Mississippi
Mississippi's 2024 legislative session: What to know – SuperTalk Mississippi
Another legislative session is officially upon us as lawmakers prepare to gavel in on Tuesday. With it being the start of a new term and a hodgepodge of hot-ticket topics still needing to be discussed, here’s what to know about this year’s session.
When is the session?
The 2024 session will officially begin on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at noon. Due to it being the start of a new term, the legislature will convene for 125 days rather than the usual 90 days, meaning lawmakers should wrap business up by or during the first week of May.
Who will be the new House speaker?
While Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann will be back leading the Senate, the House will need to take care of business in electing a new speaker. With longtime House Speaker Philip Gunn choosing not to seek reelection, Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White has emerged as the frontrunner for the open seat. The Republican from West, who already has the full support of others within the party, should be a shoo-in as GOP members maintained a supermajority in the House following this year’s elections.
“I am humbled to be unanimously selected as the Republican nominee for the Mississippi Speaker of the House by the Republican Caucus,” White said in a statement after the caucus unanimously decided to back him during a November meeting. “Mississippi has made tremendous strides over the previous 12 years of conservative Republican leadership and has greatly prospered under Speaker Philip Gunn. I appreciate the trust my fellow Republicans have now placed in me as the nominee for speaker.”
Even though Democrats will submit a nominee heading into the vote, the chances of White losing are slim to none. Rep. Manly Barton, a Republican from Moss Point, is expected to take over as speaker pro tempore.
What will lawmakers be discussing?
This is the big question. As always, thousands of bills will be filed with hundreds making it to the floor for a vote. While we can’t predict every topic that’s bound to come up for discussion, we do know a few.
Medicaid expansion
Medicaid expansion is going to be a topic that comes up and it might even be considered more so by lawmakers this year than in years past. However, the recent passing of a bulk of Gov. Tate Reeves’ reimbursement plan that could create up to $700 million for hospitals should take some heat off expansion.
“[The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] accepting that proposal was huge,” Sen. Jeremy England, a Republican from Vancleave, said. “That’s going to allow hospitals to get money that they didn’t otherwise have, and we don’t have to expand Medicaid to do that and that’s very important.”
While full-on Medicaid expansion might not be a top-ticket item for Republicans, other hospital-related bills are expected to be considered such as changing the state’s Certificate of Need laws and finding more funding for struggling hospitals.
Ballot initiative process
With Mississippi being the only state to ever have a ballot initiative process before taking it away, lawmakers are once again expected to try to restore citizens’ ability to propose laws and constitutional amendments.
After stripping the ballot initiative process in 2021, the House and Senate have failed to agree on the number of signatures needed for the people to propose a law or amendment. The House has consistently seen 106,000 as a suitable number while the Senate found 240,000 to be the most appropriate figure during last year’s session.
Sen. Daniel Sparks, a Republican from Belmont, believes if the two chambers can meet on a number, they need to monitor what people can propose. For example, he does not believe that people should be able to create initiative campaigns regarding Medicaid expansion, recreational marijuana, abortion, or anything that impacts the state budget.
“If you really sat down and listened, it has to do with marijuana, it has to do with abortion, it has to do with things that otherwise would not pass through the legislature,” Sparks said. “I think we need to think long and hard about what we’re doing and what that means if somebody is going to pass something that causes the state of Mississippi to impact its budget.”
House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, a Democrat from Natchez, disagrees with censoring the people but would be willing to raise the number of signatures if it meant restoring the ballot initiative process.
“I don’t have a problem requiring more signatures… If it’s going to make it a more thorough process and more trustworthy process, that’s fine,” Johnson said. “What I don’t want to see is us limit what people can put on [the ballot]. I think voters in this state and the citizens of this state are smart enough to know what they want.”
Personal income tax
Even though Mississippi is in the middle of its largest tax phase-out in state history, Reeves continues to push for the full elimination of personal income tax.
“I pushed to eliminate the state income tax, and we’ve achieved the largest tax cut in state history,” Reeves said this summer. “And we can do more because this is Mississippi’s time.”
Lawmakers, on the other hand, might not be too sure about immediately eliminating the income tax as it is already expected to be phased out within the next 12 to 14 years. Some Republican legislators, such as Hosemann, have voiced support for lessening the nation’s highest grocery tax instead.
School Choice
One of the more controversial topics expected to come up, school choice is a conversation that has heated up in recent months.
The idea of implementing a program that allows families to use public money to access private schools beyond their local public school option, especially if they’re in a struggling district, is backed by some Republicans and opposed by most to all Democrats.
