Mississippi
Elected officials discussing paid maternity leave for Mississippi's state employees
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -Mississippi state employees do not have paid maternity leave. They’re able to take up to 12 weeks off under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act known as FMLA. But that’s unpaid. However, there are discussions about the possibility of changing that.
A Senate study group has a laser focus on what can be done to improve the lives of women, children, and families. The maternity leave issue is the latest topic.
“The legislature governs the state workers, and they’re competing against the private sector,” noted study group member Sen. Brice Wiggins. “And so we, we want good workers for the state. So, I think that would be, we need to be looking at that. But it’s always a balancing about is that a benefit that outweighs the cost?”
Senator Nicole Boyd believes it would have numerous benefits.
“We know that paid maternity leave leads to these higher employer retention rates,” said Boyd. “Women are much more likely to return to their job. There’s reduced turnover, and therefore the cost associated this are dramatically less. You see enhanced employee morale, which is really important. And then we see increased productivity. After women have had sufficient time to be off work, to rest, to get their health back in shape. They come back to work, ready to work.”
Attorney General Lynn Fitch was asked about the issue at the conclusion of her testimony to the group. She told lawmakers that it would simply put us in line with most other Southern states and says they should take it up in the 2025 session.
“I just want to tell you that Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Virginia have all passed these laws, and so I would encourage you to take a hard look at this,” explained Fitch.
Meanwhile, Sen. Rod Hickman thinks it the right move but doesn’t want it to be too narrowly focused.
“The one thing I would say that I’m hopeful of that if we are able to pass legislation for state employees to have paid maternity leave, that it looks like a family leave model, whereas a father has opportunity to take advantage of that,” he said. “Adopting parents have the opportunity to take advantage of this.”
There are more hearings scheduled for November that will drill down more specifically on this issue. Boyd says she would only be interested in a state employee benefit, no mandates on private businesses in the state.
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Mississippi
Mississippi State women’s basketball vs LSU, Kim Mulkey score, live updates, start time, TV
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State women’s basketball is playing its final regular season game against No. 6 LSU at Humphrey Coliseum on March 1 (3 p.m., SEC Network).
The Bulldogs (18-11, 5-10 SEC) enter the game on the NCAA Tournament bubble after losing three consecutive games, so an upset win could secure an at-large bid.
The Tigers (25-4, 11-4) and coach Kim Mulkey have won three straight games. Their only losses of the season are to Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Texas and South Carolina.
The Clarion Ledger is bringing you live updates from the game. Follow along.
Watch Mississippi State vs LSU
Mississippi State vs LSU score updates
What time does Mississippi State vs LSU start?
- Date: Sunday, March 1
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Where: Humphrey Coliseum
What TV channel is Mississippi State vs LSU on today?
Mississippi State vs LSU prediction
- Sam Sklar, The Clarion Ledger: LSU 77, Mississippi State 74
Mississippi State vs LSU injury report
Mississippi State
None
LSU
- Meghan Yarnevich: Out
- Kailyn Gilbert: Out
Mississippi State women’s basketball schedule 2025-26
Remaining games on the Mississippi State schedule:
- March 4-8: SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mississippi State capitalized on free passes and timely hitting to pull away from Virginia Tech late, defeating the Hokies 15-8 Saturday at Globe Life Field.
The Bulldogs (11-0) collected 15 hits and went 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, taking control with a five-run seventh inning before tacking on three more scores in the eighth and two in the ninth.
Mississippi State struck first in the opening inning. Aidan Teel singled and later scored on Reed Stallman’s RBI double to right, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead against Virginia Tech starter Griffin Stieg.
The Hokies fell behind further in the second when Teel delivered an RBI single and Ace Reese followed with a 399-foot two-run home run to right-center, pushing the margin to 4-0.
Virginia Tech answered in the third. Hudson Lutterman tripled to right field and Ethan Gibson lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-1. But the Bulldogs continued to manufacture offense, adding a run in the fifth after a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded made it 5-1.
The Hokies began to chip away in the sixth when Ethan Ball launched a 448-foot solo home run to center field, trimming the lead to 5-2. Virginia Tech threatened further in the inning after Owen Petrich reached and Treyson Hughes moved into scoring position following an error, but a strikeout and a caught stealing ended the rally.
The game swung decisively in the seventh.
Mississippi State loaded the bases against Aiden Robertson and Peyton Smith before James Nunnallee was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Bryce Chance followed with an RBI single, and Teel delivered a two-run single through the right side. An Ace Reese sacrifice fly capped the five-run inning, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 10-2.
Mississippi State added three more in the eighth on Jacob Parker’s 415-foot, three-run home run to right-center, stretching the advantage to 13-2.
Virginia Tech was able to answer to aviod the run-rule decision. In the bottom half of the eighth, Nick Locurto advanced on a wild pitch before Aimon Chandler crushed a two-run homer to left-center to make it 13-5.
