Stateline Headlines

Termites swarm across South Mississippi

Health officials support Medicaid expansion

U.S. sees drop in teen birth rates, but Mississippi and Arkansas still lead country

Rochester, Mayo Clinic celebrate $585 million windfall from the state

Poll -- Deep South residents, lawmakers at odds over Medicaid

Reports support Medicaid expansion, but gov. not swayed

Despite Governors’ Opposition, Strong Southern Support for Medicaid Expansion

New poll shows Deep South politicians are out of step with their constituents on Medicaid expansion.

Abortion clinic continues fight to stay open

Universities seek $30 million more in 2015 budget

Board could hire new Miss. school chief by October

Interior issues new public land fracking rule

Only abortion clinic in Miss. fights to stay open

Cheers! All 50 States Embrace the Home Brew Boom

As of July 1, all 50 states will allow aspiring brewers to make their own beer at home. But states are still figuring out how to regulate the popular hobby.

Some Miss. schools' accountability ratings inflated

Dems work on Miss. Medicaid expansion proposal

Medicaid cuts set to kick in Jan. 1

USM raises $130,000 for tornado repairs

DHS attorney suing over pay

Analysis -- Bryant's Medicaid remarks change tone

Family demands answers in Miss. candidate's death

Barnes tapped to lead Miss. homeland security

2 percent prepared-food tax would fund sports complex in Pascagoula

Fight Over Abortion Rules Could Reverberate Widely

Mississippi could be one step closer to becoming the first U.S. state without an abortion provider after a state hearing Thursday. But the legal fight over the state’s abortion law is far from over, and could have far-reaching implications for other states with similar laws.

States Look to Raise Standards for New Teachers

Would paying teachers more improve the quality of teaching candidates? Some states are considering that and tougher admission standards at education programs.

The 5 States Most Vulnerable to Sequestration’s Education Cuts

Automatic federal budget cuts will slash more than $1 billion in K-12 education dollars this year, paring everything from Title I money for low-income students to school improvement initiatives.

Issue To Watch: School Testing

A number of states are pushing to up the stakes on reading tests for younger students and assign letter grades to schools.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2013

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jan. 22 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Phil Bryant's (R) 2013 State of the State Address:

States Get More Time to Decide If They Will Run Their Own Health Insurance Exchanges

Only a few new states have opted to build and operate their own insurance exchanges. More are taking a wait and see approach.

Jindal Stays Put as Isaac Swirls Toward Coast

This week was supposed to be Bobby Jindal’s time in the limelight — a chance at complete redemption for the Louisiana governor, whose star in the Republican Party is rising once again. But a hurricane named Isaac thought otherwise.

One of Five Americans Struggling To Afford Food, Survey Finds

Despite record food stamp enrollment around the country and an economy considered to be on a modest upswing, the Great Recession is continuing to take its toll on many Americans, a Gallup survey found.

Mississippi Tops List Of Fattest States — Again

For the seventh straight year, Mississippi has claimed a dubious title: the nation’s fattest state. That’s according to the latest estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2011, nearly 35 percent of adult Mississippians were considered obese, according to data released on Monday (Augu

Best of #StateReads: Illinois Fails to Investigate Abuse and Neglect in Deaths of Disabled

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

For Some States, Medicaid Expansion May Be a Tough Fiscal Call

GOP governors appear poised to leave federal dollars on the table.

New Anti-Abortion Strategy Pays Off

The past few months have seen a flurry of new state laws restricting abortion, most of them based on the concept of “fetal pain.”

