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Chicago native Ajani Crenshaw, a Tougaloo College junior, and his father are fans of the NFL’s Bears, but they will be at the Super Bowl on Sunday in Santa Clara, California, to watch the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots clash.

Things have only gotten better since Crenshaw received free tickets to a Bears-Lions football game at Soldier Field in Chicago for him, his father and his brothers.

The tickets were a gift from Students Demand Action, the student branch of gun violence prevention organization Everytown. Crenshaw is part of Everytown’s Survivor Fellowship Program for Students.

Four days before the game, they literally jumped for joy after learning they’d get free parking. A few days after that, they learned they had gotten passes to be on the field.

“At that point, we just didn’t know how to react,” Crenshaw recalled. “We thought it could never get better than this.”

It could, and it did.

The day of the game, they met Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey and Kate Rackow, the team’s player and alumni relations manager. Rackow took them to the field to take pictures, then brought out former Bears running back Tarik Cohen. Cohen commended Crenshaw for his work in gun violence prevention before sharing the big surprise: two tickets and an all-inclusive trip to Super Bowl LX.

The moment was captured on video and posted to the Bears’ social media pages. Crenshaw and his family jumped and screamed in pure excitement at the news.

Crenshaw said he also recieved on-field passes and a free Bears running back Kyle Monangai jersey. He plans to attend the Super Bowl with his father, who he describes as a “great influence” and a “diehard Bears fan.”

In addition to his work at Everytown, Crenshaw is the founder and chief executive officer of Capitol Dreamers, a nonprofit dedicated to gun violence prevention through education, advocacy and community action.

“My goal is to work with young people to not only help them understand the policy that goes into gun violence prevention, but also how to use their voices in their own way, and how to be a part of the solution rather than just being a statistic and being a part of the problem,” he said.

In his time as an advocate, he has hosted firearm safety forums, partnered with gun and pawn shops on a suicide prevention initiative and more. He previously worked as a legislative intern for Illinois state Rep. Joyce Mason and was part of the 2024 cohort of Stanford Law Scholars.

At Tougaloo, Crenshaw majors in political science with a double minor in pre-law and public policy administration. He is president of the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a member of the Reuben V. Anderson Pre-Law Society. He has also worked on voter registration efforts and addressing food disparities.

Growing up in Chicago, gun violence was always a prevalent issue. Crenshaw got involved in social justice and politics as he got older, which helped him realize how prominent gun violence was across the country.

“You see the headline, you know, ‘Multiple killed over the weekend in Chicago.’ You know we see it. We hear it,” he said. “But what we don’t see in the headlines is all the grassroots organizers and all the policies that are being put into place to decline this violence in our communities.”

He added, “Being from the Chicago area has really influenced me not because of the violence I see, but because of the progress I see.”

Crenshaw chose Tougaloo for its pre-law program and its rich history of civil rights activism. During the Civil Rights Movement, the campus was a safe haven for activists and organizers and a hub of student activism.

“We are incredibly proud to see one of our students recognized by the Chicago Bears for work that not only honors our legacy of advocacy, but actively shapes a safer future for communities across the nation,” Allilia Price, Tougaloo’s vice president of institutional advancement, said in a press release.

Tanesha Wade, the Chicago Bears’ chief impact officer and executive vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, said: “We are proud to provide this opportunity to Ajani in recognition of the leadership, courage and impact he continues to make as a gun violence prevention and education advocate.”

In a statement, Moms Demand Action’s Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala praised the Chicago Bears for their support for the gun violence prevention movement. “To see them honor Ajani in this way, in recognition of his leadership and tireless work, is truly special,” she said.

Crenshaw plans to prepare for the Law School Admission Test and wants to attend law school. His ultimate goal is to become a civil rights attorney.

“You don’t need a title, you don’t need much money and you really don’t need permission from anybody to make a difference in your community,” he said.

“All it really takes is consistency and a willingness to serve your community.”   

A long-told family story, passed down through generations, took on new meaning when Rep. Bryant Clark learned the history behind it in school. 

Clark’s ancestor, William Henry Clark, was born enslaved in Hinds County two centuries ago. During Reconstruction, a white friend warned William Henry Clark to leave town, saying he had been told to kill him. William Henry Clark fled to the Mississippi River to work on boats before he eventually returned to the area.

The Clark family told that story time and time again at family reunions and dinners. Then while in high school, Clark learned about the Clinton Massacre of 1875, which catalyzed a period of violence when dozens of Black Mississippians were killed. Clark realized his predecessor had fled the massacre.

