EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS | The Greenwood Commonwealth

A senator works at his desk while a small voter-approved Mississippi state flag rests on the desk of Sen. Juan Barnett, D-Heidelberg, Wednesday at the Capitol in Jackson. The Senate voted 38-7 to pass the required description of the new flag into state law.

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Flag approved
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Thu,01/07/21-3:12AM , 476 Reads
JACKSON — Mississippi is updating its laws to include a new state flag with a magnolia and the phrase “In God We Trust,” six months after legislators ditched the last state flag in the U.S. that had the Confederate battle emblem.

Voters approved the magnolia flag in November after a commission recommended the design.
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The family of Sue Anna Joe, the Greenwood native who designed the magnolia flower seen on the new Mississippi flag, and the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum in Cleveland gifted a new state flag to Greenwood City Hall on Monday. Joe could not be in attendance for the presentation as she now lives in San Francisco. “I’m just delighted that not only do we have a new state flag but that it was designed, in part, by a member from our community,” Mayor Carolyn McAdams said. Mississippi voters approved the new design in November, but it still has to be officially adopted by the Mississippi Legislature, which convenes Tuesday. From left are Harry Gong, treasurer of the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum; Belinda Joe Marriott, Sue Anna Joe’s sister; Miuyin “Maria” Joe, Sue Anna Joe’s mother; and McAdams.

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New flag for City Hall
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Tue,01/05/21-2:49AM , 628 Reads
JACKSON — Mississippi legislators are beginning their 2021 session Tuesday, and one of their first tasks will be to finish adopting a new state flag that voters approved, with a magnolia blossom and the phrase, “In God We Trust.”
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Lt. governor: Teacher pay a priority in 2021
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,12/30/20-2:24AM , 691 Reads
JACKSON — Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said Tuesday that giving teachers a pay raise will be the most important issue he pushes during the 2021 legislative session that opens next week.
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Hosemann: Consider delaying much of legislative session
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,12/30/20-2:23AM , 658 Reads
JACKSON — Mississippi legislators should consider delaying much of their 2021 session by several weeks to prevent the state Capitol from again becoming a super spreader for the coronavirus, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said Tuesday.

The session begins at noon Jan. 5. Under the current schedule, it is supposed to end April 4.
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