Mississippi Republicans Challenge Powers of Attorney General

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood hires lots of outside lawyers. They make a great deal of money for the state, and for themselves. Not everyone is happy with that situation.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2012

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 24 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Phil Bryant's (R) 2012 state of the state address: Thank you Governor. First, let me congratulate you on your excellent appointments of committee chairs. I know them all very well and look forward to our successes together. Mr. Spea

Haley Barbour Pardons Nearly 200, Including Brett Favre's Brother

TODAY'S TAKE: Before he left office on Tuesday (January 10), Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour pardoned nearly 200 people, including convicted killers and the brother of former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

Nation's Newest Governor Takes Office in Mississippi

TODAY'S TAKE: Republican Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi will step into the state's top job today (January 10), succeeding the term-limited Haley Barbour.

Infographic: Southern Strength

Republican dominance in the South started with presidential elections and only later came to statehouses.

Democrats Face a Reckoning in Deep South Legislatures

Democrats used to lose presidential elections in the South while holding on to the grassroots. Now even the grassroots have turned red.

Mississippi to Put Abortion in Election Spotlight

Mississippi voters will pick up where state lawmakers left off this year as they consider a ballot measure that would essentially outlaw abortion.

Governor Candidate Makes History in Mississippi

TODAY'S TAKE: Johnny DuPree, the mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, won a Democratic runoff for governor on Tuesday (August 23), making him the first African-American nominee for either party in state history.

Mississippi Lieutenant Governor May Succeed His Boss

TODAY'S TAKE: Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant became the Republican choice for governor on Tuesday (August 2) and awaits the winner of a Democratic runoff election later this month.

In Mississippi, New Republican Power Collides With Black Quest for Seats

The always contentious process of seeking racially fair legislative districts in Mississippi is even more contentious this year as Republican power has added a new dimension to the calculation.See Stateline's redistricting page for the latest news

Where Labor is Weak, State Workers Face Huge Cutbacks

As the nation debates collective bargaining in Wisconsin, public workers in Alabama, Texas and many other states are fighting over massive pay cuts, huge increases in health premiums and basic civil service protections.

Missouri is Toughest on Crack Cocaine

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Missouri punishes crack dealers more severely than those who sell the powder version of the same drug… Police are stretched thin in one of the nation's most dangerous cities… The Colorado probation agency comes under scrutiny, and other public safety news.

New Jersey Democrats Want to Roll Back Tunnel Tolls

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Some New Jersey legislators look to reduce driving costs… A major public works law in Illinois catches a break… Maryland's governor looks to deny driver's licenses to tax delinquents, and other transportation news.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2011

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 11 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2011 state of the state address: Thank you Speaker McCoy and Governor Bryant, and thanks to you in the Legislature for your warm welcome. General Freeman is with us tonight. While we don't have as many of our National Guard

Texas Again Leads Nation in Executions; Ohio a Distant Second

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas executed more than twice as many inmates in 2010 as the next-closest state, Ohio, according to a new report. Nationally, states executed 46 prisoners this year, a 12-percent decline from last year.

Mississippi Considers Pro Bono Mandate for Lawyers

Many poor people still lack adequate legal representation. Can a state court force private attorneys to provide it?

Mississippi Budget Proposal: Sign of Those to Come?

TODAY'S TAKE: Mississippi's Haley Barbour on Monday (November 15) became one of the first governors to propose a state budget for the new year. The plan is full of deep cuts - and could resemble what other Republican governors will propose in the months ahead.

States Pressed to Fix Local Water Systems

American cities - including state capitals - are responsible for their own water systems. But when cities can't afford to make urgently needed repairs, some states are stepping beyond their traditional roles to help finance upgrades to the nation's aging water infrastructure.

Gulf States Fear Long-Term Fiscal Effects of Oil Disaster

The Gulf Coast states were hopeful that 2010 would be a year of economic revival. Now, one of the worst environmental tragedies in U.S. history is jeopardizing the future of the tourism, fishing and deep-water oil drilling industries. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida do not have the money to offset the revenue losses and are counting on BP to rescue them.

A Tale of Two Governors

TODAY'S TAKE: One Mississippi governor talks down the damage of the Gulf oil spill. Another has been given the task of managing the cleanup.