What “had just been a family folk tale became a reality to me,” he said. “That’s when it really dawned on me that these aren’t just words on paper … That changed the way I looked at everything.”

Now Clark is one of the three Democrats — including Rep. John Hines of Greenville and Rep. Omeria Scott of Laurel — who have filed bills in the House requiring that public K-12 schools teach a comprehensive history of Mississippi. The representatives cite fears that the state’s history is being erased — a history that’s impossible to teach without acknowledging the struggles and successes of Black Mississippians. 

Lawmakers have filed similar bills in years past, but the representatives say recent changes to how history is taught in Mississippi classrooms, injects new importance — and urgency — this session. 

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum in schools. Its language is vague, and doesn’t specify what is prohibited under the new law, but some educators and parents say they’re afraid the law could bar teaching Black history. The law is not yet being enforced because of a lawsuit that spurred a temporary pause, but that ruling has been appealed.

At least 20 states have passed laws restricting how history is taught in schools, especially instruction involving race and inequality. These efforts, which Republicans say combat a left-wing agenda, have included book bans and curriculum changes.

Hines and Clark say the bans speak to a concerted effort to wipe the country’s history, its Black history in particular, from record. 

The bans are an effort to “whitewash history,” Clark said. “I just think that a comprehensive course, and reaching out to different groups to sit down and help formulate that curriculum, is important in educating our kids.”

The three Democrats’ bills require “particular emphasis on the significant political, social, economic and cultural issues of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries which have impacted the diverse ethnic and racial populations of the state.”

The Mississippi Studies standards include instruction about slavery, the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement — all from a state perspective. 

Still, Hines isn’t convinced the standards are being met consistently and comprehensively. 

“Part of the problem in society is that we are not willing to learn what the other folks are doing,” he said. “ We shouldn’t run from our past — we should embrace it because it makes us a better society.”

But the representatives’ bills face a bleak future. 

Tuesday is the deadline for committees to pass bills from their own chamber. If a bill does not advance out of committee by that deadline, the measure will effectively die. 

And as of Monday, Rep. Rob Roberson, a Republican from Starkville and chairman of the House Education Committee, said he had no plans to take up any of the bills.

Roberson said the representatives haven’t talked to him about their history bills. 

“If I don’t have somebody communicate with me, I don’t have a tendency to go back and look at it,” he said. “I certainly think Black history’s important. All history is important.”

State Rep. Zakiya Summers has filed the House version of the “Robert G. Clark Jr. Voting Rights Act.” It’s an effort to get out in front of what many expect will be the further dismantling of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Summers isn’t extremely optimistic about the measure’s passage in the Mississippi Legislature this year, but says she and other lawmakers are trying to educate people about the dire impact voters could see from damage to the VRA.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday voted to provide $20 million to fund the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency’s initial Winter Storm Fern response and recovery efforts.  

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Senate leaders want to provide the money post-haste as communities still reel from the ice storm that hammered Mississippi the weekend of Jan. 24-25. These expenses, including millions already incurred, include deploying the National Guard and MEMA’s initial operations.

But House leaders do not appear to be onboard with the legislation, which Hosemann said the Senate plans to pass on to them as early as Tuesday. House Speaker Jason White on Monday said he has not had any communication with Hosemann, and House leaders are still trying to determine the best way to help local communities with state resources.

Scott Simmons, MEMA’s director of external affairs, told Mississippi Today that if the Legislature allocates more money to the state agency to help with weather recovery efforts, it would be a “substantial improvement in our ability to respond to natural disasters.” 

The Senate measure would direct money to MEMA, and would not provide individual assistance for Mississippians impacted by the storm. 

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Briggs Hopson, a Republican from Vicksburg, and Hosemann told reporters that the bill would prevent state agencies from running into a cash crunch while responding to the storm and signal to them that the Legislature is supporting their efforts.

“We want to be ahead of the game,” Hopson said. “We want to make sure that we’re ready to go and there’s not going to be any problems getting funds out to where they need to.”

Hosemann said MEMA estimated it faces around $18 million to $24 million in initial expenses from storm response, which is how the Senate leadership landed on the $20 million figure in the legislation. 

Hosemann said this $20 million would be a stopgap, and would not include the expected 25% match the state will likely have to come up with to match Federal Emergency Management Agency spending, or other expenses the state and local governments will most likely face.

Overall, Hosemann said, “We’re not talking about a $50-million event here. We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Hosemann indicated to reporters that Senate leaders had communicated with the House on the plan for sending the $20 million to MEMA.

