Taylor Vance

Coast judge upholds secrecy in politically charged case. Media appeals ruling. A Jackson County judge sealed a politically sensitive court case without a hearing. All Mississippi court files are presumed open unless their are closed with notice and a hearing under guidelines established in 1990.

Coast judge upholds secrecy in politically charged case. Media appeals ruling.

A Jackson County judge sealed a politically sensitive court case without a hearing. All Mississippi court files are presumed open unless their are closed with notice and a hearing under guidelines established in 1990.

Shad White is running for governor as pro-Trump candidate. But does MAGA have a problem with him?

White has been a fervent supporter of Trump as he starts a run for governor, but his fight with Brett Favre has some top Trump operatives against him.

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Will Tate Reeves back Shad White for Mississippi governor? - Mississippi Today Gov. Tate Reeves last week attended and spoke at a fundraiser for State Auditor Shad White, whose 2027 gubernatorial aspirations at this point are well known.

Jockeying and fundraising for Mississippi's 2027 statewide elections is already in full swing, with politicians eyeing open seats for governor, lieutenant governor and potentially others through a domino effect.

mississippitoday.org/2025/05/15/w...

House Speaker Jason White, staff treated to Super Bowl by gambling giant pushing for legalized betting - Mississippi Today Thanks to a loophole in Mississippi’s lax lobbying laws, there is no public report to date of the expensive weekend in lobbying reports that are supposed to document spending on behalf of state employ...

This story by Michael Goldberg & @tcvance.bsky.social at @mississippitoday.org is easy to understand, but also tremendously consequential in how it reveals the unseen influences on the legislative process and the downstream policy implications that result.
mississippitoday.org/2025/04/23/h...

MS House Speaker Jason White and his staff went on a trip to the Super Bowl that was paid for, at least in part, by DraftKings, one of the nation’s highest-grossing gaming companies that has invested heavily in lobbying for legal online betting.

See how much your Mississippi school district stands to lose in Trump's federal funding freeze - Mississippi Today U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon notified state and local officials last month that the Trump administration was immediately cutting off the money.

About 70 school districts across the state are set to lose a total of $137 million they earmarked for literacy, math, mental health, construction and technology. Search for your district in chart.

mississippitoday.org/2025/04/17/s...

Redrawing the legislative districts, if approved by the court, will require special elections for 15 Mississippi legislative seats this year.

Lawmakers on the verge of ending session without passing a budget - Mississippi Today Republican Gov. Tate Reeves could also force legislators into a special session to pass a budget. This would give the constitutionally weak governor more power than he normally has over legislation.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves could also force legislators into a special session to pass a budget. This would give the constitutionally weak governor more power than he normally has over legislation.

The latest from Marshall Ramsey: Decimal Point
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Mississippi’s no-knock raids have led to death and injury. Dozens of warrants lacked clear justification. - Mississippi Today Some local courts have backed off approving no-knocks, but there are still no statewide limits on these dangerous types of raids.

Some local courts have backed off approving no-knocks, but there are still no statewide limits on these dangerous types of raids.

via @themarshallproject.org

mississippitoday.org/2025/03/20/m...

Is a Mississippi lawsuit headed to the U.S. Supreme Court?

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed its ruling that Mississippi's law requiring election workers to count mail-in absentee ballots that arrive 5 days after the election is suspended for federal elections.

Senate, House propose new income tax elimination plans, set stage for late-session showdown - Mississippi Today Monday marks the first time the Senate leadership has proposed a plan to eliminate the income tax, a significant move from its previous position wanting only to cut the tax that accounts for nearly on...

House and Senate leaders on Monday evening unveiled new plans to eliminate the state income tax and raise gasoline taxes — charting a path to more negotiations over the most notable legislative debate of the 2025 session.

The session ... has crawled along and the House and Senate have killed much of each others’ major policy proposals. To date, providing paid parental leave to state employees and allowing Mississippians to mail-order wine are the hallmarks of this year’s session.

Legislature sends paid family leave bill to governor - Mississippi Today A bill that cleared the Legislature Friday will give six weeks of paid family leave to primary caregivers who are state employees.

A bill that cleared the Legislature Friday will give six weeks of paid family leave to primary caregivers who are state employees.

Senate passes pharmacy benefit manager reform - Mississippi Today “This is the furthest we’ve been in two years,” said Parks. “We’re bringing fairness to the patient and to independent pharmacists.”

“This is the furthest we’ve been in two years,” said Parks. “We’re bringing fairness to the patient and to independent pharmacists.”

For yet another year, the Mississippi Legislature will not replace its two statues of white supremacists and Confederate leaders in Washington. Deep South states have replaced their statues with more inclusive figures - but not Mississippi.

Tommy Duff, the billionaire businessman weighing a run for MS governor, has formed a PAC to help elect Republicans to state and local office this year. The PAC could be a major move to grow his political influence.

Sen. Jenifer Branning, a Republican from Neshoba County, defeated longtime incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens for a seat on the MS Supreme Court.

Calhoun County lawmaker Andy Stepp dies at 66 Fellow lawmaker says Stepp was a fixture in the community, 'went above and beyond' to help others.

Fellow lawmaker says Stepp was a fixture in the community, 'went above and beyond' to help others.

Civil rights organizations ask Secretary Watson to explain mail-in ballot 'confusion' Groups question why Wednesday, instead of Thursday is the cutoff for counting absentee votes as a close court election hangs in the balance.

Groups question why Wednesday, instead of Thursday is the cutoff for counting absentee votes as a close court election hangs in the balance.