Subsidized Jobs: A Faint Echo of the New Deal

A small piece of the federal stimulus program is going toward funding jobs in the private sector. Even conservatives seem to like the idea.

Tea on the Menu

Long-time advocates of limited government hope the anti-tax fervor of the Tea Party movement will breathe new life to initiatives aimed at reining in state spending and will reverse a string of ballot box defeats in recent years. Opponents speculate that tea partiers' influence on ballot measures may be limited since their focus is on Washington. Either way, no one is taking Tea Party activists lightly, and the first big test will come next month in Arizona, where voters will consider a temporary sales tax increase - anathema to Tea Party groups everywhere.

Still Too Many Schools?

As states become determined to keep more school money inside the classroom, rather than in an administrative office, they are beginning to turn to the thorny issue of consolidation as a way to save on administrative costs. But consolidation of anything related to schools is notoriously difficult, and doesn't always turn out to provide the fiscal windfall states hope for. Implementation is fraught with complexities. Communities worry about the possibility of local schools closing even when it's promised that proposed changes would be largely administrative.

Smaller Prison Count Breaks 38-Year Trend

State prisons have been a dynamic growth industry over the past four decades, with the number of inmates exploding by more than 700 percent. No longer. A survey released Wednesday (March 17) by the Pew Center on the States, the parent organization of Stateline.org, finds that the total number of prisoners in state custody declined last year for the first time since 1972.

Amid Recall, Four Governors Defend Toyota

TODAY'S TAKE: The governors of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Mississippi - all states that are home to Toyota plants -on Wednesday (Feb. 10) defended the Japanese automaker amid its worldwide recall of millions of cars.

Weekly Wrap: Govs Seek to Prop Up Budget Reserve Funds

Depleted rainy day funds prompt review; Toyota's temporary sales suspension could impact state revenue; Ohio loses an iconic employer; and new studies released on recession, state stimulus web sites.

Summary of the Mississippi State of the State Address

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour used his Jan. 18 state of the state address to urge the Democratic-led Legislature to approve a bill that would allow him to cut individual agency budgets up to 10 percent. He also called job creation and workforce training his No. 1 priorities and touted Mississippi's leadership in alternative energy production.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2010

JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 18 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2010 state of the state address: Mr. Speaker, Governor Bryant, members of the Legislature, distinguished guests and fellow Mississippians: For the seventh time I'm honored to come before you to share my view of the State of o

Report: 11 States Emerging From Recession

It's going to be a long, hard climb out of the current economic downturn for many recession-ridden states hit hard by the housing crash, unemployment and shrinking revenues. But as the national economy starts its slow recovery, 11 states and the District of Columbia are showing signs of emerging from the recession, according to a new report.

States Draw Down Rainy Day Funds

Faced with historic revenue drops, lawmakers in states across the country tapped rainy day funds in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 at levels not seen since the recession following the 2001 terrorist attacks. And more seem poised to join them.

Weekly Wrap: Bullet Point Dramatizes Crisis

Mississippi's "down budget times" have led to the rationing of highway patrol ammo. Fallout from the recession is likely to mean higher fees for would-be Cal State students. It's delaying tax refunds in several states. Vermont had some good news - it ended the budget year that ended June 30 in the black. For a quick update on how the economic crisis is affecting states, read Stateline.org's "Weekly wrap."

Recession Ushers in More Tobacco Taxes

In a double-whammy for smokers, the federal government and seven states raised taxes on cigarettes this year. But the new taxes plus President Obama's vow to sign a bill imposing sweeping regulation of the tobacco industry threaten to shrink cigarette sales - and revenues for state coffers.