“I just want the taxpayer resources to stay with public education,” Johnson said. “I would not be in support of [school choice].”
Rather, Johnson would support an easier route for parents in low-rated districts to enroll their child in a neighboring district that has a better public school system.
“I think there’s room for that,” he continued. “If we put heads together and come up with a plan that would not cause districts to be unnecessarily adversely affected, I have looked at some ideas on that and I think that’s workable.”
Other topics in education that are bound to come up are the state’s public school funding formula and the possible implementation of free community college for post-secondary students.
PERS
One elephant in the room this legislative session will be addressing the financial stability of Mississippi’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
Even though people are always wary of any conversations that have to do with PERS and potential changes, England said now is the time to resolve the system’s financial woes as all three primary financial metrics used to measure the program’s health are in red signal-light status.
“What we’ve got with PERS is a can that’s been kicked so far down the road, we can’t kick it any further,” England said. “I think we’re going to have to, at some point, just put a wedge or a stop on the timeline of PERS to allow the benefits we have now up to a certain point and then, we’re going to have to do something completely different moving forward.”
Of the options the legislature may consider regarding PERS, included is increasing the employer contribution rate, creating a new retirement tier, transferring funds from the state’s reserves, increasing the target rate of return on assets, increasing the employee contribution rate, adjusting benefits, or a combination of any of these.
“It’s going to be a tough problem, and there are going to be a lot of talks on them,” England continued. “I’m ready to have them. We’ve got to get in and jump into this headfirst now.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball starting pitcher Ryan McPherson exited his May 9 return against Auburn with an ankle injury, according to coach Brian O’Connor.
McPherson tripped behind home plate while backing up a potential throw in the second inning and limped back to the mound. The MSU coaches and trainer examined McPherson before pulling him.
McPherson was making his first start since March 20 after suffering a forearm strain.
The No. 11 Bulldogs (38-14, 15-12 SEC) trailed the No. 6 Tigers (35-15, 16-11) by one run with one out in the inning before getting run-ruled 13-2 in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field.
McPherson threw 34 pitches in 1⅓ innings with one earned and one unearned run allowed, two hits, no walks and no strikeouts.
He did not throw a practice pitch while being examined, and he didn’t limp as he walked into the dugout, either.
Ryan McPherson injury update from Brian O’Connor
O’Connor revealed after the game that McPherson was on a 40-pitch limit, so he was likely going to get pulled soon anyway.
“I would hate for the young man to have a setback because he goes out there and tries to throw to another batter or two and changes this delivery because of an ankle (injury),” O’Connor said. “So that’s what went into that decision. It’s unfortunate, but it was good to get him back out there.”
McPherson, a sophomore, missed six straight starts with his forearm injury. He took Charlie Foster’s spot in the pitching rotation for the Auburn series.
One series remains at Texas A&M before the SEC Tournament.
“We’ll see how he recovers from this and then to see what his availability will be for next weekend,” O’Connor said.
Ryan McPherson stats
McPherson was charged with the loss, dropping his record to 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
The No. 6 Auburn Tigers have evened the series with No. 11 Mississippi State thanks to a timely home run in the 9th inning.
Auburn catcher Chase Fralick stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the final inning of a tie game, needing to get on base to give his team a chance to steal a win in Starkville. He answered the call by smashing a home run over the right field wall to push his team ahead. His defense, as well as relief pitcher Jackson Sanders, followed the clutch long ball by piecing together a perfect bottom frame to solidify a 5-4 Auburn win over Mississippi State on Friday at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi, to even the series between the pair of top-five SEC squads.
Fralick’s solo home run in the 9th was an answer to Mississippi State’s game-tying single in the 8th inning off the bat of Ace Reese. Reese hit a single to right field and used deception by forcing himself into a rundown, which allowed Kevin Milewsky to score from 3rd base and to erase Auburn’s lead that was once 4-0.
There were plenty of surprising and notable moments from Auburn baseball’s win over Mississippi State on Friday. Re-live those key moments by checking out score updates, highlights, and notes from the game below.
- Mason McCraine (3-for-5, 2 K)
- Eric Guevara (0-for-3, BB, 2 K)
- Chase Fralick (1-for-4, 2 RBI, HR, K)
- Chris Rembert (2-for-5, 2 RBI)
- Ethin Bingaman (2-for-5, RBI)
- Bub Terrell (1-for-4, 2B, 3 K)
- Brandon McCraine (1-for-4, 2 K)
- Cade Belyeu (0-for-3, 2 K)
- Lucas Steele (0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K)
- Andreas Alvarez (4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 97 pitches (55 strikes)
- Jackson Sanders (4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 K, 64 pitches (37 strikes), WIN
Auburn bounces back to even the series thanks to a perfect inning by Jackson Sanders and the Auburn defense. Game three of the series is set for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.
