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Today "is a day we've long awaited," attorney Malik Shabazz said after six White former Mississippi officers were sentenced in state court for torturing and abusing his clients Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins. The court has "given out justice," Shabazz said. In departing from the initial recommendations of "low" prison sentences for the squad, the judge "set a new standard here in Rankin County, that police brutality will not be tolerated in Rankin County," Shabazz said. Jenkins also reacted to the sentencing, telling reporters that it's been "a long time coming."

Persons: Malik Shabazz, Eddie Parker, Michael Jenkins, Shabazz, Jenkins, it's Locations: Mississippi, Rankin County

☆ Droughts killed more than 12 million trees in Mississippi and no one has the money to cut them down
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Droughts in 2023 killed more than 12 million pine trees in Mississippi last year. A report from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Mississippi Forestry Commission found that at least 12.5 million trees died in the state after droughts last year. Mississippi experienced heavy droughts last year starting in June that were so bad that NASA could see the Mississippi River shrinking from space in September. During the droughts, experts say that pine beetles swept across the state taking out entire patches of decades-old pine trees. "We are in a position where we are going to have to do something," Vozzo told The Clarion Ledger.

Persons: That's, Sen, Cindy Hyde, Smith, Pete Vozzo, Vozzo, McCain, Madison, De'Keither Stamps, Tate Reeves, Stamps Organizations: Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Business, NASA, Republican, Smith, Property, Clarion, McCain Tree Service, Public Service, De'Keither, Gov Locations: Mississippi, Hyde, Madison, Jackson, Vicksburg

Hinds County Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin blocked the law in October 2022 after Parents for Public Schools sued the state. The nonprofit group argued the grants would give private schools a competitive advantage over public schools. “Any appropriation of public funds to be received by private schools adversely affects schools and their students,” Martin wrote. Tate Reeves created a grant program to help private schools pay for water, broadband and other infrastructure projects. State attorneys also wrote that the Mississippi Constitution only blocks the Legislature from sending money directly to private schools.

Persons: JACKSON, Crystal Wise Martin, ” Martin, Tate Reeves, general's, “, lopsidedly, Martin Organizations: Mississippi Supreme, Public Schools, Mississippi’s Republican, Republican Gov, Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, Public, American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, Mississippi Center for Justice, Democracy Forward, Mississippi Department of Finance, Administration, DFA, Mississippi Constitution, Mississippi Adequate Education Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Hinds County

(AP) — Mississippi's state auditor filed court papers Monday renewing his call for Brett Favre to repay the state for welfare money that the auditor says was improperly spent on projects backed by the retired NFL quarterback. White said in 2020 that Favre had improperly received $1.1 million in speaking fees from a nonprofit organization that spent welfare with approval from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program was to go toward a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi. “Favre had no legal right to the possession or control of this $1.1 Million,” White's attorneys wrote in the court filing Monday. No criminal charges have been brought against Favre, although a former department director and other people have pleaded guilty to their part in the misspending.

Persons: JACKSON, Brett Favre, Shad, White, Favre, “ Favre, ”, Shannon Sharpe, who's, Pat McAfee, McAfee Organizations: —, NFL, Favre, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Mississippi Department of Human Services, University of Southern, Associated Press, Department of Human Services Locations: Miss, — Mississippi's, Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi

☆ A group of Mississippi cops terrorized residents for more than two decades almost entirely unchecked
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Business Insider previously sued the sheriff's department for records related to police brutality. AdvertisementA number of deputies within the Rankin County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi got away with abusing people for years, almost entirely unchecked. Loveday told The Times. A spokesperson for the Rankin County Sheriff's Department did not return a request for comment from Business Insider. Lee told Business Insider that she didn't understand the jury's decision because the evidence of the beating was "in his face."

Persons: —, Michael Jenkins, Eddie Terrell Parker, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Paloma Wu, Brett McAlpin, Rick Loveday, Rankin, McAlpin, Loveday, Sheriff Bryan Bailey, Elward, Damien Cameron, Monica Lee, Cameron's, Lee, Monica Lee Elward, Pierre Woods, Vanessa Barrett, Dris Mitchell, Woods, Bailey, Dedmon, Woods's Organizations: Mississippi, The New York Times, Business, Service, Sheriff's Department, Rankin, sheriff's Department, Mississippi Bureau, Investigation, Mississippi Today, The Times, Hinds County sheriff's, Times Locations: Rankin, Mississippi, Hinds

Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, each placed an arm around Bettersten Wade as she stood before her son's flower-covered casket under a large cross in the sanctuary. Jackson is majority-Black, has a Black mayor and majority-Black city council and has had Black police chiefs for years, including the chief when Wade was killed. Sharpton said Monday that he had been told that the officer who struck and killed Wade was Black. The Hinds County coroner’s office said it called a number listed for Bettersten Wade but did not hear back. City officials have said the communication breakdown was an accident.