Tracking the Recession – Much Ado About a Small Stimulus Pot

After weeks of speculation and intense political pressure, a reluctant Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Friday (April 3) became the last governor to formally notify the White House that he plans to accept at least some federal dollars from the stimulus package - but the controversy is far from over.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2009

JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 13 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2009 state of the state address: Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: Tonight marks the sixth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you here to report on th

Nasty Judicial Races Renew Complaints

Another bruising campaign season in judicial elections has spurred calls for reform from advocacy groups, lawyers and others in the legal community, but fierce debate persists over how exactly state judges should be chosen.

Grand Old Party-Poopers

What VIPs are sending regrets to John McCain's convention bash?

FEMA Change Sends States Searching For Ice

States looking for free ice from FEMA in the aftermath of a hurricane will be out of luck because of the agency's new policy.

Will Obama Have Coattails in the South?

High turnout among African-Americans and younger voters could reshape the Southern political landscape this fall. But Democrats may find gains in statewide contests thwarted by bad timing and a potential conservative backlash.

WORTH NOTING: Fat Folks Uninvited

A Mississippi legislator wants restaurants to stop serving obese customers. Rooster owners in Riverside, Calif., must muffle cock-a-doodle-doing during daytime hours. And Florida lawmakers want to tax strip-club goers and give the money to poor nursing home residents. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2008

JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 21 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Hayley Barbour's (R) 2008 state of the state address: Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: This is the fifth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you in this historic chamber to r

Legislatures: before and after

Three states put their entire legislatures up for election Tuesday (Nov. 6). Democrats flipped control of legislative chambers in Virginia and Mississippi on Election Day and made gains in four of the six chambers with seats on the ballot, including adding one seat to their majority in the New Jersey Senate although they lost two seats in the Assembly.

Supreme Court stops Mississippi execution

For the third time in five weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court last night (Oct. 30) halted an execution while it considers whether lethal injection illegally inflicts cruel and unusual punishment. The postponement - 19 minutes before a Mississippi inmate was to be put to death - is the strongest signal to date that a national moratorium on lethal injection is taking hold.

State pols catch sports fever

An attorney general candidate in Mississippi gets blitzed by the Dallas Cowboys. A Democratic governor chides his Republican counterparts over Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente wins support from the Pennsylvania General Assembly 35 years after his death. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Colleges go on offense against binge drinking

To many college students, binge drinking is a rite of passage, as integral a part of the college experience as midterms and all-nighters. But to college administrators, drinking too much is a hazard to students' health and safety, and they're taking steps to curb it.

Home Insurance Woes Mount in Coastal States

As private home insurers raise rates or pull out completely along the Gulf Coast and in other storm-prone areas of the country, states are scrambling to respond.

Bridge collapse points to national problem

The Minnesota bridge that collapsed this week is just one of 73,518 "structurally deficient" bridges across the country that state and federal inspectors have deemed in need of significant repairs.

States Urge Hurricane Awareness

The governors of Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia have declared official awareness periods to highlight the beginning of what forecasters say could be a dangerous hurricane season.

Lawmakers Want to Pump Kids Up

Florida's school children next fall will be part of a trend reversal in which state lawmakers are starting to bring back physical education classes to combat childhood obesity.

AGs Aim to Make MySpace a Safe Space

Under pressure from state attorneys general, the popular social-networking Web site MySpace agreed Monday to turn over information on thousands of sex offenders it kicked off its site in early May.

GOP Eyes Possible Gains in '07 Races

Click here to see the 2007 state elections guide Location, location, location could make all the difference in the three governors' seats in play this year. All three gubernatorial races - in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi - are in the South, the only region where Republicans made gains in state offices as Democrats in 2006 swept into a majority of governors' mansions and more statehouses than at any time since 1994.

States Try GPS to Protect Social Workers

Last year, a Kentucky social worker was murdered in the line of duty. Although fatalities are rare, this case and others like it are a call to arms for state child-welfare agencies already battling high worker-turnover rates and a nationwide shortage of skilled new social workers. Two states are equipping their frontline caseworkers with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices to boost worker safety and efficiency.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2007

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 15 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2007 state of the state address: Madam Lt. Governor, Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, distinguished guests and fellow Mississippians: For the fourth time I'm honored to report to you on the State of our State.