But Hosemann’s fellow Republican Speaker White on Monday said Senate leadership has not communicated with the House “at all,” though White said House Speaker Pro Tempore Manly Barton heard “in passing” that the Senate was working on some type of weather recovery legislation.

“We have heard lots of big rumors, but I have not communicated with the lieutenant governor at all,” White said after the Senate committee had approved the spending. “Our House members are focused on coming up with aid for these communities and trying to figure out what that should look like.”

White said he wants the state to focus its resources on the needs for local communities’ recovery, and “We just want to get it right.”

“I haven’t heard a word from MEMA about what might be needed right now,” White added. “I am hearing hourly from my House members in the affected areas, and from local leaders.”

How the Legislature and the state government continue to respond to the worst winter storm that Mississippi has faced in a generation will have major consequences.

At least 25 people have died because of the storm or its aftermath, Simmons said Monday. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves reported on Sunday that 337 homes and 24 businesses sustained damage. According to poweroutage.us, more than 43,000 customers in the state remained without power Monday evening, over a week after the storm. 

Hosemann and Hopson said the Senate will roll out additional measures later in the session to assist local communities impacted by the storm, but they did not offer specifics.

“We’ve got to remember there are still people cold,” Hosemann said. “There’s a lot of people – tens of thousands of people –  that don’t have electricity today. We’ve already had lives lost in this, and we’re trying to make sure there aren’t further ones lost.”

Hosemann praised the work the state National Guard has been doing in areas hit by the storm. Asked whether he agreed with some people’s criticism that the Guard and other resources should have been deployed sooner, Hosemann said, “I don’t know about that.”

Update, 2/2/2026: This article has been updated to show the death toll from the storm is at least 25. Reporter Molly Minta and politics and government editor Geoff Pender contributed to this story.

Mississippians giving birth in hospitals this year will be part of a new statewide system aimed at lowering infant and maternal mortality, according to state officials. 

State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney said new regulations will change how hospitals operate, but pregnant patients will not have to do anything differently. It’s all in the hopes of streamlining and expediting transfers for high-risk mothers. 

The Mississippi Board of Health in January approved the use of what is referred to as the obstetric system of care, in which pregnant women will be triaged and sent to “the right place at the right time,” Edney told Mississippi Today. This new system of care will go into effect Feb. 13, though it could take years to be fully implemented, Edney said. 

Edney attributes the main problems facing obstetrics in the state to “a bad system.”

Mississippi has more preterm births and babies dying than anywhere else in the nation, as well as one of the highest rates of maternal mortality. A public health emergency was declared in August for the state’s rising infant mortality rate. The obstetric system of care has been branded by the Mississippi State Health Department as a solution to these problems. 

“When you’re 50th in something, I think it’s OK to do things other folks aren’t doing,” said Edney. 

The system will cost $1.5 million to build, which will come from money appropriated to the Health Department during the 2024 legislative session, Edney said. 

Birthing hospitals will be designated with the level of care they are equipped to handle – something done in 16 other states according to the level of care provided for pregnant and postpartum mothers, and  30 other states for types of services provided to newborn babies. 

Here is how the transportation component of the new system would work when an emergency happens, according to Edney. 

• A paramedic would relay the patient’s information to the region’s emergency medical director. 
• The emergency medical director would assess risk and decide the appropriate level of care needed, directing emergency medical services to the hospital. 
• The patient’s medical records would be entered into an online system accessible to all providers they encountered. 
• Paramedics would give the patient a geolocation wristband, allowing the system to track the patient, with the long-term goal of shortening transport times. 

Regardless of whether there are rooms available, hospitals are required to stabilize all emergency cases under the federal law known as Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, Edney added. 

The patient tracking component elevates hospital designations to being an obstetric system of care – the first of its kind in the nation, Edney said. 

Jamila Vernon, spokesperson with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the organization does not have a definition for an obstetric system of care, and so has no way of measuring whether other states have similar systems.

In states that have hospital designations, informal agreements around patient transfers between facilities tend to develop naturally, but can be disorganized. Establishing firm protocols can improve the likelihood of success, explained Honour McDaniel Hill, director of infant and maternal health initiatives for March of Dimes. 

“When you have a system where everyone is on board, hands all in, ‘This is what we do when this happens’ – and continuing to update that as things change – that’s all important,” McDaniel Hill said. “It’s the difference between (having) a personal relationship with this hospital, versus an ‘Everyone is on the same page’ plan.”

The Health Department expects to designate hospitals with levels of care by the end of this year, Edney told Mississippi Today. 

