Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today

Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph used a 2012 law to quietly award pay raises to himself and the state's judges earlier this year. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Supreme Court chief quietly gave pay raise to himself and other judges without legislative approval
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 3,858 Reads
Wed, 06/09/2021 - 05:55 PM
Supreme Court Justice Michael Randolph used a little-known provision in a 2012 law to quietly — and without legislative approval — award pay raises to himself and all of the state’s judges earlier this year.
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A special election to fix the Mississippi ballot initiative process would cost the state or local governments and perhaps both. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Special election to address ballot initiative can happen this year, but it will cost
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 714 Reads
Tue, 06/08/2021 - 09:51 AM
Below is a political analysis column by Bobby Harrison:

If the Mississippi Legislature does set the date for a special election this year to reinstate the ballot initiative process that was invalidated last month by the Supreme Court, it would cost the state or local governments and perhaps both.
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Will eliminating the income tax grow Mississippi? DeSoto trends suggest no.
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 472 Reads
Mon, 06/07/2021 - 05:41 PM
Below is a political analysis column by Bobby Harrison:

Gov. Tate Reeves, House Speaker Philip Gunn and others who tout eliminating Mississippi’s personal income tax as a way to reverse the state’s population loss must explain DeSoto County.
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"Both my wife and I had health issues. Using marijuana helped us tremendously, it's what inspired us to open our business," Santita Delaney of Pearl, owner of Hemp World, said on May 25. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Senate panel ponders parameters of a new medical marijuana bill
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 1,688 Reads
Fri, 06/04/2021 - 10:05 AM
The basic principles of the medical marijuana initiative approved by Mississippi voters in November — but struck down recently by the state Supreme Court — should be honored, members of the Senate Public Health Committee were told Thursday.
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Jasmine Cochran of Picayune speaks of coming home from a teaching position in China to care for her ailing father. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Early voting sponsors ask Supreme Court to reverse ballot initiative ruling
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 1,200 Reads
Tue, 06/01/2021 - 11:09 AM
Supporters of ballot initiatives that would allow early voting and legalize medical marijuana are asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to reverse its landmark decision that struck down the state’s initiative process.
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Process for filling board vacancies is gray area or black hole for state government
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 375 Reads
Tue, 06/01/2021 - 11:03 AM
Below is a political analysis column by Bobby Harrison:

In 1996, former Gov. Kirk Fordice said the debate over whether to confirm the four white males he appointed to the Mississippi college board should not be a black and white issue but a matter of competence.
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Ratio of workers supporting state retirees declines, impacting PERS viability
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 1,518 Reads
Fri, 05/28/2021 - 04:29 PM
Below is a political analysis column by Bobby Harrison:

Fewer active workers are supporting a growing number of retirees receiving pension benefits from the Mississippi Public Employees’ Retirement System, a report by a legislative oversight agency concluded.
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Jasmine Cochran of Picayune speaks of coming home from a teaching position in China to care for her ailing father. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Lawmakers can set special election for ballot initiative fix at any date
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 1,020 Reads
Thu, 05/27/2021 - 04:47 PM
Below is a political column by Bobby Harrison:

Votes by Mississippians on past efforts to amend the state Constitution have not been confined to November general elections.
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Mississippi's Supreme Court has struck down the medical marijuana Initiative 65 passed by voters in November 2020. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Supreme Court relies on literal reading to reach initiative ruling
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 3,450 Reads
Mon, 05/24/2021 - 10:23 AM
Gov. Tate Reeves made three appointments last week to the Mississippi Community College Board — appointments from the same five congressional districts that resulted in the demise of a medical marijuana program and of the state’s initiative process that allowed people to gather signatures to place issues on the ballot.
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Poll: 60% oppose Court’s medical marijuana ruling, support special session
By Bobby Harrison - Mississippi Today, 722 Reads
Tue, 05/18/2021 - 01:59 PM
A strong majority oppose last week’s state Supreme Court decision striking down both a voter initiative that approved medical marijuana and the entire process that Mississippians can gather signatures to place an issue on the ballot for voters to decide.
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June 09, 2021

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