Mississippi Anti-LGBT ‘Religious Freedom’ Law Takes Effect

A Mississippi law enabling sweeping anti-LGBT discrimination in the name of "religious freedom" took effect Tuesday as a result of a federal appeals court decision throwing out a legal challenge to the statute. The law, House Bill 1523, was signed by Gov. Phil Bryant last year in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide.

Nate marches across US East Coast, dumping heavy rains

Nate slogged its way across the U.S. East Coast on Monday, dumping heavy rains and bringing gusty winds to inland states as a tropical depression, a day after Hurricane Nate brought a burst of flooding and power outages to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Nate spared the region the kind of catastrophic damage left by a series of hurricanes that hit the southern U.S. and Caribbean in recent weeks.

New delay in Miss. law on objection to gay marriage

New court action has created a slight delay for a Mississippi law that, barring an intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, will let government workers and business people cite their own religious objections to refuse services to gay couples. Opponents asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday to keep blocking the law, which has been on hold more than a year.

Court asks Mississippi governor to defend Confederate emblem

In this Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, a state flag of Mississippi is unfurled by Sons of Confederate Veterans and other groups on the grounds of the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss. The U.S. Supreme Court is asking attorneys for Mississippi's governor to file arguments defending the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag.

Engineer: Inspectors to close many Mississippi wood bridges

Urging Mississippi lawmakers to provide more infrastructure funding, a county engineer warned Thursday that a stiffened federal inspection program could force repairs or the closure of hundreds of county bridges across the state in the next two years. Jeff Dungan, whose company is the county engineer for six south Mississippi counties, told the Senate Transportation Committee Thursday that federal inspectors are targeting more than 2,000 county bridges across the state with wood supports.

Push to strip Confederate emblem from Mississippi flag heats up

The Mississippi state flag, top, shares space with the bicentennial banner designed by the Mississippi Economic Council to recognize the state's bicentennial anniversary, outside the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. Mississippi lawmakers are renewing calls to change the state flag, which prominently features the Confederate emblem, after violence erupted during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., last weekend.

Getting women involved in local political process

Several local residents will represent Hancock County-area women at the "Ready to Run Mississippi" conference on Aug. 19 in Jackson. According to event host the Stennis Center, "Ready to Run is a non-partisan campaign training program to encourage women to run for elective office, position themselves for appointive office, work on a campaign, or get involved in public life in other ways.

Workers at Mississippi Nissan plant casting ballots on union

In this Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017 photo, a United Auto Workers member encourages employees to vote for the union at an entrance to the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss. Voting started Thursday in Mississippi among 3,700 employees who are deciding whether the UAW union should bargain for them with Nissan Motor Co.

Federal grants to assist Oxford, Pontotoc County fire departments

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran announced nearly $700,000 in federal grants this week to help four departments in Mississippi, including AFG operations and safety grants for the Oxford Fire Department and the Troy-Woodland Volunteer Fire Department in Pontotoc County . "Well trained and equipped fire departments are important to ensure public safety.

FILE – In this Nov. 7, 2016 file photo, a ballot box is set for…

In this Nov. 7, 2016 file photo, a ballot box is set for residents to vote at midnight in Dixville Notch, N.H. A request for detailed information about every voter in the U.S. from President Donald Trump's voting commission is getting a rocky reception in the states. less FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2016 file photo, a ballot box is set for residents to vote at midnight in Dixville Notch, N.H. A request for detailed information about every voter in the U.S. from President Donald ... more OKLAHOMA CITY - A request for detailed information about every voter in the U.S. from President Donald Trump 's voting commission is getting a rocky reception in the states.

Federal Court Upholds Law Allowing Refusal Of Service To LGBT Couples

A law allowing business owner to deny service to LGBT couples was ruled enforceable in Mississippi by a federal court Thursday. The U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th circuit struck down a district court's injunction against the law , which now allows business owners to refuse to serve gay, lesbian, or transgender couples on grounds of religious objection and also permits clerks to refuse to issue marriage licenses to LGBT couples.

Navy Unmanned Certification Classes Begin at University of Southern Mississippi

Fifteen students began classes earlier this week at The University of Southern Mississippi, where they are expected to be the first class in the nation to earn a certification in Unmanned Maritime Systems . "This program gives us a chance to continually and rapidly train and certify our personnel to be the best in the world even before the race begins," stated Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Deputy Commander and Technical Director Dr. Bill Burnett.

Mississippi budget: ‘Mighty ugly’ cuts and no borrowing plan

Mississippi would spend less on public schools, have no new funds for transportation and face likely tuition hikes at state colleges and universities under a spending plan approved Saturday by lawmakers that cuts next year's budget by more than 4 percent compared to what was originally planned. The spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, described as "mighty ugly" by House Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden, a Meridian Republican, could also mean program cuts and layoffs among state agencies.

Correction: Gov. Bryant to name Marshall Fisher Dept. of Public Safety Commissioner

Fisher served as executive director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics from 2005-2014, where he oversaw the state's largest methamphetamine bust and provided staff for Mississippi's first comprehensive intelligence center. Most recently, he served as state director for the Mississippi Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Legislators file 22 state flag-related bills

In the state's bicentennial year, and a few months after two flag initiatives failed to receive enough signatures to make a statewide ballot, lawmakers have filed 22 bills offering to change, keep or let voters decide on the current state flag. Seven bills, all drafted by white Republicans, would support the current state flag and impose statutory punishments for governmental entities refusing to fly it.