Divisions of care and disparities in outcomes

There are four maternal levels of care, according to ACOG. Facilities designated as Level I provide the most basic level of care, and Level IV offers the most advanced level of care. That’s the opposite of the trauma system of care, where Level I is the most advanced level of care. 

The Mississippi Hospital Association is still reviewing the regulations as they were approved by the Board of Health, said Leah Rupp Smith, vice president for policy and advocacy at the association. 

The Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative, a coalition of hospitals that splintered off from the Mississippi Hospital Association in 2024, did not respond to a request for comment about how its hospital members feel about the new regulations. 

Changes were made to the regulations after several stakeholders voiced concerns about language and scope of practice at a hearing in December. Edney said that since amendments were made to already-existing rules, and the Board of Health approved them, an additional period of public comment was not required. 

Those changes included taking out a provision that mentioned anesthesiologist assistants – a profession that doesn’t exist in Mississippi. Another change added nurse anesthetists with pediatric expertise to a list of providers allowed to do surgery and other procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit, in line with the way they currently practice. 

But it’s important to remember that the system will not fix all of Mississippi’s maternal health woes, said Kathryn Mitchell, the senior director of maternal and infant health and collective impact at March of Dimes. 

“One of the most interesting and challenging things about maternal health and child health is that it is not one thing that is ever going to fix the problem,” Mitchell said. “ … I definitely think this is a strong systems approach, but there are going to be other things that need to be looked at as far as what’s going on in the community and what are some of the other root causes.”

Adopting multiple strategies that better target shortfalls in the state’s reproductive health care system could help more families and boost maternal and infant health outcomes, some advocates say. March of Dimes has identified the state’s failures to expand Medicaid and to adopt paid parental leave and doula reimbursement policies as decisions directly contributing to the state’s preterm birth rate. Mitchell said she hopes the new system can be used to map out need and to promote solutions that can bolster communities with no neonatal intensive care units and more basic birthing hospitals. 

“It could be mobile, it could be pop-up clinics, it could be federally qualified health centers … They’re not typically doing births, but they may be providing other services,” Mitchell said. “Essentially, you would want to probably layer what other services are available and then continue to see if you have any spotlight zones.”

The thin-and-getting-thinner line that divides college and professional sports has become microscopic. In fact, when it comes to the Southeastern Conference and the other so-called power leagues, we must ask: Is there really any line at all?

Take the case of Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako, a soon-to-be 24-year-old, 7-footer who recently quit the NBA G League to go back to school and play for the Crimson Tide. Bediako has played 82 games over three seasons in the G League (formerly the D League), which is supposed to be like basketball’s version of Class AAA in baseball. The players get paid.

And you might ask: Well, what’s the difference? College basketball players get paid, too, don’t they? For those questions, there is really only one answer. There is hardly any difference other than NBA stars make more money and don’t have to go to class.

And you also might ask: Is it fair that Mississippi State and Ole Miss must play against Bediako, a guy who declared himself a professional nearly three years ago? And a cynic, this one, might answer: If you think Bediako was making more money in the G League than Josh Hubbard is making at Mississippi State or Malik Dia is making at Ole Miss, you are either not keeping up or you are kidding yourself.

We can only guess what Hubbard makes at State but you better believe it’s a whole lot more than the G League base of about $45,000 a season.

The biggest college basketball star of recent years is surely Cooper Flagg, who was the national player of the year last season at Duke. There’s no way of knowing exactly what Flagg made for his one season at Duke, but published reports by reputable news outlets tell us he made in excess of $28 million. 

So Flagg declared for the draft after that one college season, was the NBA’s top pick and signed a four-year contract for $62.7 million. That figure doesn’t include what Flagg can and will make, and has made, in endorsements. Nevertheless, the $28 million (that we know of) at Duke doubles his $13.8 million rookie salary with the Dallas Mavericks.

But let’s get back to Bediako, who presumably will play for Alabama at Ole Miss on Feb. 11 and against Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 25. The Canada native is a former four-star recruit who chose Alabama over Duke well over half a decade ago. As a freshman at Alabama in the 2021-22, he was starter and a key player on a Crimson Tide team that won 19 games and made the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore in 2022-23, he helped the Crimson Tide win 31 games, both SEC regular season and tournament championships and enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. San Diego State upset Alabama in the Sweet 16. In May of 2023, Bediako announced he had decided to forgo his college eligibility and turn pro. 

