Mississippi

Despite Housing Crisis, Mississippi May Return Up to Millions in Federal Rent Aid to DC

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2022

Despite Housing Crisis, Mississippi May Return Up to Millions in Federal Rent Aid to DC

Tate Reeves, Mississippi’s Republican governor, confronted intense criticism Monday because the poorest U.S. state ended participation in a federal lease help program that helped protect tens of hundreds of individuals going through eviction in the course of the financial upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our leaders must be serving to elevate individuals out of poverty, not entrenching it additional.”

Invoking former U.S. President Ronald Reagan—whose administration eviscerated the social security web and turbocharged financial inequality—Reeves tweeted that “right now in Mississippi, we’re ending RAMP, a federal program that incentivizes individuals to not work by utilizing taxpayer {dollars} to pay for as much as 15 months of free lease and utilities.”

Reeves was referring to the Rental Help for Mississippians Program, which was funded through Covid-19 financial payments handed by Congress in 2020 and 2021.

Rivers Orman, a spokesperson for Mississippi House Company—which runs RAMP—instructed NBC Information that RAMP has “served over 36,000 households” and has “distributed over $200 million in funding to assist those that had been most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

State knowledge present that Mississippi was nonetheless processing practically 17,000 RAMP functions as of July 31. Monday was the final day for residents to submit an utility.

“They do not care. They simply do not care,” Teresa Jackson, a 45-year-old employed hairdresser from Jackson, instructed NBC Information. “The quantity of functions they’re getting reveals there’s a want, and for them to counsel individuals like me aren’t working? It is a slap within the face. It’s extremely insulting and degrading. You are simply not being delicate to individuals’s wants and understanding it.”

In line with Mississippi Immediately:

Reeves’ workplace stated this system has about $130 million remaining. How a lot will likely be returned to Washington won’t be recognized till the entire obligations are met… Mississippi was allotted about $340 million in help. Reeves stated Wednesday that the state has spent about $200 million. He stated that 86,146 individuals utilized for this system and that 36,889 had been authorized for help.
In February, Mississippi Immediately reported… that 66% of the candidates authorized to obtain funds by means of this system had been employed, and the bulk are Black and feminine. The most recent U.S. Census knowledge obtainable… confirmed that 44.5% of grownup Mississippians surveyed reported being behind on their lease or mortgage, with eviction or foreclosures within the subsequent two months being both very doubtless or considerably doubtless.
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On the similar time interval final 12 months, 60.5% reported eviction or foreclosures as doubtless. At instances in the course of the pandemic, Mississippi led the nation within the share of individuals reporting chance of eviction or foreclosures.

“This resolution reveals an entire disregard for individuals’s well being and security,” Vangela M. Wade, president and CEO of the Mississippi Middle for Justice, stated in a press release earlier this month. “Practically 1 in 3 renter households in Mississippi is extraordinarily low-income, and our state is brief greater than 48,000 inexpensive rental houses for very low-income renters.”

“However the governor has determined to make housing much more precarious,” she continued. “That is outrageous, heartless, and completely devoid of any purpose. Mississippians are working—and dealing exhausting. However our leaders preserve depriving them of fundamental instruments to outlive, trapping them in an limitless cycle of poverty.”

Referencing allegations that Mississippi officers misspent funds meant to assist impoverished residents, Wade added that “it is also deeply ironic that Gov. Reeves is decrying supposedly wasteful authorities spending” whereas “state leaders are presently embroiled in a scandal through which thousands and thousands of {dollars} designated for the poor had been as a substitute funneled into luxurious automobiles, sporting occasions, and cellphones.”

“Our leaders must be serving to elevate individuals out of poverty,” she stated, “not entrenching it additional.”

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Mississippi

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Published

7 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.

Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.

DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.

Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.

Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.

Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.

Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.

Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.

Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.

Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.

Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.

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Mississippi

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

Published

14 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.

Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.

Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.

CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.

“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.

Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.

Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.

“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.

Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.

“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.

Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.

“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”

The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.

“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.

All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.

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Mississippi

Tire failure suspected in deadly Mississippi bus crash, NTSB says

Published

22 hours ago

September 1, 2024

Press Room

Tire failure suspected in deadly Mississippi bus crash, NTSB says

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that killed seven and injured 36 people.

The deadly bus crash in Mississippi that killed seven people and injured dozens of others early Saturday occurred after the vehicle experienced a tire failure, causing it to run off the road and overturn, officials and authorities said.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that left seven people dead and another 36 people injured. The collision occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi, when the bus left the roadway and overturned.

The bus, which authorities described as a 2018 Volvo commercial passenger bus, traveled westbound when its left front tire failed, NTSB member Todd Inman said at a news conference Sunday. The bus then moved onto an embankment and rolled over on its left side.

Inman added that investigators will be at the scene for at least another week and are looking into several factors of the crash, including the vehicle’s mechanical condition, motor carrier safety, the condition and experience of the driver, and environmental factors.

According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, the bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos. Records show that in the 24 months before Saturday, the transit company’s vehicles were involved in one fatal crash, two injury collisions, and a crash requiring a tow truck.

The transit company has over 20 years of experience and provides trips between more than 100 destinations throughout Mexico and the United States, according to Autobuses Regiomontanos’ website.

“Everyone at the NTSB sends their expressions of sorrow for everything that the survivors and victims of this crash went through,” Inman said.

7 killed, 36 injured in bus crash

The bus carried a total of 41 passengers and two drivers, according to authorities. It was traveling from Atlanta to Dallas when the incident occurred.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to Master Sergeant Kervin K. Stewart with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and another person died later at a hospital, Stewart said.

Another 36 people were transported to area hospitals.

Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said two victims killed in the crash were identified by their mother as a 16-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, according to The New York Times. Authorities were working to identify the other victims.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY

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