Persons: JACKSON, — Dexter Wade, Bettersten Wade, “, ” Dexter Wade, Wade, Wade’s, Ben Crump, Crump, Wade's, ” Crump, ”, Bennie Thompson, Al Sharpton, Sharpton, Jackson, Dexter, ” Sharpton, Black Organizations: Jackson Police Department, Police, Penal, Justice Department, Jackson, U.S . Rep, New Horizon International, National Action Network, NBC News Locations: Miss, Mississippi's, Jackson, Hinds, Raymond, New York, Mississippi, Black, Hinds County

(AP) — The manager of the long-troubled water system in Mississippi's capital city proposed a slight rate increase for most residents Friday alongside what he said is a first-in-the-nation proposal to reduce water rates for low-income people who get government help with grocery bills. If enacted, it would be the latest in a series of changes after infrastructure breakdowns in 2022 caused many Jackson residents to go days and weeks without safe running water. “We think this is a great opportunity to really change the dialogue around water and sewer in the city of Jackson,” Henifin said at a news conference. The proposal also marks the first rate increase since a federal judge appointed Henifin to manage Jackson's water system last November. JXN Water will start shutting off water for people who don't pay their bills sometime after Jan. 1st, Henifin said.

Persons: JACKSON, Ted Henifin, ” Henifin, Henifin, Delbert Hosemann, Jan ., Chokwe Antar Lumumba, ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: Nutrition Assistance, SNAP, Mississippi Legislature, Gov, Jackson, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Jackson, Mississippi, @mikergoldberg

☆ How Democrat Brandon Presley could win the Mississippi governor's race and pull off one of the biggest political upsets of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Democratic nominee Brandon Presley has made the Mississippi gubernatorial contest a real race. While most voters in Mississippi may not care for national Democrats (including some Democrats), Presley has effectively presented himself as a different kind of Democrat. Black voters made up 29% of the statewide electorate that year and Biden won their vote 94%-5% over Trump. Presley has heavily courted Black voters, which has included visits to churches and the state's Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). AdvertisementAdvertisementStructural geographic disadvantages remain a lingering issue for Mississippi Democrats, but Presley has a real chance at overcoming that dynamic on Tuesday.

Persons: Brandon Presley, Presley, Tate Reeves, —, Ronnie Musgrove's, Jimmy Carter, he's, Elvis Presley, Reeves, Mason, Dixon, Brandon Bell, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, Jim Hood underperformed, Mike, Hood, Georgia Presley, Jackson, Musgrove, Democrats —, Michael Parker, Parker Organizations: Democratic, GOP, Republican Gov, Service, Magnolia Tribune, Democrats, Mississippi electorate, AP, Trump, Black, Getty, Democratic Senate, Mississippi Democrat, Mississippi State University, Gwinnett, Mississippi Gov, Mississippi, Democrat, Mississippi House, Mississippi Democrats Locations: Mississippi, Brandon , Mississippi, Nettleton, Jackson , Mississippi, . Mississippi, Georgia, Atlanta, Cobb , DeKalb, Fulton County

☆ Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves faces challenger Brandon Presley, Democrat who ran on expanding Medicaid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Tate Reeves speaks on Covid-19 testing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on September 28, 2020. Tate Reeves, a Republican, faces a surprisingly competitive race Tuesday as his Democratic challenger Brandon Presley champions expanding Medicaid, a position that has broad support among voters from both parties in the deeply conservative state. Presley was pressing Reeves hard heading into Tuesday night with the race having shifted from likely to lean Republican, according to the Cook Political Report. Presley focused his campaign on outreach to Black voters, the backbone of the Democratic Party in Mississippi. Presley is a commissioner for Mississippi's public utility regulator who previously served as mayor of the small town of Nettleton.