Nearly three years later, he has changed his mind. A Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge, who happens to be a huge Alabama athletics donor, granted Bediako a temporary restraining order that makes Bediako eligible to play for Alabama, at least for the time being.

Coaches and former coaches at rival schools have decried the situation. Former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has said the NCAA should consider ruling Alabama, currently 14-7 and 4-4 in the SEC, ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.

Alabama has played three games since Bediako joined the team. The Crimson Tide has lost to Tennessee, swamped Missouri and was then blasted at defending national champion Florida on Sunday, 100-77.

Interestingly, Florida coach Todd Golden, who had criticized Alabama and its coach Nate Oats beforehand, promised “if he plays, we’ll beat them. Anyways.”

Boy, did they. Bediako scored only six points and grabbed six rebounds before fouling out with about two minutes to play. More tellingly, Florida out-scored Alabama 72-26 on points in the paint while Florida fans chanted, “G League Dropout” over and over. 

Dick Vitale, who was on the call for CBS, had this to say during the broadcast: “The bottom line is, you have a rule book. And the rule book says, according to the rules of the NCAA, (Bediako) is ineligible. However, the court system said ‘No, he can play.’ And you can’t blame a coach when (a judge) says you can play a 7-footer, you can’t blame a coach wanting to play him if they say he can play. So that’s the problem.”

No, the real problem is this: Where the NCAA and college athletics are concerned, there is  currently no rulebook – at least not one that can be enforced. Also, where the college sports (at the highest level) are concerned, there is no such thing as an amateur.

You’ve put in the late nights, the weekends and the hustle. And now, what started as an opportunity to make extra money has turned into an enterprise with real potential.

If you handle everything on your own – logistics, production, marketing, finances and everything in between – you’re part of a growing group of entrepreneurs nicknamed “solopreneurs.” While the image of a small business often includes an owner and a few employees, for many entrepreneurs, “solopreneurship” makes the most sense for their business model and goals.

If you’re considering the solopreneur life or have already launched your business, here are five tips to grow your business in 2026.

1) Identify or solidify a business opportunity.

If you want to become a solopreneur or enhance your current offerings, look for a need in Mississippi or come up with an innovative idea. Maybe it’s a service that can help others or a product that could enhance or simplify their lives.

Once you have your big idea, careful planning and preparation can give your startup its best shot at becoming a success. That can include researching your industry’s trends to see if you’re meeting a niche or a growing need. Look for long-term demand and understand your total addressable market, not just seasonal or trendy success.

2) Make a business plan.

Start by writing or refining a business description to outline your goals and strategy. Your plan doesn’t have to be long, but it should outline your mission, goals, competitive analysis, marketing approach and financial forecasts.

If you’re already running a business, examine your customer base. Do you have repeat customers? Are they referring others to you? Side hustles that work have a steady and growing customer base. If yours does, it’s a positive sign your business may be ready for the next step.

3) Maximize savings to impact growth.

Many entrepreneurs use some personal savings to get their businesses started but also pursue business lines of credit or small business loans to fund equipment and marketing plans. No matter how you get started, prioritizing saving along the way will help secure the funds you need to get your business up and running. One powerful tool for solo entrepreneurs is the new Solo 401(k) from JPMorganChase. This plan is designed for business owners without full-time employees, apart from their spouse, and allows for high annual contributions — up to $72,000 for themselves and their spouse — with both pre-tax and Roth options.

The key is consistency. According to data from Chase, while Solo 401(k) accounts are a popular choice for self-employed business owners, 70% didn’t contribute in the past year. Building small, sustainable habits — such as setting up automatic monthly contributions or scheduling quarterly check-ins with a financial advisor — can strengthen follow-through. Over time, these simple actions add up, helping ensure Solo 401(k) accounts reach their full potential and deliver meaningful long-term results.

You could also look for additional financing from angel investors—wealthy individuals that can provide small investments, usually in the very early stages of a business. Angel investors accept more risk but want an ownership stake. Crowdfunding can also be beneficial for solopreneurs. With the right product and approach, you can raise small dollar amounts from a large pool of individual online backers with the bonus of connecting with your target customers early on.

4) Develop your marketing and brand strategy.

Define your brand voice and value proposition and choose the right marketing channels for growth. You might explore channels such as social media, email marketing or paid advertising. As you set a realistic marketing budget, consider the cost of tools, advertising and outsourced services like graphic design or content writing. Start small, measure results and scale what works.

You should also build a strong network to find mentors who can provide startup advice. Stay focused on your target audience so you can market to them effectively.

5) Plan for growth and operations.

