Mississippi Edition

State legislators return to the Mississippi Capitol this morning for a special session to pass a budget.  Then, federal funding has helped states like Alabama and Mississippi make great strides in fighting HIV. Now, funding is in jeopardy--raising concerns among healthcare advocates.Plus, many kids in the state live with untreated tooth decay due to little to no access to dental care.

Republican Governor Tate Reeves is expected to call Mississippi lawmakers back to the state capitol this week for a special session to adopt a budget for Fiscal Year 2026.Then, Mississippians are continuing to rally at the state capitol in Jackson, protesting the policies of the Trump administration.  Plus, a Seven States Safety Campaign is underway targeting police departments found to have engaged in police brutality and racial targeting. 

A newly released "Year in Hate" report identifies seven hate groups in Mississippi.Then, members of the US House of Representatives passed a major spending bill yesterday. Policy analysts in Mississippi say most changes won't apply to the state.Plus, did you know Columbus, Mississippi is the home of Memorial Day? We speak with a local expert about the origins of the national holiday.

We speak with Congressman Mike Ezell about, President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," and what he knows about the governor's request for a major disaster declaration.Then, May is Stroke Awareness Month. Mississippi is tied with Alabama for the highest mortality rates in the country.Plus, lawmakers are considering what future budgets could look like for the state.

State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney is leading the creation of a new system of care to help lower the state's high infant and maternal mortality rates.Then, supporters of the federal food assistance program "SNAP" say budget cuts could hurt low-income families in Mississippi.Plus, we sit down with Mississippi Republican Party Chair Mike Hurst to talk about municipal elections in June along with national politics and what some potential policies mean for the state.

Fishermen in the Gulf are speaking out against legislation that would privatize wild oyster reefs in the area.Then, early childhood educators are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Head Start program in the state.Plus, residents of Tylertown await word of federal aid nearly 2 months after the governor requested a major disaster declaration from the Trump Administration.  

Women in Mississippi are at a higher risk for heart disease, one of the leading causes of death in the state.Then, doctors are sounding the alarm about the link between smoking and strokes.Plus, oyster farmers in the Mississippi Sound say their livelihoods could be put at risk by opening a major spillway.

The Mississippi Department of Education shares plans for how the state could continue receiving grants that would help improve schools.Then, a leader with the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning responds to concerns about selecting the next president of Jackson State University.Plus, it's National Prevention Week, a time to highlight resources that can help treat mental disorders and substance abuse in the state.

How could tariffs affect Mississippians in the coming months? A business leader says some industries could be hit hard.Then, on this day in 1970, two young men were killed by police gunfire at Jackson State University during the height of racial tensions and non-violent protests.Plus, most commercial ships are built in China. The Trump Administration wants to change impose a new fee making trading with the U.S. much more expensive.