Mississippi

MS Auditor: State-level DOGEs could find millions in waste

Published

7 months ago

May 6, 2025

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MS Auditor: State-level DOGEs could find millions in waste

Shad White
| Special to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Mississippi’s State Auditor, Shad White, highlights examples of government waste in Mississippi, echoing the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s mission.
Millions of taxpayer dollars are allegedly wasted on Medicaid coverage for deceased individuals and ineligible recipients, including a wealthy couple living in a million-dollar home.
Additional examples of waste include unused state-issued cell phones, overpriced TV screens, and extravagant spending on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

Americans spent four years watching Joe Biden throw billions of dollars down the drain and give out tax dollars like candy to all of his left-wing activist buddies.

Compare that to the historic leadership President Trump has displayed with his creation of the Department of Government Efficiency. We finally have a president who makes an effort to save trillions instead of lighting it on fire.

DOGE is a benefit because it’s not only doing real work to make our federal government more efficient, but it’s also inspiring state government officials around the country to start state-level DOGE efforts.

I have the privilege to serve as Mississippi’s State Auditor, and we have spent the last few years finding similar sorts of examples of waste in state government. We even jokingly started calling ourselves MOGE (the Mississippi Office of Government Efficiency) and have released an 800-page MOGE report with tons of detail on how state taxpayer money is going down the drain.

For example, in Mississippi’s Medicaid program, we found the state paid over $600,000 in a year to cover dead folks who were still on the program rolls.

We also found that in any given year, anywhere from 5-7% of people on Medicaid appear to be making too much money to be eligible for the program. That costs taxpayers anywhere from $60-$144 million in wasted funds, depending on the year. And the specific examples of what we found were insane: one couple was living in a 7,000 square foot home valued at over $1 million, and Mississippians were paying for their healthcare via Medicaid.

The Medicaid number is large, but we find smaller examples of waste that add up over time. Mississippi spends about $340,000 every year on cell phones for state employees that are never turned on. State agencies here entered into IT contracts to pay $5,800 each for TV screens (while the federal government bought the exact same TV screens for $2,200). Politicians use the state plane to fly to out-of-state baseball games.

Another area I’ve been excited to see DOGE look into is the massive amount of tax dollars being spent on DEI across our government. Here in Mississippi, my office found that over a four-year period, Mississippi universities spent over $23 million on DEI programs. One university has 20 DEI staffers.

Their head DEI staffer makes more than the governor and the lieutenant governor of Mississippi combined. And when asked what they did with all this money and manpower, that DEI office produced a document showing one of their accomplishments was handing out a grant to study equity-based social justice yoga for preschoolers (it sounds fake, I know).

We’ve found state taxpayer money going to purchase books for public libraries that teach kids that “whiteness is a bad deal.” We have taxpayer funding for left-wing degree programs in universities that teach classes like “Gender and Zombies.” We see grant money going to non-profits for community gardens that don’t exist or paying the speeding tickets of the non-profit’s managers.

Which leads me to this point: all of these left-wing activist ideologies are being promoted even here in Mississippi, the last state you’d imagine you’d find this garbage. This makes starting a state-level DOGE in every state even more important.

I’ve been Mississippi’s State Auditor for seven years now, and I’ve learned a lot during my tenure. I’ve learned that sometimes government waste happens because a bureaucrat is just lazy and isn’t being efficient with other people’s money. But other times, the waste is deliberate. Other times, the waste is there on purpose because it benefits someone powerful or well-connected.

This explains why Democrats spend all their time attacking DOGE and Elon Musk. I’ve had my fair share of attacks from establishment politicians over my office’s findings, too — some from my own party. Most politicians and government bureaucrats have no interest in weeding out the waste and some of them actually depend on it. They will attack and slander anyone who attempts to put a stop to it.

But I know that President Trump and Elon Musk won’t let that stop them. That’s the attitude you must have to go after the pet projects, and it’s what I’ve had to do here in Mississippi as the state auditor. My prediction is DOGE will inspire a new generation of leaders who know how to stand up to the left-wing bureaucratic ideologues and the establishment politicians to finally get a good deal for taxpayers.

— Shad White is the 42^nd State Auditor of Mississippi.

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Mississippi

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 15, 2025

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

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Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 15, 2025

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 15, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

07-10-24-28-33

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 3-5-7, FB: 6

Evening: 5-8-0, FB: 0

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 5-5-2-5, FB: 6

Evening: 3-1-0-9, FB: 0

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 08

Evening: 08

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.

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Mississippi

Want a hippopotamus for Christmas? What MS law says about wild, exotic pets

Published

18 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Want a hippopotamus for Christmas? What MS law says about wild, exotic pets

Mississippi requires a permit to own certain exotic animals considered “inherently dangerous,” such as hippos, big cats and bears.
Permit applicants must be at least 21, have experience with the species and carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 per animal.
Annual permit costs vary by species, ranging from $75 for canids to $300 for animals like elephants and tigers.
It is illegal in Mississippi to keep wild native species, such as deer or raccoons, as pets.

If you want a hippopotamus for Christmas, there are some hurdles to legal and responsible pet ownership in Mississippi.