The logistical side of entrepreneurship includes thinking about order fulfillment, customer service, project management and scheduling. Invest in the right tools to streamline daily operations, improve customer experience and save time.

A final note:  Self-employment comes with new tax responsibilities, including quarterly estimated taxes and self-employment tax. You may also need to collect and remit sales tax, depending on your industry—and you could have to pay sales tax in all the states where your goods or services are sold.

You may already be operating as a sole proprietor, but going full time could mean exploring a more formal business structure. While creating an LLC for your side hustle is common, consider which structure best supports your long-term goals and legal needs. Depending on your industry, you may need licenses, permits, insurance, contracts or compliance paperwork before you can legally or safely scale operations.

If you want more assistance in taking your solo business to the next level, your local financial institution has resources that can help. You can also reach out to a Chase business banker today for more information and advice.

Annual campaign finance reports show potential top contenders for Mississippi governor in 2027 were busy fundraising last year. 

Potential gubernatorial candidates all increased their cash on hand from last year. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Attorney General Lynn Fitch and State Auditor Shad White, billionaire businessman Tommy Duff and former House Speaker Philip Gunn are all considered potential candidates. Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson has already declared his candidacy for the governor’s mansion, but he trails his potential rivals in fundraising totals. 

Gov. Tate Reeves is term limited from running again.

Duff, who is the co-richest person in Mississippi along with his brother according to Forbes, is a newcomer to politics and has not created a campaign committee.

Mississippi Today also reviewed campaign finance reports for House Speaker Jason White, as well as potential statewide candidates for other offices. Secretary of State Michael Watson has expressed interest in running for lieutenant governor. State Sen. Jeff Tate has declared his candidacy for secretary of state. Former state Rep. Nick Bain is a potential candidate for state auditor, and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell is a potential candidate for attorney general. 

Below is a breakdown of fundraising totals for potential candidates whose reports were on the Secretary of State’s website as of Feb. 2. The deadline for filing the reports was Friday.

Gov. Tate Reeves: 

Contributions received last year: $81,851

Money spent last year: $135,883

Cash on hand: $2 million

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann: 

Contributions received last year: $1.6 million

Money spent last year: $404,112

Cash on hand: $2.8 million

Attorney General Lynn Fitch: 

Contributions received last year: $1.6 million

Money spent last year: $615,053

Cash on hand: $3.5 million

State Auditor Shad White: 

Contributions received last year: $1 million

Money spent last year: $216,876

Cash on hand: $3.8 million 

Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson: 

Contributions received last year: $477,481

Money spent last year: $443,367

Cash on hand: $272,148

Former House Speaker Philip Gunn:

Contributions received last year: $84,392

Money spent last year: $132,659

Cash on hand: $590,531

House Speaker Jason White: 

Contributions received last year: $268,700

Money spent last year: $44,105

Cash on hand: $1.1 million

Secretary of State Michael Watson: 

Contributions received last year: $1.1 million

Money spent last year: $182,905

Cash on hand: $2.4 million

State Treasurer David McRae: 

Contributions received last year: $125,940

Money spent last year: $112,061

Cash on hand: $84,959

Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney: 

Contributions received last year:  $66,213

Money spent last year:  $ 64,568 

Cash on hand:  $196,822

Former state Rep. Nick Bain: 

Contributions received last year: $122,750

Money spent last year: $7,490

Cash on hand: $239,830

State Sen. Jeff Tate

Contributions received last year: $1,250

Money spent last year: Did not list 

Cash on hand: $156,000

Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell

Contributions received last year: $478,985

Money spent last year: $0

Cash on hand: $507,339

Mississippi Today reporter Taylor Vance contributed to this report

These recollections originally were published on Gerald Blessey’s Substack page and can be linked at geraldblessey333.substack.com. It is part of Mississippi Today Ideas’ effort to provideMississippians a platform for thoughtful, fact-based ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.

Mississippi’s Legislative Black Caucus filed House Bill 1446 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to enact a state Voting Rights Act, named in honor of my friend, the late Rep. Robert G. Clark, Jr., who in 1967, became the first Black Mississippian elected to the Mississippi Legislature since the 1800s. Robert was a very courageous, fearless gentleman. His decision to seek election in the 60s was in itself a profile in courage. In the 70s, I represented Biloxi in the House and served with Robert for 10 years.

Loyalty test

In February 1974, the House Rules Committee put on the floor a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to repeal the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution was a test of members’ loyalty to the old order.

Four shocked the House

Robert went to the podium and spoke eloquently against the resolution.