Persons: Tate Reeves, MANDEL NGAN, Brandon Presley, Presley, Reeves, Cook, Bennie Thompson, Elvis Presley Organizations: Mississippi Gov, White, Getty Images, Republican, Democratic, Black, Democratic Party, U.S . Rep Locations: Mississippi, Rose, Washington , DC, AFP, Nettleton

(AP) — Election officials in Mississippi’s most populous county had to scramble to complete required poll worker training after an early September breach involving county computers. In Hinds County, such training is typically completed by early October before a November general election, according to Election Commissioner Shirley Varnado. Mississippi has a general election Tuesday with key races such as governor and secretary of state — the state’s top election official. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won the county with 73% of the vote, while Republican Donald Trump received 57.5% statewide. Issues with the state’s network were resolved and access to the statewide election management system was restored, according to state election officials.

Persons: JACKSON, Shirley Varnado, Varnado, Democrat Joe Biden, Republican Donald Trump, Tony Gaylor, Gaylor, Zach Wallace, Wallace Organizations: —, Democrat, Republican Locations: Miss, Mississippi’s, Hinds County, Mississippi, Jackson, “, Varnado

Tate Reeves and Democratic challenger Brandon Presley were set to face off Wednesday night in their only debate to cap a hard-fought campaign, six days before the Nov. 7 general election. Presley has raised $11.3 million for his campaign this year, compared with Reeves' $6.3 million, according to finance reports filed Tuesday. Presley has spent $10.8 million and still has $1.3 million, while Reeves has spent $11 million and still has $1.2 million. Presley called on Reeves to take part in five debates, including one last month at a forum sponsored by the NAACP in Gulfport. During the 2019 campaign for governor, Reeves had two debates with Democratic nominee Jim Hood.

Persons: JACKSON, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Presley, Reeves, ” Reeves, he's, ” Presley, chickened, “, We’ve, Jim Hood, Hood, Elvis Presley Organizations: — Mississippi Republican Gov, Democratic, Republicans, NAACP, Jackson ABC, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Associated Press, Mississippi Public Service Commission Locations: Miss, Mississippi, United States, Jackson, Gulfport, Columbus

(AP) — A federal judge on Monday dismissed Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit against fellow retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe, ruling that Sharpe used constitutionally protected speech on a sports broadcast when he criticized Favre's connection to a welfare misspending case in Mississippi. Discussion of Mississippi welfare spending on “Undisputed” took place after extensive news coverage about allegations of Mississippi's largest public corruption case. Favre is not facing criminal charges, but he is among more than three dozen people or businesses the state is suing to try to recover misspent welfare money. In addition to suing Sharpe, Favre filed defamation lawsuits earlier this year against White, the auditor, and sportscaster Pat McAfee, who is a former NFL punter. Favre has repaid $1.1 million he received for speaking fees from a nonprofit group that spent TANF money with approval from the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Persons: JACKSON, Brett Favre’s, Shannon Sharpe, Sharpe, Favre's, Keith Starrett, Favre, “, ” Favre, Skip, Shannon, ”, Shad White, Starrett, ’, ” Starrett, Michael Shemper, Pat McAfee, McAfee, White, Favre’s Organizations: —, District, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Fox Sports, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Prosecutors, University of Southern, Twitter, Associated Press, White, NFL, McAfee, Favre, of Human Services Locations: Miss, Mississippi . U.S, Mississippi, U.S, University of Southern Mississippi, alma

The state hasn't wavered as a conservative stronghold in the modern era, and its last Democratic governor was denied a second term 20 years ago. A former mayor of tiny Nettleton, Presley is wrapping up his fourth term as a state utility regulator for northern Mississippi. One of the most famous Black Mississippi residents, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, recently joined him at a campaign event. Presley has raised more campaign cash than Reeves this year, and he's attracting larger and more diverse crowds than any Democrat running for Mississippi governor in a generation. Presley says the new method of electing a governor gives him a better chance than the old one.

Persons: Brandon Presley, Tate Reeves, “ They’re, ” Presley, murmurs, “, Elvis Presley, Reeves, Presley, Bennie Thompson, Morgan Freeman, Theresa Hall, ”, we’ll, ” Reeves, Sen, Chuck Younger, “ It’s, ” Younger, it’d, Bruce Springsteen, don’t, William Barber, Barber, —, Nick Bain, Medgar Evers, Vernon Dahmer, Fannie Lou Hamer, it's, Democrat Jim Hood, Joe Biden, Mike, Republican Sen, Cindy Hyde, Smith, Thad Cochran, Jim Crow, Eric Holder, Gwendolyn Gray Organizations: Democratic, Republican, U.S . Rep, Mississippi, Tate, Liberal, Black, Democratic Party, Poor, Waffle, Trump, Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, Democratic National Convention, Democrats, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Mississippi voters, U.S, “, Tougaloo College Locations: NATCHEZ, Miss, Mississippi, Natchez, Jackson, Issaquena County, Los Angeles, Columbus, Alabama, U.S, Gulfport, Biloxi, “, Black, Atlantic City