Katrina, Rita Create Unexpected Boom

Despite dire forecasts that Gulf Coast governors would have to slash state budgets in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita one year ago, a new report finds that booming "hurricane economies" have fueled state revenue surpluses across the region.

States Promote Nursing, Protect Moms

Mississippi, the state with the lowest breastfeeding rate in the country, has passed a broad new law allowing mothers to nurse at work and in public. In addition, five other states - Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, South Carolina and Alabama - passed laws protecting mothers from charges of indecent exposure when they nurse in public places.

More states sanction deadly force

A year-old Florida law sanctioning the use of deadly force against muggers, carjackers or other assailants outside the home is rapidly being adopted by other states and already is being raised as a defense in at least three shootings in Florida.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2006

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 9 - Following is the full text of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2006 state of the state address: "Thank you. Lt. Governor Tuck, Speaker McCoy, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, fellow Mississippians. Thank you for being here for my third State of the State address. I apologize fo

Katrina Alters Vista for Barbour, Blanco

Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Haley Barbour took their oaths as governors of Louisiana and Mississippi two days apart in January 2004. Twenty months later, Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf states, tearing apart landscapes and lives and severely testing the leadership of both governors. This report is from "State of the States 2006," Stateline.org's annual overview of significant policy trends in the 50 states.

State AGs Fight Teen Smoking—Onscreen

More than 30 attorneys general are mounting a campaign to add anti-smoking ads to the beginning of films in which actors light up onscreen. The bid to fight teen smoking was prompted by a study that showed a marked increase in smoking among children who watch movie characters puffing away.

Emergency! Declarations Help States Cope

If it seems as if the whole country is in a "state of emergency," that's because most of it is. And that's before Hurricane Rita makes landfall.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2005

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 11 - Following is the text of Gov. Haley Barbour's 2005 state of the state address: Governor Tuck, Speaker McCoy, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature, fellow Mississippians: It is my privilege to report the State of our State is better today than it was last year but not as good as it will

Southeastern States Struggle with Teacher-Quality Rules

Southeastern states are lowering the bar for teacher qualifications and using federal rules under the No Child Left Behind Act as a maximum standard rather than a minimum, according to a report released today . The Southeast Center for Teacher Quality concludes that some states are focusing only on what teachers know and not how well they convey that knowledge to students.

Medical Liability Debate Still Roaring in Statehouses

Mississippi and New Jersey are among nearly a dozen states that made headway in addressing costly premiums for medical malpractice insurance by passing new laws during the 2004 legislative session. The issue sucked up time and energy in 42 statehouses this session as lawmakers debated claims that excessive damage awards are driving up physicians' liability insurance costs and threatening doctor shortages. Much of a recent upsurge in lobbying at the state level has been driven by doctors groups and trial lawyers battling over medical malpractice legislation.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2004

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 26 - Following is the text of Gov. Haley Barbour's 2004 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor; Mr. Speaker; Fellow State officials, Members of the Legislature, Members of the Executive Council and fellow Mississippians. It is a humbling honor to come before you tonight for

New Governors: Deficits Are 'Opportunities'

Even with the economy improving, many states are still struggling to recover from a fiscal hangover induced by two-plus years of program cuts, tax increases and layoffs. The governors-elect of Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana soon will lead such states and say they relish this challenge.

State Attorney Generals Step Up Child Support Enforcement

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is taking the fight to collect child support to the streets, where billboards will warn the states motorists to pay child support on time or do time. The billboards represent one facet of a large-scale effort by Cox to crackdown on Michigans deadbeat parentsa move that follows the lead of state Attorneys General across the country.

Republicans Elect Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi

Republican candidates won the governors races in Kentucky and Mississippi Tuesday, continuing a decades-long trend toward Republican domination of the South.