As soon as Robert finished, I stood up. The speaker asked, “For what purpose does the gentleman from Harrison seek recognition?” I answered, “To speak against the Resolution.” Suddenly, you could hear a pin drop. No one expected any white members to oppose it. I walked through the hush to the podium.

Here’s the gist of what I said: “Just a few short years ago, I was in the mountain jungles of Viet Nam, where many of my friends, Black and white, gave their lives to protect the right to vote, for their families and future generations. On the street where I grew up in Biloxi, two of my neighbors, one Black and one white, 19-year old infantrymen who were not even old enough to vote, were killed in Viet Nam. I will not dishonor their sacrifice by voting for this sham resolution!”

At the time, I was the only Viet Nam vet in the Legislature, but there were many WWII and Korean vets in the House. I looked straight at my friend, Rep. Charlie Capps, a WWII vet and former sheriff of Bolivar County, and said: “Many of you fought for these rights, too. You know that a repeal of the Voting Rights Act would mean Black people will be kicked off the voting rolls in many places, and Mississippi will retreat to a darker past. You know this is wrong. Vote against this awful resolution.”

I sat down. Then, more shocks to the Old Guard: young Walter Brown of Natchez spoke forcefully against the measure, and my fellow Biloxian, Jerry O’Keefe, Jr., passionately condemned it. Yet, it passed, 97-4. A sad day for Mississippi. However, there was some hope. After adjournment, many of the younger members came up to me to say they agreed with the four opponents but feared a “no” vote would defeat them in the next election.

Years later

In 2018, it was my honor to join Rep. Willie Bailey of Greenville in introducing Robert Clark as the recipient of the Champions of Justice award given by the Mississippi Center for Justice at the Jackson Convention Center. We spoke about Robert Clark’s distinguished career. See the speeches on YouTube here.

2026: Rep. Bryant Clark picks up the torch

Robert’s son, Rep. Bryant Clark, is a co-sponsor of the new bill. On the day of filing, he said, “[M]y daddy taught me one thing. He taught me when democracy is threatened, you don’t give up. You fight harder.”

Bio:  Gerald Blessey was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, mayor of Biloxi, president of the Mississippi Municipal League and Mississippi Coast Housing director after Hurricane Katrina. He is a graduate of Biloxi High, Ole Miss B.A. & J.D. and Harvard Law School; Vietnam veteran, Bronze Star recipient, 1st lieutenant Army, military intelligence. He and his wife, Paige Gutierrez, live in Biloxi.

Mississippi lawmakers face the first major killing deadline of the 2026 legislative session on Tuesday, the deadline for House and Senate committees to pass measures originating in their own chamber.

This deadline will likely winnow the nearly 3,000 bills and resolutions filed by the state’s 174 lawmakers down to several hundred. For years, some lawmakers have called the first committee deadlines, and subsequent death of hundreds or thousands of bills, the “end of the silly season” as they get down to brass tacks negotiating remaining measures. In the end, typically 600 or so bills will become law, including roughly 100 that make up the $7-billion state budget.

Of note last week:

Prison health care reform. The House Corrections Committee passed several bills aimed at improving health care in state prisons, an issue that has been documented in Mississippi Today’s “Behind Bars, Beyond Care” investigative series. At the same hearing where the measures were passed, Corrections Chairwoman Becky Currie also questioned tens of millions of dollars in mysterious bank accounts related to the prison system’s inmate welfare fund.

Campaign finance reform. Secretary of State Michael Watson is spearheading an effort to reform Mississippi’s notoriously lax campaign finance laws. The Senate Elections Committee last week approved a bill with many of Watson’s recommendations, but its House counterpart committee killed a similar measure without even a discussion. Mississippi lawmakers have for many years been loath to change the state’s campaign finance laws, which the attorney general has said are such a conflicting hodgepodge as to make many of them unenforceable.

Certificate of need. The House and Senate sent to the governor a bill to help medical facilities make improvements more easily and to require the University of Mississippi Medical Center to seek state approval before opening facilities outside its Jackson campus. Lawmakers last year passed similar changes to Mississippi’s certificate of need laws, but they have removed a provision that prompted Gov. Tate Reeves to veto the legislation in April.

Quote of the Week

“I get pictures of people trying to eat a bag of chips in their cell and they have to fight off the roaches, and I’m talking an unbelievable amount of roaches.” – House Corrections Chairwoman Becky Currie. She was explaining a bill that would require state prisons to provide monthly pest and rodent control services.