Mississippi State in the 9th: 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
Auburn’s prayers were quickly answered after giving up the tying run to Mississippi State in the 8th inning when Chase Fralick smashed a solo home run to right field, giving Auburn its first run since the 5th inning and putting his team in a situation to win the game in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Auburn in the 9th: 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
We head into the final inning of the game with a 4-4 tie between the Auburn Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Ace Reese singled through the right side and voluntarily entered a rundown to distract Auburn’s defense long enough for Kevin Milewski, who got on base by a leadoff walk, to score.
Auburn will look to regain the lead in the top frame of the 9th inning.
Mississippi State in the 8th: 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
For the second time in the game, Auburn fails to add runs despite the first two runners of the inning reaching base. Brandon McCraine led off the inning with a single, with Cade Belyeu reaching base after getting hit by a pitch. The next three batters in Auburn’s lineup were retired via strikeout by Ben Davis, bringing his total to four on the day.
Auburn in the 8th: 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
Auburn pitcher Jackson Sanders got off to a shaky start in the 7th inning by allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach base. He appeared to be on his way out of the jam, but Bryce Chance singled through the left side to score Ace Reese from 3rd base and to trim Auburn’s lead to one run. He eventually got out of trouble by forcing Vytas Valincius to pop out.
Mississippi State in the 7th: 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB
It was an easy inning for Mississippi State relief pitcher Ben Davis, who retired the first three batters he faced with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout of Bub Terrell.
Auburn in the 7th: 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
Jackson Sanders held Auburn’s two-run lead in the 6th, his first full inning on the mound in relief of Andreas Alvarez. Mississippi State’s Ryder Woodson recorded a two-out single off Sanders in the frame, but a Gehrig Frei pop-out closed out the inning.
Mississippi State in the 6th: 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB
Auburn put two runners on base during the 6th inning on a Lucas Steele walk and Mason McCraine’s third hit of the game. However, Auburn’s good fortune ended with an Eric Guevara strikeout and a Chase Fralick pop out.
Auburn in the 6th: 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB
Mississippi State is now on the scoreboard following a two-out, two-run home run off the bat of Reed Stallman, which cuts Auburn’s lead to 4-2. Jackson Sanders emerged from the bullpen following the deep drive to left field and proceeded to strike out Bryce Chance to end the inning.
Alvarez’s final line: 2 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 97 pitches (55 strikes) over 4 2/3 innings.
Mississippi State in the 5th: 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
Chris Rembert recorded his second RBI of the game with one out in the 5th, when his groundout to shortstop allowed Mason McCraine to score and to extend Auburn’s lead to three runs. The greedy Tigers were not finished, though, as Ethin Bingaman delivered an RBI single in the next at-bat to push Auburn’s cushion to four runs.
Bingaman’s RBI closed the tab on Mississippi State starter Duke Stone, who ended his outing by allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks in 4 2/3 innings and 95 pitches. Maddox Miller relieved Stone by forcing Brandon McCraine to fly out to center field after walking Bub Terrell.
Auburn in the 5th: 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB
Mississippi State is held out of the scoring column for another inning following a fielder’s choice and a line out, with Andreas Alvarez leading off the inning by logging his fifth strikeout of the game.
Mississippi State in the 4th: 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB
The Auburn lineup logged its first extra-base hit of the game when Bub Terrell doubled on the second pitch of the inning. However, the good vibes ended there as Duke Stone struck out Brandon McCraine, Cade Belyeu, and Lucas Steele to end Auburn’s chances of increasing its lead.
Auburn in the 4th: 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB
As the old Yogi Berra quote goes, “it was deja vu all over again” for Mississippi State in the 3rd inning as Bryce Chance stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. However, unlike Thursday’s opener when he hit a 1st inning grand slam, he hit a ground ball up the middle, which resulted in a fielder’s choice that forced Reed Stallman to become the third out of the frame.
Mississippi State in the 3rd: 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB
It took Auburn a few innings to find confidence at the plate, but it struck gold in the 3rd inning when Chase Fralick popped out to center field with the bases loaded and one out to send Lucas Steele home, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Chris Rembert followed suit in the next at-bat by sending a single up the middle to advance everyone 90 feet, which scored Mason McCraine to extend the lead to 2-0.
