Bobby Harrison
WJTV 12 News
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Past articles by Bobby:
U.S. Supreme Court leaves congressional redistricting to Mississippi Legislature
For the first time since the early 1990s, the federal courts will not be drawing Mississippi’s congressional districts. Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case filed by a group of Black Mississippians alleging the current drawing of the four congressional districts was unconstitutional because it diluted minority voting strength. That Supreme […] → Read More
Poll: Reeves trails Presley in 2023 governor’s race, welfare scandal a top issue
Editor’s note: Mississippi Today will publish stories about all public polls released during the 2023 governor’s race. We will always clearly report on a poll’s methodology and note any concerns with the provided data shown. Incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves trails Democratic challenger Brandon Presley in a new poll, and Reeves scored low marks for […] → Read More
Lawmakers ponder stripping state retirement system authority after board votes to raise rates
After Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees voted to require an additional $345 million annually from state and local governmental entities to fund the pension plan for their current and former employees, lawmakers are considering changes to the system’s authority. The PERS board voted in December to increase the employer contribution rate, which is […] → Read More
Supreme Court’s decision on felony suffrage hinges on understanding of state amendment process
Whether United States Supreme Court justices take the time to understand how Mississippi’s Constitution is amended could determine if they agree to hear a case asking that a provision prohibiting most people convicted of felonies from voting be found unconstitutional. The New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, like the Supreme Court a conservative-leaning court, […] → Read More
Senate can’t muster votes to override Gov. Tate Reeves’ vetoes
An effort by the Republican legislative leadership to override Gov. Tate Reeves’ line item vetoes of a handful of earmarked 2022 projects fizzled Thursday after the Senate couldn’t muster enough votes. “We had the votes to override,” House Speaker Philip Gunn said Thursday after the House took a long recess waiting to hear if Lt. […] → Read More
State employee pay trails neighboring states, private sector
The average state of Mississippi employee has worked for the state for almost 10 years and earns less than the average of all Mississippi workers and woefully less than their counterparts in the four contiguous states, according to information compiled by the state Personnel Board. While Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Speaker Phillip […] → Read More
Feds flagged dire Jackson water problems a month before the system failed
One month before the city of Jackson water system began failing, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assessment team flagged numerous system problems in a July 2022 report. The report, obtained by Mississippi Today, documents a litany of problems contributing to the capital city’s long-running and ongoing water crisis, which threatens the health and livelihoods of […] → Read More
Harrison, Hinds could apply for federal rental assistance funds Gov. Reeves is returning
Hinds and Harrison counties can apply for a portion of the more than $100 million in emergency rental assistance funds that Gov. Tate Reeves is returning to the U.S. Treasury. According to June 28 guidelines from the U.S. Treasury, “When feasible and consistent with jurisdiction needs, Treasury intends to reallocate excess funds from a grantee […] → Read More
Redistricting gives Republicans chance to increase legislative super majorities
Republicans have a reasonable chance of increasing their much ballyhooed super majorities, at least in the Mississippi House, in the 2023 elections based on the redrawing of the legislative districts earlier this year. It might be more difficult for Republicans to increase their numbers in the Senate than in the House. Currently, 36 of the […] → Read More
Wiggins again misused state campaign funds for congressional race, complaint alleges
State Sen. Brice Wiggins used his state campaign funds to fund a Super PAC that is aiding his campaign for the 4th Congressional District seat — which appears to be prohibited by federal election law. The campaign for incumbent Congressman Steven Palazzo confirmed on Tuesday that a complaint regarding Wiggins’ campaign spending was filed to […] → Read More
Gov. Tate Reeves vetoes bill easing Jim Crow-era voting restrictions
Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed a bill intended to make it easier for some people who lost their voting rights as a result of a Jim Crow-era provision of the state’s 1890 Constitution to regain their right to vote. The constitutional provision, originally written to keep Black Mississippians from voting, prohibits those convicted of certain felonies […] → Read More
Mayor Lumumba: ‘Paternalistic, racist’ Legislature failed to help Jackson despite having extra billions
Despite having unprecedented extra billions of dollars to spend, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said the Mississippi Legislature failed to provide enough help to the capital city, which faces d… → Read More
NAACP says state didn’t spend federal funds properly to battle COVID-19 in communities of color
The NAACP and Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal complaint alleging the state of Mississippi did not adequately dispense federal COVID-19 relief funds to combat the pandemic’s outsized impact on communities of color. The complaint, filed on behalf of both the national organization and state chapter of the NAACP, says the state’s actions violate […] → Read More
Legislators could force local officials to raise property taxes as they slash state taxes by record amount
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – The Mississippi Legislature may end the 2022 session taking credit for a historic tax cut while leaving local officials on the hook to either raise property taxes on their constituents or decide where to make cuts to their school districts. As gasoline prices rise and overall inflation rates increase, the […] → Read More
Senate leader won’t commit to restoring ballot initiative process
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – Just five days before a key deadline, a Senate committee chairman would not say definitively that he will keep alive legislation to revive the state’s ballot initiative process. “I do not have a definitive answer to that at this time,” Senate Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee Chair John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, […] → Read More
Mississippi’s strict felony voting ban unlikely to be addressed in 2022 session
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – Any effort during the 2022 legislative session to restore voting rights to people convicted of certain felonies most likely will be modest. The House Judiciary B Committee passed legislation this week to ensure that people whose crimes are expunged regain their right to vote. But that legislation, if passed, would […] → Read More
Anti-CRT bill passed out of Senate committee likely unconstitutional, opponents say
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – The Senate Education Committee passed legislation Thursday banning the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 public schools and in the state’s public universities and community colleges. If made into law, opponents say the bill is likely unconstitutional. SB 2113 is among a litany of bills filed during the 2022 session […] → Read More
Lawmakers will unveil redrawn congressional districts on Wednesday
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – The Mississippi Legislature’s Joint Redistricting Committee is expected to approve a congressional redistricting plan Wednesday that will soon be presented to the full Legislature. It is likely that the full Legislature will take up the committee’s proposal in the first week of the 2022 session. The map that will be […] → Read More
Gov. Tate Reeves says he and attorney general will sue over Biden vaccine mandate
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – Gov. Tate Reeves, in a blistering social media post, said on Tuesday he and Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch expect to file a lawsuit later this week challenging the vaccine mandate being imposed on certain businesses by President Joe Biden. Reeves said the federal mandates “threaten every Mississippian’s individual liberties. They […] → Read More
Key lawmaker: ‘It’s past time’ to address Mississippi’s lifetime felony voting ban
JACKSON, Miss. (Mississippi Today) – Ryan Burns, a Madison County attorney and former assistant district attorney, told a House judiciary committee any person convicted of a felony in Mississippi has the right to petition the court for restoration of gun rights. But the same option does not exist for Mississippians who lose another constitutional right: […] → Read More