Mississippi
In wake of Mississippi seafood scandal, Alabama is set to enact mandatory disclosure of origin – Yellowhammer News
On the tail end of a high-profile seafood fraud case in Mississippi where a restaurant admitted to selling mislabeled imported fish as local Gulf seafood, a new Alabama law will go into effect on October 1, 2024 to prevent similar deception.
The Mississippi case, which concluded with the restaurant forfeiting $1.35 million and pleading guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud, was a consequence of serving seafood to customers made with low-grade, frozen fish from Africa, Suriname, and India — claiming they were caught in the Gulf of Mexico. In doing so, customers were charged substantially higher prices for their meals.
Alabama State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island) introduced a bill requiring Alabama restaurants disclose whether the seafood they serve is either domestic or imported. Governor Kay Ivey signed that bill into law, and later this year, it will go into effect.
State Rep. Brown said that the law is needed given the increasing prevalence of foreign seafood in Alabama that is being incorrectly labeled and priced, as is well evidenced in the Mississippi scandal.
Restaurants in Alabama to be required to disclose country of origin of fish and shrimp
“Alabama’s commercial seafood industry plays a vital role in our economy, and with foreign caught products flooding the U.S. market, it is essential that we support it, protect it, and promote it,” Brown said this week.
“By requiring disclosure if seafood is domestic or imported, we can encourage the use of products caught in Alabama, ensure that consumers are informed about the food they consume, and hold restaurants accountable if they commit similar fraud.”
Specifically, the new law requires restaurants disclose whether seafood is domestic or imported on the menu listing for dishes they sell or on “conspicuous signage” plainly visible to diners and patrons.
Advertisements for seafood products and dishes sold by food service establishments are also required to include the information under the bill’s provisions. Additionally, the law mandates that the same methods must be used to disclose if fish or shrimp products are farm-raised or caught in the wild.
The law will go into effect October 1, 2024 and the Alabama State Department of Public Health will be responsible for enforcing the new rules.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.
Latest
Local News
Weather
Sports
Mississippi Insight
Pine Belt News
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 28, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from April 28 drawing
01-03-09-22-31
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 28 drawing
Midday: 6-2-9, FB: 8
Evening: 1-1-2, FB: 1
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 28 drawing
Midday: 5-0-9-8, FB: 8
Evening: 1-8-8-1, FB: 1
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 28 drawing
Midday: 08
Evening: 15
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Medical marijuana is having a moment in clinical trials
Cannabis has medical promise, but doctors still can’t prescribe it. A Harvard psychiatrist explains why science and policy lag behind.
Federal drug policy is undergoing a major shift. It could affect Mississippi medical marijuana.
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order changing the classification for medical marijuana at the federal level. It affected products that states license for medical use and Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana products.
On April 23, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order shifting them from the highest level of regulation, Schedule I, to the less restrictive Schedule III.
“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” Blanche said in a statement.
Did Trump legalize marijuana?
No. Weed has not been legalized across the country.
The newest changes only downgrade the penalties if someone has medical marijuana in a way that violates federal law.
Trump also signed an executive order in December easing some federal penalties for recreational use. It did not legalize the drug nationally or override state marijuana laws.
The DOJ will have an expedited hearing on June 29 regarding more broadly reclassifying marijuana. The reclassification push started under former President Joe Biden, and Trump signed an executive action in December.
Weed is still classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law, but it would move to Schedule III if the proposed reclassification is finalized.
Do people want marijuana legalized?
About half of all U.S. states have decided to fully legalize weed for adult, non-medical use.
A 2025 Gallup poll survey showed that 64% of Americans wanted weed to be legal.
After Trump signed his December executive order to reclassify marijuana, more than 20 Republican senators, including Mississippi’s Cindy Hyde-Smith, sent Trump a letter saying the drug is “harmful to its users.” They urged him to change his mind.
What does the federal medical marijuana change mean in Mississippi?
Generally, the new shift will make it easier for the medical marijuana industry to operate. Business operators can file business deductions on their federal taxes.
It should also make it easier to do related research.
Is medical marijuana legal in Mississippi?
Yes. Medical marijuana is legal to buy and use through the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program.
To buy medical marijuana, you must have a medical cannabis card issued by Mississippi. State‑registered doctors can prescribe weed for more than 20 qualifying conditions, including cancer, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease. Check the list maintained by the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program to see if you qualify.
There are fees for patients and caregivers, as well as additional costs for doctor visits. Health insurance does not cover medical marijuana.
It’s sold at approved dispensaries.
Cardholders may buy no more than 24 Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units (MMCEUs) in a 30‑day period and can possess up to 28 MMCEUs at one time.
Can you buy medical marijuana in Mississippi if you live out of state?
Yes. Non-residents can get medical marijuana here with limits.
People who don’t live in Mississippi can apply for temporary medical marijuana cards up to twice a year. Each temporary card is valid for 15 days and requires proof of medical marijuana eligibility in the person’s home state.
Non‑residents may buy up to 6 MMCEUs per week or 12 per 15‑day period.
Is recreational marijuana legal in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi does not allow recreational marijuana.
But the state has eased penalties for small amounts. Possession can still lead to fines, jail time or felony charges. It all depends on the situation.
Contributing: Zac Anderson
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
-
Nebraska1 minute agoNebraska auctioneers battle at bid-calling, ringman contest in Kearney
-
Nevada7 minutes agoSouthern Nevada shelters brace for annual kitten season surge of newborn cats
-
New Hampshire13 minutes agoNew Hampshire Will Ensure Timely Restitution Payments for Crime Victims – The Rochester Post
-
New Jersey19 minutes agoDid anyone win Powerball? Winning numbers for April 29, 2026
-
New Mexico25 minutes ago2nd inmate dies at MDC within a week
-
North Carolina31 minutes agoFormer Miss Cleveland remembers Carrie Everett, Miss North Carolina who died
-
North Dakota37 minutes agoNorth Dakota State Receives Sobering News After NFL Draft
-
Ohio43 minutes agoHamilton County judicial primary features endorsement by Afroman