Mississippi
House in limbo as Speaker Philip Gunn weighs run for governor
![House in limbo as Speaker Philip Gunn weighs run for governor House in limbo as Speaker Philip Gunn weighs run for governor](https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AP_22209611314915-scaled.jpg)
Home Speaker Philip Gunn didn’t put rumors about his political future to relaxation throughout the Neshoba County Honest.
The third-term speaker advised Mississippi At the moment final week that he’s in a “fixed analysis” about whether or not he’ll run for governor, for one more time period as speaker or not run for something in any respect. That indecision has left many members within the 122-member Home of Representatives brazenly questioning what they need to count on within the remaining yr of the time period.
Usually by this time in a four-year time period, audio system planning to stay in workplace for one more time period exit of their method to allay hypothesis about their future. Historically, audio system need to affirm their dedication to presiding over the customarily contentious chamber to fend off potential challengers. Any signal of an open speaker’s put up or uncertainty attracts potential candidates like bees to honey, and working a decrease legislative chamber is tough sufficient with out questions and doubts concerning the management. And energy abhors a vacuum.
“I truthfully don’t know what’s happening, and I’m unsure that anyone is aware of proper now,” mentioned longtime Rep. Manly Barton, R-Moss Level. “… (Gunn) working for governor was the rumor we’ve all heard, however there’s been no announcement. He has by no means addressed it with me … We heard it just about throughout the session final yr up till a month in the past … There’s been a number of conjecture, guessing based mostly on what we’ve been seeing — (Speaker Professional Tem Jason White) fundraising, and the belief there was fixing to be a change in management … There’s been no announcement, and we had been led to imagine there was be an announcement.”
Barton continued: “It could get squirrelly if persons are unsure who the management goes to be or what the management workforce seems to be like, when issues are unsettled. That’s the explanation members are calling round looking for out who’s on first and who’s on second.”
Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville, mentioned, “Completely persons are speaking about it. However I’ve not personally had the speaker inform me he’s not working. However persons are discussing it.”
READ MORE: If Gunn runs for governor, there will probably be speaker’s race, however not like old-time donnybrooks
The quite a few rumors about Gunn’s future prompted colourful state Rep. Michael Evans, an impartial from Kemper County, to announce throughout his speech final week on the Neshoba County Honest — in the future earlier than Gunn spoke — that he was endorsing White, R-West, as the following speaker.
“I don’t know something for certain,” Evans mentioned when requested he if he was sure Gunn was stepping down and White, maybe Gunn’s closest lieutenant within the Home, was working for speaker. “I’ve heard issues like everybody else that Gunn is leaving. However he has not mentioned. I don’t know.”
Evans added, “Everyone mentioned Jason goes to run for speaker. I went forward and threw my assist on the market simply in case.”
On the identical time, Evans identified Gunn wanted to return again for yet one more time period to be totally vested within the state retirement system and to have the ability to draw his full pension. He questioned whether or not he would hand over that retirement.
“Possibly that isn’t that vital to him,” Evans mentioned.
After all, if among the rumors are true, Gunn won’t lose his state pension in his new place. For months, it has been rumored that Gunn was contemplating a problem of Gov. Tate Reeves within the 2023 Republican major. In current weeks, although, these rumors have cooled off.
There additionally has been hypothesis associating Gunn with the vacant put up of government director of the Mississippi Group and Junior Faculty Board and with the vacant place of head of the Mississippi Improvement Authority. Mockingly, Reeves would appoint the MDA government director. And to take both put up, it seems Gunn must retire sooner relatively than later.
To maybe add credence to among the rumors, White has been fundraising statewide, showing to face in for Gunn in some cases.
White couldn’t be reached for remark.
“I don’t see a state of affairs the place Jason runs in opposition to Philip,” mentioned Home Methods and Means Chair Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, who’s near each legislators. “I don’t see that occuring.”
After all, the primary individual spurring the rumors is Gunn by not saying unequivocally he’s working for re-election to his state Home seat, which incorporates parts of Hinds and Madison counties, and to the put up of speaker.
In the summertime of 2002 rumors started percolating that four-term incumbent Speaker Tim Ford was not in search of re-election in 2003. Reacting to these rumors, Ford, a Baldwyn Democrat, launched a press release in the summertime of 2002 that if something helped to spur the rumors as an alternative of quelling them. He mentioned he would make a remaining announcement in October.
In October of that yr, the Legislature was within the midst of 1 the longest and notorious particular periods in state historical past — an 83-day particular session on the problem of constructing adjustments to the civil justice system to make it tougher to sue companies. Some have speculated that the uncertainty of Ford’s future made the usually highly effective speaker unable to manage the Home, prolonging the particular session. In actuality, although, there additionally had been different tough components that extended the particular session.
At any fee, in December 2002, simply earlier than the beginning of the ultimate legislative session of the four-year time period, Ford lastly made his announcement: He wouldn’t search re-election.
For a lot of the 2003 session, varied Home members jockeyed for the open seat. Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, prevailed and served two phrases as speaker. McCoy introduced his retirement after the ultimate session of his second four-year time period.
He was succeeded by Gunn. The query now’s will Gunn vie for his fourth time period as speaker, making an attempt to tie Ford because the second longest serving speaker in state historical past.
Apart from White, Barton is amongst a handful of lawmakers who’ve been talked about as a possible speaker or professional tem sooner or later.
“I’ve by no means shied away from that,” Barton mentioned. “I would definitely take pleasure in being in a management function. I don’t assume it’s a secret I need to be in a management function — not essentially speaker, however in management.”
The rationale there are questions concerning the management of the Home, Lamar mentioned, is that he doesn’t imagine Gunn has made a remaining choice on his political future.
“There are alternatives,” Lamar mentioned for the speaker.
READ MORE: Will Gunn run? Speaker has signaled 2023 problem of Gov. Tate Reeves
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Mississippi
Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)
![Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31) Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1280,h_720,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/high_school/01j5m63arexrvt6r9tmr.jpg)
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.
Mississippi
‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations
![‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations ‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations](https://gray-wlbt-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KMJQZPKGBHNRCT7NENQ3O72YY.png?auth=8e7e3183f489f41a63616389bdae4dd45efc187856d208138265c67183c736b4&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
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
![Tire failure suspected in deadly Mississippi bus crash, NTSB says Tire failure suspected in deadly Mississippi bus crash, NTSB says](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/07/11/USAT/9631b18b-dce5-449d-a448-47f4b71a9b44-MS-01.png?auto=webp&crop=3954,2224,x823,y443&format=pjpg&width=1200)
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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