(AP) — After being in office for over a decade, Mississippi state Sen. Dean Kirby got challenged in the Republican primary. More than four-fifths of Mississippi's legislative candidates will have no major-party opposition in the Nov. 7 general election. And more than half of this year's winners will have faced no other Republicans or Democrats in either the primary or the general election. Though Mississippi represents an extreme example, it highlights a national decline in competition for state legislative seats. The DLCC is spending a few thousand dollars this year on several legislative races in the largely uncompetitive Republican-leaning states of Mississippi and Louisiana.

Persons: JACKSON, Sen, Dean Kirby, Kirby, Jackson, “, ” Kirby, ”, Steven Rogers, ” Rogers, Rogers, Joe Biden, Abhi Rahman, ” Rahman, Barbara Blackmon, Ed Blackmon, Bradford Blackmon, Lawrence Blackmon, . Sen, Robert Jackson’s, Reginald Jackson, Andy Berry, Berry, he's, ” Berry, ___ Lieb Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Saint Louis University, The Associated Press, Ballotpedia, State Legislatures, Republicans, Democratic Legislative, ”, Three Democratic, Senate, Bradford, Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Mississippi Beef Council Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Though Mississippi, In Mississippi, State, Louisiana, New Jersey, Virginia, Jackson, Jefferson City , Missouri

(AP) — The Democrat who's trying to unseat Mississippi's Republican governor said Tuesday that the state should set a minimum wage higher than the federal standard of $7.25 an hour. Political Cartoons View All 1218 ImagesA campaign spokesperson for Reeves did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday about whether Mississippi should set a minimum wage higher than $7.25. No legislation to set a Mississippi minimum wage higher than $7.25 advanced during those 12 years. The nonpartisan organization says Mississippi is one of five states that have not set their own minimum wage. Two states have a minimum wage that's lower than the federal standard.

Persons: JACKSON, who's, Mississippi's, Brandon Presley, Presley, Tate Reeves, “, ” Presley, Reeves, he's, we’ve, ” Reeves, Barack Obama Organizations: —, Mississippi's Republican, Republican, Tougaloo College, District of Columbia, National Conference of State Legislatures Locations: Miss, U.S, Mississippi, Columbus

(AP) — The deposition in the civil lawsuit against retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre surrounding Mississippi's welfare scandal has been pushed back at the request of the athlete's attorneys, a court document shows. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is among more than three dozen defendants in a lawsuit the state Human Services director filed to recover some of the welfare money. Favre has denied wrongdoing, sued the state auditor who investigated the misspending for defamation and said he paid back misspent welfare funds. A subsequent court document filed Friday shows the hearing has been rescheduled for Dec. 11 based on a request by Favre's lawyers. Another $1.7 million went to develop a concussion treatment drug investigators have said Favre supported.

Persons: JACKSON, Brett Favre, Favre, Favre’s Organizations: NFL, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Human Services, Mississippi’s Department of Human Services, University of Southern Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Hinds County, Hattiesburg ., University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg

(AP) — Mississippi's gubernatorial election could hinge on turnout among Black voters, who haven't wielded political influence commensurate to their share of the state population, the Democratic nominee said Friday. At a campaign event in the 80% Black state capital of Jackson just over one month before Election Day, Brandon Presley said Black voters could help carry him to victory. Tate Reeves, who is seeking reelection, of hoping they stay home. “Black Mississippi and white Mississippi have been purposefully, strategically and with intent divided over racial lines. Black voters and lawmakers in Mississippi are overwhelmingly Democratic, while Republicans command majority support among white voters and hold supermajorities in the state Legislature.

