Politics

The Navy ship Arlington built at Northrop Grumman in Pascagoula has versatility that makes it a vital part of 21st Century military operations. The ship was christened March 26 and is named in honor of the victims of the September 11th terrorist attack on the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. 

This week marks the deadline for Mississippi lawmakers to approve a balanced budget for next fiscal year. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports their task is even greater now that budget talks have reached an impasse. 

About 40 people turned out at the Oxford Square to voice their discontent with the looming federal budget cuts. MPB’s Sandra Knispel has more on yesterday’s rally, organized by local MoveOn members, a national Democratic political action committee. 

A former Mississippi Governor is calling on the legislature to invest in education in order to protect the country. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports on the return of Ray Mabus to the Capitol. 

The United States Senate agreed last week to yet another fiscal band aid until April 8 to keep the federal government from shutting down. Meanwhile, as MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports from Oxford, Mississippi Congressman Alan Nunnelee is getting frustrated with the Senate’s approach to the looming budget crisis 

Much has changed with health care in Mississippi since the Affordable Care Act became law, but what hasn't changed are the ardent opinions of supporters and opponents. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports on what they have to say, and how the law affects Mississippi after it's first year. 

The Redistricting fight among Mississippi lawmakers makes a surprise reappearance on the Floor of the Mississippi Senate. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports on the growing calls for compromise. 

Mississippi's rate of high school students who drop out before graduation is currently around sixteen and a half percent. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports on how the state board of education plans to use a new program to lower that percentage. 

Mississippi's leading budget writers are planning to meet with Governor Haley Barbour this morning to work on final details of the state's five-and-a-half billion dollar budget. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports that some House Democrats are upset by the Governor's perceived lack of involvement 

Some school districts in Mississippi are seeing up to 46 percent of high school seniors at risk of being unable to get their diploma. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports standardized tests may hold some students back. 

A Mississippi House committee is joining the NAACP's redistricting lawsuit. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports that the committee voted along party lines to jump into the legal wrangling. 

Mississippi Could be looking at a court battle over its redistricting maps. The House and Senate have been going back and forth for three weeks over how to draw the lines. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports on how the issue got to this heated level and where it goes from here. 

Universities across the state have already planned what they will have to spend, while lawmakers are still deciding on what next year's budget will be. MPB's Daniel Cherry looks at how the new budget could affect higher learning. 

The redistricting battle between the Mississippi House and Senate seems to be at a stalemate. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports that Senators cast a climatic vote on the direction of redistricting in Mississippi Thursday morning. 

In the 50 years since the freedom rides, Black Mississippians have gone from being banned from the state capitol to leading the nation in in the number of black legislators. Now the Mississippi Senate is honoring one of the first Freedom riders. MPB's Jeffrey Hess reports on how the state has changed over the past 50 years.