Mississippi

Mississippi legislative proposal pits incumbents against each other

Published

3 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Mississippi legislative proposal pits incumbents against each other

The Mississippi chapter of the ACLU has submitted a proposal to redraw the state’s legislative districts that creates two new majority-Black Senate districts and pits two pairs of incumbent senators against one another.

The plan, submitted on behalf of Black residents and the state branch of the NAACP, creates a new majority-Black Senate district in north Mississippi’s DeSoto County and in south Mississippi’s Hattiesburg area.

“Any proposed maps that attempt to meet the court order by diluting or undermining existing Black-majority voting districts in other parts of the state will fail the requirements set by the court and federal law,” Mississippi ACLU Director Jarvis Dortch said in a statement.

The plan tweaks the boundaries of the existing 52 Senate districts.

To accommodate new majority-Black districts, the plan places Republican Sens. Kevin Blackwell and David Parker, both of DeSoto County, in the same district. The same scenario would happen to Republican Sens. John Polk and Chris Johnson of Hattiesburg.

Neither the Senate nor the House has released a redistricting proposal, and the federal courts have not yet ruled on a submitted plan.

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Dean Kirby, a Republican from Pearl, said on Mississippi Today’s “The Other Side” podcast that Senate leaders were “very close” to releasing a redistricting plan.

For the House, the ACLU’s plan would make the District 22 seat in Chickasaw County currently held by Republican Rep. Jon Lancaster of Houston, who is white, a majority-Black voter district. This portion of the plan does not put any incumbents against each other.

House Speaker Jason White, a Republican from West, said he did not know when the House leadership planned to release its redistricting plan but that it was one of his priorities and he plans to “get it done.”

The ACLU proposal stems from a successful legal challenge the organization filed against state officials that argued the legislative districts drawn in 2022 by the state Legislature diluted Black voting strength.

LISTEN: Podcast: ‘Deja vu all over again’: Senate President Protem Dean Kirby outlines 2025 issues

A federal three-judge panel agreed, ordering the state to create more majority-Black districts and conduct special elections within the impacted districts this year.

Only a couple of legislative districts will significantly change, but the Legislature will also have to tweak many districts to accommodate new maps. State officials in court filings have argued that the redrawing would affect a quarter of the state’s 174 legislative districts.

While the court ultimately placed the burden on the Legislature for creating a new map that satisfies federal voting laws, it ordered that the ACLU and the plaintiffs should be ready with an alternative plan if they object to the state’s plan that must be adopted by the conclusion of the 2025 session, which ends in the spring.

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Mississippi

Former Mississippi Medicaid director may soon lead the federal program

Published

11 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Former Mississippi Medicaid director may soon lead the federal program

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Mississippian could soon take a top health-related spot in the Trump administration.

Drew Snyder left his post as Director of Mississippi’s Division of Medicaid at the end of October. Now, a Politico report indicates he may be waiting in the wings to assume the role of leading the federal program.

The news comes just as lawmakers are starting the new legislative session which leaders have said will include another attempt at extending Medicaid coverage to more Mississippians. Senator Brice Wiggins praised Snyder’s work at the state level.

“If he does get that position, I think it would be a boon for Mississippi,” noted Wiggins.

It’s been no secret that the next steps on Medicaid legislation this session are hinging on what the feds say under the new administration.

“All bets are off until we see which direction they want to go,” said Speaker Jason White ahead of the session.

The Governor and Speaker are praising Snyder but not going into any detail on whether they knew about the potential appointment. But leaders have all referenced in the last month that they’re starting conversations.

“I’m having the same conversations with people that will be in those positions to make sure that whatever we decide on will be approved at the national level,” said Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann in December. “And we’re getting some guidance on those.”

Wiggins was a conferee on last year’s bill that didn’t make it across the finish line. We asked how a Mississippian at the top of the federal program could impact this year’s efforts.

“I certainly think the amount of phone calls and the amount of persuasion would be lessened because he’s heard all of our arguments in the first place,” explained Wiggins. “He knows all the legislators. Knows all the statewide officials. I think none of that would come new to him. So, if we in the legislature can make that happen, you know that I would think that it would have some certainly smoother sailing.”

Snyder did not have a comment when we reached out Wednesday.

We received the following statements about the potential position for Snyder.

“Drew Snyder is sharp and, having served as Mississippi’s Director of Medicaid for nearly seven years, certainly understands the subject matter well. I am always proud of talented Mississippians who are earning opportunities on the federal or national level making our state look good.” – Speaker Jason White

“Drew Snyder is a professional. In my conversations with the incoming administration…I’ll just tell you that I don’t know what the President is going to do. The President will make this decision and certainly his picks to lead HHS. But they couldn’t find a more intellectual, smart, conservative leader of any agency including Medicaid and CMS than Drew Snyder.” – Governor Tate Reeves

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Mississippi

Stone Blanton, Mississippi State football starting linebacker, declares for 2025 NFL draft

Published

19 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Stone Blanton, Mississippi State football starting linebacker, declares for 2025 NFL draft

STARKVILLE — One of Mississippi State football’s top tacklers won’t return for the 2025 season.

Stone Blanton, the Bulldogs starting linebacker, declared for the NFL draft on Wednesday. He made the announcement with a post on social media.

“After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I am humbled and excited to declare for the 2025 NFL draft,” he wrote. “This journey has been filled with unforgettable moments, lessons and blessings.”

Blanton was second on the team and tied for 10th nationally with 124 tackles this season. The junior had one year of eligibility remaining.

It’s the second significant roster move of the day for MSU after Georgia wide receiver Anthony Evans III announced his commitment in the transfer portal.

What Stone Blanton declaring for NFL draft means for Mississippi State football

Blanton, a Jackson native, transferred to MSU after two seasons at South Carolina. Although MSU struggled defensively, he was one of the few bright spots. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

His departure leaves a hole in Mississippi State’s defense that doesn’t have an obvious replacement. Fellow linebacker Nic Mitchell is returning and so is sophomore Zakari Tillman, who showed flashes as a playmaker. Five linebackers have transferred out of MSU, but most of them were depth pieces. Two have transferred in, headlined by Tennessee’s Jalen Smith, an All-SEC freshman.

The Bulldogs signed four-star Winona linebacker Tyler Lockhart in the 2025 recruiting class.

Safety Isaac Smith, MSU’s leading tackler, is returning next season.

Feb. 7 is the deadline for players to opt out of the draft and return to college.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Brutal low temps are coming to Mississippi. How cold will it get around the state?

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Brutal low temps are coming to Mississippi. How cold will it get around the state?

‘Some of this air is actually coming from all the way back to Siberia. You’re definitely going to get some very cold temperatures.’

A blast of cold air is moving into the U.S. and is forecast to reach down into Mississippi. All of the state will be affected and some areas will see temperatures plummet into the mid-teens.

“This is going to be a significant cold air outbreak,” said Eric Carpenter, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. “It’s coming out of the Arctic regions.

“Some of this air is actually coming from all the way back to Siberia. You’re definitely going to get some very cold temperatures.”

The cause of it is a shift in the Arctic jet stream.

“The jet stream is allowing it to drop down into the U.S.,” Carpenter said. “The Arctic jet stream is a lot farther South than usual.”

Temperatures in much of the state are predicted to drop into the teens and even the Gulf Coast is expected to see below-freezing temperatures. And as cold as that seems, it may get colder than the current forecast.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the forecast trended colder as we get closer,” Carpenter said. “So, I would continue to monitor the weather.”

Here are the expected temperatures across the state from Saturday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Jan. 24, according to AccuWeather as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15.