In Brief

Casinos reaffirm opposition to online sports betting

Eight Mississippi casinos sent a joint letter to lawmakers last week reaffirming their “unwavering opposition” to the legalization of online sports betting.

The casinos cited concerns including online gambling cutting into their revenue by reducing in-person betting, online gambling’s addictive qualities and legalization’s potential to become a gateway to fully online casinos. According to the casinos that sent the letter, seven of the fifteen commercial casino operators in Mississippi oppose online sports betting, seven support it and one remains undecided.

The letter comes as the House is set to try for the third year to legalize mobile sports betting, after the Senate has killed proposals. Supporters say the state is missing out on tens of millions in tax revenue that could be generated through legalization, as a black market continues to thrive. – Michael Goldberg

Bill would expand early learning collaboratives

The House Education Committee on Wednesday passed a bill that would expand the state’s successful early learning collaboratives program. 

Early learning collaboratives, a state- and taxpayer- funded pre-K program created by the Legislature in 2013, established education partnerships in communities across Mississippi. The program compensates child-care centers, nonprofit organizations, school districts and Head Start agencies for partnering. Now, there are 40 collaboratives across the state, and the program has received national recognition. 

House Bill 1215 would require that the Mississippi Department of Education continue to try to scale the program up by at least 20 collaboratives annually. The goal is that eventually every district in the state would have a voluntary pre-K program.. – Devna Bose

Measure would make all school board positions elected

Another bill advanced by the House Education Committee would remove appointed school board positions, instead requiring all school board members be elected. 

An amendment from Rep. Kimberly Remak, a Republican from Olive Branch, also created a mechanism for residents to recall school board members. 

Rep. Jansen Owen, a Republican from Poplarville who authored the bill, said his aim is to give parents more power over the education their children receive, a sentiment he’s expressed while advocating for school-choice policies also making their way through the Legislature. 

“Parents feel like their school boards are not accountable to them,” he said.

Similar bills in the Senate have been referred to the chamber’s education committee, but not yet taken up. – Devna Bose

Bills moved to encourage religion in schools

Bills that encourage religion in school continue to advance in both chambers. 

The House Education Committee passed a bill that would require public schools to provide a time and place during the school day for students and teachers of different religious groups to pray. 

House Bill 2, the chamber’s massive education package, also includes a provision about classroom prayer, while three Senate bills about prayer in school have been referred to the higher chamber’s education committee.

One of those Senate bills requires the display of the Ten Commandments in the classroom, as does a separate House bill. – Devna Bose

Check-cashing businesses would be allowed to charge fees

House Bill 547, which would allow check-cashing businesses to pass on credit- and debit-card fees to customers, passed the House Business and Finance Committee.

Authored by Rep. Henry Zuber III, a Republican from Ocean Springs, the bill would allow the fees, provided they are clearly displayed to borrowers. While not an unusual practice, some committee members expressed concern especially because customers tend to be lower income.

There are close to 500 registered check cashers in Mississippi. Check cashing businesses are not banks and give cash quickly. They’re often used by people without bank accounts.

The bill is supposed to help businesses deal with rising credit card fees which have increased 70% since the pandemic according to the Nilson Report, a trade publication. – Katherine Lin

State of the State Address rescheduled to Wednesday

Gov. Tate Reeves’ annual State of the State Address had been planned for last week, but was rescheduled because of the major winter storm Fern hitting Mississippi.

The address will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, on the second-floor rotunda of the state Capitol, and will be aired live by Mississippi Public Broadcasting. – Mississippi Today

By the Numbers

2,846

The number of bills and resolutions Mississippi lawmakers have filed for the 2026 legislative session, according to the State Watch legislative tracking service. This includes 2,728 general bills that would create or change state law – 1,805 in the House and 923 in the Senate.

More Legislative Coverage

Mississippi lawmakers push nuclear power expansion legislation

Mississippi lawmakers are pushing for the state to incentivize nuclear energy production, as increasing such production becomes a surprisingly bipartisan issue nationwide. Read the story.

Lawmaker targets getting guns away from domestic abusers

Sen. Brice Wiggins, a Republican from Pascagoula, filed Senate Bill 2339, which would criminalize possession of firearms and ammunition for respondents in domestic abuse protection orders and those convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. Read the story.

Lawmakers push bills to ban cellphone use in schools

The House Education Committee passed a bill during its Wednesday meeting that would require local school boards to enact policies that restrict or prohibit the use of cellphones during the school day. The Senate Education Committee greenlit a similar bill during its meeting last week, which bodes well for the legislative success of the policy. Read the story.