The Bulldogs answered again in the ninth, taking advantage of walks and another hit-by-pitch to plate two more runs and push the lead to 15-5.
The Hokies mounted one final rally in the bottom of the ninth, launching three consecutive solo home runs. Anderson French homered to open the inning, Hudson Lutterman followed with a blast of his own and Sam Gates added another to trim the deficit to 15-8. The comeback attempt stalled there, however, as Mississippi State recorded the final three outs to secure the win.
Virginia Tech finished with 11 hits and hit seven home runs in the contest, but the difference proved to be traffic. The Hokies issued 10 walks and hit four batters, allowing Mississippi State to consistently put runners on base. The Bulldogs stranded 12 but capitalized often enough to keep control.
Ball, Chandler, French, Lutterman and Gates each homered for the Hokies, while Mississippi State countered with long balls from Reese and Parker.
Despite the late power surge, Virginia Tech could not overcome Mississippi State’s sustained offensive pressure and struggled to contain innings once they began to unravel.
The Hokies will look to regroup as they finish tournament play tomorrow against Tennessee.
Mississippi State baseball didn’t have a hit through four innings but came through with big fifth and sixth innings to reach 10-0.
The No. 5 Bulldogs defeated Arizona State 8-4 in the first game of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 27.
Gehrig Frei jolted MSU’s offense in the fifth inning when he hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run for a 4-0 lead over the Sun Devils (8-2). MSU then added three more runs in the sixth inning for a 7-1 lead. Aidan Teel homered for a second straight game with a solo home run in the eighth inning.
Mississippi State sophomore Ryan McPherson had the longest start of his career, throwing seven innings with one run allowed, four hits, three walks and five strikeouts.
Watch Mississippi State baseball in Amegy Bank College Baseball Series
Mississippi State baseball vs Arizona State score updates
Dominic Longo and Dominic Smaldino both hit solo home runs in the ninth inning off MSU’s Maddox Miller to cut the score to 8-4.
Centerfielder Aidan Teel led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run for an 8-2 lead.
The Sun Devils scored one run in the eighth inning on a PJ Moutzouridis sacrifice fly. It cut Mississippi State’s lead to 7-2.
McPherson is done for the day as MSU’s pitcher after throwing a career long seven innings. He allowed one run with four hits, three walks and five strikeouts.
Chone James hit a two-RBI single, then Reed Stallman also hit an RBI single. Mississippi State is up 7-1 in the sixth inning.
Landon Hairston grounded into a double play to trim MSU’s lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning.
The first pitch thrown by Arizona State reliever Josh Butler was a pinch-hit, three-run home run by Gehrig Frei. MSU leads 4-0 in the fifth inning.
Arizona State starting pitcher Cole Carlon exited in the fifth inning with an apparent cramp after giving up the RBI single to Bryce Chance.
Bryce Chance hit an RBI single for a 1-0 Mississippi State lead in the fifth inning.
There were no hits by either team through four innings. ASU’s Dean Toigo hit a single and so did MSU’s Blake Bevis.
Only one batter has reached base through the first two innings, MSU’s Noah Sullivan via a walk in the first inning. MSU pitcher Ryan McPherson has three strikeouts, while Arizona State pitcher Cole Carlon has five.
The Bulldogs are 9-0 with new coach Brian O’Connor. It’s their best start since they went 13-0 in 2015. However, the Bulldogs had a poor season after that, finishing 24-30.
- 2B Drew Wyers
- 3B Ace Reese
- DH Noah Sullivan
- LF Vytas Valincius
- C Chone James
- 1B Blake Bevis
- SS Ryder Woodson
- CF Aidan Teel
- RF Bryce Chance
The Feb. 27 game between Mississippi State and Arizona State in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series is also streaming for free on YouTube at this link.
Mississippi State vs Arizona State will air on 96.1 FM. It can also be streamed for free on the Mississippi State Hail State app or on the MSU athletics website.
What time does Mississippi State baseball play today?
All games are played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
- Feb. 27: vs. Arizona State (11 a.m. CT)
- Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech (3 p.m. CT)
- March 1: vs. UCLA (2:30 p.m. CT)
What channel is Mississippi State baseball on today?
All games are streaming on FloCollege. The Feb. 27 game against Arizona State is also streaming for free on YouTube.
Mississippi State starting pitchers in Amegy Bank College Baseball Series
- Feb. 27 (vs. Arizona State): RHP Ryan McPherson (2.70 ERA, 1-0) vs. LHP Cole Carlon (2-0, 1.64 ERA)
- Feb. 28: (vs. Virginia Tech): LHP Tomas Valincius (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA
- March 1 (vs. UCLA): TBA
Mississippi State injury updates
There is no official injury report for this series, though Mississippi State pitcher William Kirk exited his Feb. 24 start with a leg injury.
Mississippi State baseball 2026 schedule
Next five games:
- March 3: at Southern Miss
- March 6-8: vs. Lipscomb
- March 10: vs. Tulane (in Biloxi)
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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