Mississippi

Mississippi’s retired public employees are raising a red flag about a bill pending at the State Capitol

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2023

Mississippi’s retired public employees are raising a red flag about a bill pending at the State Capitol

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Retired public workers are conserving a detailed watch on the State Capitol. They’re frightened a pending invoice would insert the legislature into some decision-making for the retirement system.

For some background, public workers across the state pay into Public Staff’ Retirement System of Mississippi, often known as PERS. Proper now, choices about how a lot workers’ present contributions are made by the PERS board. However pending laws might put the legislature in the midst of these choices.

Home Invoice 605 isn’t the identical as when Rep. Charles Busby first filed it.

“I filed Home Invoice 605 as a invoice to permit academics which have retired, come again and train within the classroom and nonetheless draw their retirement,” mentioned Busby throughout a private level of privilege on February 1.

Busby began getting flooded with calls and messages, and that’s when he realized it was “hijacked utterly.”

“I used to be by no means informed about it,” Busby mentioned.

The invoice went from 30 to 10 pages when it was amended within the appropriations committee. Now its purpose? Require the legislature to log out on any future contribution will increase by PERS. It was these modifications that spurred the calls to motion from the Mississippi Retired Public Staff’ Affiliation.

“After we retired, we have been informed what our advantages have been gonna be,” mentioned retiree and MRPEA board member Sam Valentine. “And we might plan our retirement earnings round that till, like, the day of our demise.”

Retiree and MRPEA board member Sam Valentine says the board makes choices based mostly on monetary recommendation to keep up the well being of the system.

“We’ve received lots of people who’re retired which can be aged,” defined Valentine. “And to listen to that there’s one thing jeopardizing their system may be very upsetting to these people. And that’s one of many issues that we don’t need to occur and hopefully won’t occur.”

The affiliation’s previous president says the impacts might transcend those that’ve already retired.

“To be fairly sincere, and I’m not saying that they essentially would…but when the legislature would select to not proceed to make the contributions essential to hold the system actuarily sound, it’s truly going to have extra potential unhealthy issues occur to the folks which can be at the moment working,” described Ed LeGrand, MRPEA Previous President.

The PERS board did vote in December to extend the employer contributions from 17.4 to 22.4% starting in July of subsequent yr.

We obtained this assertion from PERS Govt Director Ray Higgins.

“We’re intently watching HB 605 and all different laws that would have an effect on PERS. The PERS Board has traditionally all the time acted as fiduciaries in one of the best curiosity of the membership, which they did not too long ago when elevating the employer contribution charge based mostly on actuarial suggestions. Long run, making certain the System is sufficiently funded is crucial for these we serve. We’re all the time prepared to work with the Legislature, membership, and others for the betterment of PERS.”

The invoice hasn’t been taken up by the complete Home but. They’ve till Thursday to take action to ensure that it to clear the subsequent deadline.

Need extra WLBT information in your inbox? Click on right here to subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Source link

Click to comment

Mississippi

10-week-old baby missing in Mississippi, MBI investigates

Published

3 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

HOLCOMB, Miss. (WMC) -The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is searching for 10-week-old baby A’marion Nason of Holcomb, Mississippi. The baby was last seen on Thursday, December 19, at about 7:17 a.m. near Powell Road in Grenada County.

10-week-old baby missing in Mississippi, MBI investigates(Mississippi Bureau of Investigation)

A’marion Nason may be accompanied by Anthony Rayshun Mitchell, who is described as an African-American male, 5’6 inches tall, weighing 178 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

A’marion Nason may have personal items that include a black and orange Nike onesie, as well as a blue, black, and orange cap.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.

Source link

Mississippi

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science inviting guests to attend dinosaur exhibit before departure – SuperTalk Mississippi

Published

11 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science inviting guests to attend dinosaur exhibit before departure – SuperTalk Mississippi

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will soon be welcoming a new exhibit, but for now, visitors can continue to take a trip back in time to the prehistoric age and enjoy present offerings.

Before welcoming the “Mindbender Mansion” exhibit to the facility at Lefleur’s Bluff in Jackson, central Mississippians and science enthusiasts from across the state have just over two more weeks to enjoy “Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors.”

Per museum officials, visitors are invited to embark on a globetrotting expedition around the world to discover the Age of Reptiles before the exhibit closes. This outdoor and indoor exhibit features 11 animatronic dinosaurs alongside.

Photo courtesy of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

Attendees will see animatronics such as the mighty T. rex of North America, the bi-pedal predator Herrerasaurus, one of the first dinosaurs to appear on Earth, and the bizarre, bony-crested Oviraptor from Mongolia. This exhibit will be up and running until January 5.

Then, the museum will transition into a new phase of educational presentations with “Mindbender Mansion,” an eclectic space filled with brainteasers and interactive challenges running from January 18 through May 4. The goal is to test the brainpower and problem-solving skills of guests of all ages.

“It’s more for solving puzzles and challenges. It’s also math, science, and technology-based. So if that’s your thing, or if your grandchild or children are really into that, it has huge educational content all woven into the exhibit,” Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation Chair LoRose Moore said on Good Things with Rebecca Turner.

Visitors are invited to join the “Mindbender Society” by gathering hidden clues and secret passwords scattered throughout the various thematic rooms of the house soon to be located within the museum. The clues and passwords are revealed by solving select brainteasers and group challenges.

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday’s operating hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the museum being open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $6 for children ages 3-18, and free for those under 3 years old. Annual membership passes can be purchased for individuals for $50 and $100 for families.

Source link

Mississippi

Tips to know before traveling Mississippi for the holidays

Published

19 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

Tips to know before traveling Mississippi for the holidays

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – It’s a week before Christmas and travelers are hitting the interstate for the holidays.

According to AAA, over 119 million people are expected to travel, of which 107 million will travel by car.

Mississippi Highway Patrolman Landon Orozco says lower gas prices are one reason you’ll see more cars on the road this holiday season.

According to AAA, the price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Mississippi is between $2.30 and $2.50.

Orozco also says reparation is key when it comes to getting to your holiday destination safely.

“Make sure your vehicle is in order and operational. Make sure your tires are checked, make sure your fluids are checked and your oil is checked,” said Orozco. “Make sure you have everything you may need. Pack some extra snacks just in case you do run into the occasional traffic here and there as you travel across the states and to your destination.”

You are urged to dial *47 in an emergency or 511 for road conditions

See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.

Source link