Persons: JACKSON, — Mississippi's, haven't, Brandon Presley, Tate Reeves, “, Presley, —, Reeves, Jackson, ”, stomped, Keshun Brown, ” Brown, Rodney Hall, Trent Kelly, Gwendolyn Gray, ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: Black, Democratic, Republican Gov, Historic District, Mississippi Delta, Jackson, Mississippi Supreme, Republicans, GOP U.S . Rep, Army, Black Republican, Reconstruction, Center for Healthcare, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Jackson, “ Black Mississippi, Mississippi, Jackson’s, Mississippi Delta, @mikergoldberg

An election official hands a ballot to a voter at a polling station in Ridgeland, Mississippi, U.S., November 27, 2018. A spokesperson for the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Circuit Judge Carolyn Dineen King in reversing a lower-court judge's ruling. Circuit Judge Edith Jones, an appointee of former Republican President Ronald Reagan, was also on the panel and had dissented. Twelve of the 16 currently active judges on the court were appointed by Republicans.

Persons: Jonathan Bachman, Jonathan Youngwood, Lynn Fitch, James Dennis, Dennis, Carolyn Dineen King, Edith Jones, Ronald Reagan, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Circuit, U.S ., Democratic, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Ridgeland , Mississippi, U.S, Mississippi's, Mississippi, U.S . Civil, New York

(AP) — A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that found Mississippi relies too much on institutionalizing people with mental health conditions rather than providing care in their communities. They wrote that the federal government, which sued Mississippi, failed to prove that the state discriminated against people with mental health conditions in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The appeals court judges also wrote that a remedial order by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, which sought to make changes in Mississippi's mental health system, "vastly exceeds the scope of claimed liability.”Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office argued that the appeals court should overturn the district judge's ruling. Political Cartoons View All 1171 ImagesThe federal government issued a letter in 2011 saying Mississippi had done too little to provide mental health services outside mental hospitals. Reeves in 2021 approved funding for an independent monitor to collect and analyze data on how Mississippi’s mental health system is working to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.

Persons: JACKSON, Carlton Reeves, Lynn Fitch's, Fitch, ” Fitch, Reeves Organizations: —, U.S, Circuit, Appeals, District, U.S . Justice Department, Mississippi, Justice Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Washington

☆ How does Storm Idalia compare to the most powerful hurricanes in US history?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here is a list of some of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the mainland U.S. based on minimum atmospheric pressure, which scientists use to rate storm intensity. A lower pressure, measured in millibars, or mb, means a more powerful storm. UNNAMED FLORIDA KEYS HURRICANE, LABOR DAY 1935 (892 MB)The hurricane struck the Florida Keys as a Category 5 storm, the highest ranking on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. After ravaging the Keys, the storm moved north off the western coast of Florida before turning inland. Ian almost hit as a Category 5 storm, with the wind speed falling just short of the threshold of 157 mph (252 km).

Persons: Ian, Marco Bello, Idalia, Florida . HURRICANE CAMILLE, Camille, MICHAEL, Michael, HURRICANE KATRINA, HURRICANE ANDREW, Andrew, HURRICANE IAN, Hurricane Ian, Rich McKay, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, National Hurricane Center, Florida Panhandle, U.S, HURRICANE, Texas Gulf, Hurricane, Thomson Locations: Fort Myers Beach , Florida, U.S, Florida, Florida , Georgia, Carolinas, FLORIDA, Florida . HURRICANE, Mississippi's Gulf, Central America, HURRICANE, New Orleans, South Miami, Dade County, TEXAS GULF, Texas, Texas Gulf Coast, Indianola, Galveston, Atlanta

☆ A judge dismissed a Wisconsin politician's defamation suit against a newspaper, but the legal fees may still shutter the paper.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Wisconsin politician filed a defamation suit against a local newspaper, and the suit was dismissed. A troubling trendThe Wisconsin case isn't the first and likely won't be the last dubious defamation case brought on by a politician. His latest $475 million defamation suit against CNN was dismissed last month. Ron DeSantis, a 2024 presidential candidate along with Trump, hailed it as a way to target "legacy media defamation practices." Phil Bryant filed a defamation suit against a local newspaper whose Pulitzer-Prize-winning reporting tied him to a major welfare scandal in the state.

