry on June 6, “being driven by Michael Mitchell.”
The vehicle was towed to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, and Mitchell was taken into custody and transported to the Rankin County Adult Detention Center.
If convicted, Mitchell faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.
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