SuperTalk Mississippi News

Congress has failed to reauthorize the Farm Bill for the past two sessions. The House committee tasked with drafting the bill has cited a crisis in the farm economy that could be alleviated with swift action. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith says farmers are struggling.

Mississippi is one of only 3 states that don't have early voting, but that could change. Senator Jeremy England introduced an early voting bill that would allow Mississippians to cast their vote 15 days prior to an election at their local Circuit Clerk's office, for any reason. After the Senate passed the bill, Gov. Tate Reeves criticized England, accusing him of working to pass Democratic priorities.

MORE INFO: Senate’s in-person early voting bill triggers intraparty Republican spat

The man accused of killing a former Southern Miss nursing student has officially been indicted for his alleged crimes. On Tuesday, a grand jury found Bricen Rivers liable for capital murder, stealing a motor vehicle, and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Johansen. Police found Johansen’s body in the trunk of a vehicle at Wolf River Cemetery in Pass Christian in July of 2024.

MORE INFO: https://www.supertalk.fm/ex-boyfriend-of-slain-southern-miss-nursing-student-indicted-for-murder/

The first-midweek action of the 2025 college baseball season is now in the books. Ole Miss took the diamond at Swayze Field, and thanks to a Judd Utermark two-run homer in the tenth inning, the Rebels got the 4 to 2 win over Arkansas State in the team's home opener. The No. 18 Mississippi State Bulldogs were blanked by unranked Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. In front of a sold out crowd, Joey Urban launched a home run to propel the Golden Eagles to a 3 to 0 win.

MORE INFO: https://www.supertalk.fm/southern-miss-blanks-no-18-mississippi-state-3-0/

An icy morning in north Mississippi has forced several county health departments to delay opening until 10 a.m. The current list goes from Alcorn County to Washington County and includes 30 different locations with altered schedules. Plus, a judge has upheld a decision by the Jackson Democratic Executive Committee to keep a mayoral candidate's name off the Democratic ballot. The court agreed that Ali ShamsidDeen doesn't meet the residency requirements to run.

MORE INFO: https://www.supertalk.fm/county-health-departments-announce-schedule-changes-due-to-icy-conditions/

The Senate voted to advance the nomination of Kash Patel, President Trump's pick for FBI Director, on Tuesday. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith supports the pick. Democrats are concerned that Patel would operate as a Trump loyalist, and target the administration's political enemies.

Cheers! Both chambers of the Mississippi legislature have approved a bill that would allow the direct shipment of wine to residents. According to the bill’s text, up to 12 cases of wine can be shipped to residents per year with someone 21 or older having to show identification when signing for the order. A 15.5% tax will be collected on each sale with 3% going to mental health services and the remaining being stowed away in the state’s general fund.

Under current state law, nurse practitioners can practice independently if they have a formal collaboration with a doctor. Under HB 849, advanced practice nurses would be allowed to treat patients without a collaboration agreement after they've accrued 8,000 hours of experience.

As state lawmakers continue to debate whether or not to make mobile sports betting legal, online searches for gambling addiction have surged across the U.S.

State lawmakers are proposing competing legislation on mobile sports betting. Legislators have expressed concerns about whether mobile sports betting would hurt brick-and-mortar establishments. HB 1302 would create a fund that would help casinos without online gambling platforms recover some of their lost revenue until 2030. SB 2510 would make online casino-style games illegal. Under the bill, violations could lead to forfeiture of winnings and up to ten years in prison.