We will now see if the two-run cushion will bring out the best in Andreas Alvarez on the mound.
Auburn in the 3rd: 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB
Mississippi State stranded one runner in the 2nd inning, but that was as far as they reached as Andreas Alvarez struck out Ryder Woodson to end the frame.
Alvarez is up to three strikeouts with a walk through two innings of work. He has thrown 40 pitches, with 23 of them finding the strike zone.
Mississippi State in the 2nd: 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB
The Auburn Tigers appeared to gain an edge on Mississippi State as a pair of singles by Chris Rembert and Ethin Bingaman put two runners on base. However, Duke Stone rebounded by striking out the next two batters, and a pickoff play by the Bulldogs caught Bingaman in a rundown between 1st and 2nd base, killing Auburn’s threat of putting a run on the scoreboard.
Auburn in the 2nd: 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB
Mississippi State attacked Auburn starting pitcher Andreas Alvarez early with a leadoff walk, followed by a bloop single to left center field. However, Alvarez bounced back by retiring the next three batters in order, which included two strikeouts.
Mississippi State in the 1st: 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB
It was a quiet inning for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and pitcher Duke Stone, who retired all three Auburn batters in order, which included strikeouts of Mason McCraine and Chase Fralick.
Andreas Alvarez and the Auburn defense look to return the favor in the bottom frame.
Auburn in the 1st: 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB
Alabama defeats South Carolina, 8-3, which means that the broadcast of Auburn vs Mississippi State on SEC Network will not be delayed or pushed to another network. Expect a start time of 7:30 p.m. CT.
Here’s how the Auburn Tigers will line up in game two
- RF Mason McCraine
- 3B Eric Guevara
- C Chase Fralick
- 2B Chris Rembert
- 1B Ethin Bingaman
- LF Bub Terrell
- SS Brandon McCraine
- CF Cade Belyeu
- DH Lucas Steele
The bottom of the lineup will look different for the Tigers on Friday night, as Cade Belyeu gets the start in center field over Bristol Carter, and Lucas Steele assumes his familiar role at designated hitter over Eddie Madrigal.
After experiencing a flat night offensively in game one, it appears that Butch Thompson is looking for a spark in the center field slot for game two of the series. Carter has logged just two hits over his last five games and has gone 0-5 in his last three games. Steele has been used sparingly in the Auburn lineup over the last few weeks, playing in just three SEC games since April 17.
Auburn vs Mississippi State pitching matchup for game two
- Auburn: SO RHP Andreas Alvarez (8-2, 2.56)
- Mississippi State: SO RHP Duke Stone (6-1, 4.40)
Auburn baseball vs Mississippi State time today
- Date: Friday, May 8
- Start time: 7:30 p.m. CT
What channel is Auburn vs Mississippi State on today?
- TV Channel: SEC Network
- Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
Auburn vs Mississippi State will be broadcast on SEC Network on Friday from Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson will have the call from the booth. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
MISSISSIPPI. (WLBT) – Diesel prices climbed this week across Mississippi and the nation, leaving truck drivers uncertain about their ability to continue hauling freight.
Lemone Guice said seeing diesel prices at the pumps was concerning.
“It’s rough right now with the economy. We don’t know how it’s going to be with it being up and down,” Guice said.
Guice and fellow truck driver Ronnie Tran said they don’t know how long their fuel will last.
“If it keeps going like this, I don’t think we can survive,” Tran said.
Tran said his fill-up costs have doubled.
“My normal fill-up: usually around $600 to $700. Now, you’re talking about a thousand to $1,200, so it’s, like, double,” Tran said.
King Gaulden said the situation has been difficult.
“Man, it’s been ridiculous. Ever since Trump said the gas prices would go down, they have been going up. We’re just trying to figure it out. It’s been hard out here, man,” Gaulden said.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas is $4.54. That’s the highest since the summer of 2022.
Guice said the spike is affecting decisions about whether to transport loads.
“For those of us that freight slows up, yes. You just don’t want to be just getting somewhere sitting and fuel you know… you don’t know whether you’re going to have a half of a tank or a quarter of tank. That isn’t good,” Guice said.
In Mississippi, the average price stands at $4.00, up more than 28 cents from last week.
Tran said his wish is simple.
“I wish the price would go back to $2 and something. Right now, it’s $4 and something. I wish it can go down to two or three something. That would be nice,” Tran said.
Mississippi still ranks among the states with the lowest gas prices.
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