There are plenty of exotic species, like birds, reptiles and rodents that are considered safe pets. They can be bought next to cat and dog supplies at pet stores and exotic animal shows.

But some people, only a hippopotamus will do. Baby hippos, like Fiona and Moo Deng, can make the species look cute and, well, manageable. (The same can be said of many species that can grow up to be a menace, like baby big cats.) And as much as the song pleads, a garage isn’t the best home for a hippo hero.

Mississippi has laws about owning pets that are considered inherently dangerous, like monkeys or wild dog species. If you’re planning to get an exotic animal as a pet, it helps to know which animals are on the list. If you want to give an unusual species as a Christmas gift, be sure the new owner can meet the criteria so they won’t end up in a tricky legal situation.

Colt Mooney, Exotic Species Program leader of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said animals on the list aren’t totally banned in a previous interview with the Clarion Ledger. But owners have to apply for a permit and meet several requirements.

And permitting isn’t a one-and-done process. There will be an annual follow up, and it could get expensive over the lifetime of the animal. That’s not even accounting for the costs of specialty veterinary care.

Here’s what to know about which dangerous animals you need a permit for in Mississippi, whether you can own a wild animal native to the Magnolia State and what the permitting process requires and costs.

Can I own an exotic pet in Mississippi?

Yes, but you have to have a permit for certain species, like big cats, bears and primates.

It’s illegal to sell, give, deliver, or transfer an animal on the state’s list of dangerous animals unless the recipient has a permit or is an exempt organization.

“It’s mostly due to their ability to inflict damage if something goes wrong,” Mooney said. “The potential is always there.

“They’re not pets. All it takes is one slip-up, one moment, to cause a life-threatening incident.”

What exotic animals do I need a permit for in Mississippi?

The state defines several animals as “inherently dangerous,” including elephants, rhinoceroses, African buffaloes and, yes, hippopotamuses.

If those sound like large pets, there are plenty of small primates and carnivores on the list too. (Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!)

Carnivoras:

Wolves, including crosses between wolves and domestic animals
Jackals
Dingos
Red dogs
African hunting dogs
Bears (all species)
Wolverines
Hyenas (all species)
Lions
Tigers
Jaguars
Leopards
Cheetahs
Cougars (all sub-species)

Primates:

Gibbons
Orangutans
Chimpanzees
Siamangs
Gorillas
Macaques
Mandrils
Baboons

What do Mississippi exotic animal permits cover?

Each permit is good for one year, according to information from the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. It’s only for the species specified, and a permit is needed for each animal.

At base level, applicants must:

Be at least 21 years old with no convictions involving wildlife offenses or cruelty to animals within the past 3 years
Have 2 years of experience with care and handling of the species or be able to pass a DWFP test on biology, diet, health care and habit needs
Have a plan to quickly and safely capture the animal if it escapes, including how to put it down or kill it if it can’t be caught

Personal permits don’t cover exhibiting the animal, like making money by showing it at a fair or appearing at parties. They must have a full-time caretaker on the grounds where the animal will be kept. Applicants must have a letter from a vet stating that all the owner’s pets are vaccinated and receive yearly care. Proof of liability insurance of $100,000 per animal and up to $1 million is also required.

If your own version of Cousin Eddie wants to start a petting zoo, don’t buy him animals. At least not until he has the permits.

Public zoos have multiple criteria to meet, including being the designated zoo of a town or city and being accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

Zoos and exhibitors must hold a USDA Class “C” Exhibitor’s License. Exhibitors also have other extensive requirements.

Rehabbers and sanctuaries also have conditions. Like they can’t make a profit from exhibiting, breeding or selling the animals. They also must have 501(c)(3) Federal tax-exempt status and meet state and federal permitting requirements.

How much do dangerous animal permits cost in Mississippi?

According to MDWFP, the personal permit cost depends on the type of animal:

Canids (wolves, jackals, etc.): $75
Primates (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, etc.): $150
All species of bears: $200
Big cats (lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars, etc.): $300
Wolverines: $300
Hyenas: $300
Elephants: $300
Rhinoceroses: $300
Hippopotamuses: $300
African buffalo: $300

Exhibitor fees range from $100 for up to 30 days or $300 for up to a year.

How do I apply to get a permit?

Email Colt.Mooney@wfp.ms.gov or call MDWFP at 601-432-2199.

Some organizations, like “public zoos, university research facilities, governmental agencies, exhibitors, and rehabilitation/sanctuary facilities may be exempted from having a permit,” according to the commission. MDWFP or the commission would have to approve the exemption.

Can I keep a wild animal as a pet in Missississippi?

There are several wild animals native to Mississippi, like deer, raccoons and opossums. The state does not allow people to keep wild native species as pets.

“They’re a public resource that’s held in trust by the state, or public, to enjoy,” Mooney said. “It’s the people of Mississippi’s animals.”

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 14, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 14, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

10-18-19-20-22

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Midday: 7-7-0, FB: 6

Evening: 1-8-0, FB: 1

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Midday: 0-4-0-4, FB: 6

Evening: 3-0-5-9, FB: 6

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Midday: 02

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.

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

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.

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