Persons: Cory Tomczyk, Tomczyk –, –, Tomczyk, Shereen Siewert, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Phil Bryant Organizations: Wausau Pilot, Service, The New York Times, Republican, Times, CNN, Washington Post, Florida Republicans, Gov, Trump, Freedom, Press, of Columbia Locations: Wisconsin, Wall, Silicon, Wausau , Wisconsin, Florida, . Wisconsin

REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman/File PhotoAug 4 (Reuters) - A divided federal appeals court on Friday ruled that Mississippi cannot strip the right to vote from thousands of convicts after they complete their sentences, calling that a "cruel and unusual punishment" that disproportionately affected Black people. Circuit Court of Appeals faulted a provision of Mississippi's state constitution that mandates lifetime disenfranchisement for people convicted of a set of crimes including murder, rape and theft. Siding with a group of convicts who sued in 2018 to regain their right to vote, U.S. Circuit Judge James Dennis wrote that the state's policy violated the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishments. Circuit Judge Carolyn Dineen King in reversing a lower-court judge's ruling.

Persons: Jonathan Bachman, James Dennis, Dennis, Carolyn Dineen King, Mississippians, Jonathan Youngwood, Lynn Fitch, disenfranchisement, Edith Jones, Ronald Reagan, Jones, Nate Raymond, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Circuit, U.S ., Washington , D.C, U.S, Democratic, Republican, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Ridgeland , Mississippi, U.S, Mississippi, New Orleans, U.S . Civil, Washington ,, Constitution's, Boston

☆ Mississippi's ban on gender-affirming care is forcing one teenager to leave his mom and 2 brothers and go live with his dad in Virginia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Arleigh Rodgers | Michael Goldberg | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ray Walker had been receiving gender-affirming care in the state where he lives, and now can't. AP Photo/Rogelio V. SolisAt least 20 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for trans minors, though several are embroiled in legal challenges. Opponents of gender-affirming care say there's no solid proof of purported benefits, cite widely discredited research and say children shouldn't make life-altering decisions they might regret. Then the broad effort in conservative states to restrict gender-affirming care set its sights on Mississippi. "Most people in Mississippi cannot afford to just move to another state or even go to another state for care."

Persons: Ray Walker, Walker, Katie Rives, Tate Reeves, Reeves, Rogelio V, Solis, Walker's, Rives, It's, ___ Arleigh Rodgers, Michael Goldberg, Rodgers, Goldberg Organizations: Mississippi Republican, Service, Mississippi Republican Gov, AP, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Mississippi, Virginia, Wall, Silicon, Jackson, Madison County, Miss, Chicago, Indianapolis

☆ US Supreme Court won't scrutinize Mississippi curb on voting by felons
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( John Kruzel | Industry Insight | Corporate Attorneys Don T Want To Pay Law Firms For Chatgpt When They Could Use It Themselves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The state's felon disenfranchisement policy has been shown to have a disproportionate impact on Black Mississippians, nearly 29,000 of whom were disenfranchised between 1994 and 2017, according to court filings. Black Mississippians account for 36% of the state's voting age population but 59% of those who have been disfranchised for life due to a felony conviction. The 1890 version had removed crimes thought to be "white crimes" and added those thought to be "Black crimes," with the aim of discriminating against Black voters, according to court records. Eight crimes listed in the 1890 version of the provision - bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement and bigamy - remain as disqualifying offenses today. A key question in the case was whether the process of amending Mississippi's felon disenfranchisement provision purged the discriminatory intent behind the 1890 version and brought the law into compliance constitutional race-based voter protections.

Persons: Roy Harness, Kamal Karriem, Constitution's, Harness, Karriem, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Black, Constitution, Harness, The, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Civil, Mississippi, U.S, The New Orleans

☆ Senate confirms abortion rights lawyer to US appeals court
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 20 (Reuters) - A lawyer who argued on the losing side of the U.S. Supreme Court case that ended the national right to abortion won confirmation on Tuesday to a seat on a federal appeals court. The U.S. Senate confirmed Julie Rikelman, a top lawyer for the Center for Reproductive Rights, to the Boston-based 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals by a vote of 51-43. Rikelman represented Mississippi's last remaining abortion clinic in urging the Supreme Court to reaffirm the constitutional right to abortion and strike down a state law that banned the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Rikelman's nomination drew opposition from Republicans, who questioned her abortion rights advocacy during a September 2022 Senate hearing and described her position on the issue as extreme. She is Biden’s third nominee to secure a seat on the court, whose active judges were all nominated by Democrats.

Persons: Julie Rikelman, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Rikelman, Dobbs, Joe Biden, Biden, Rikelman's, Andrew Goudsward, David Bario Organizations: U.S, Supreme, U.S . Senate, Center for Reproductive, Circuit U.S, Jackson, Health Organization, Republicans, Center for Reproductive Rights, Thomson Locations: Boston, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Mississippi's, New York

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