EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS | The Greenwood Commonwealth

State Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, lead negotiator, holds a bag of hemp to illustrate to lawmakers what specific portions of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units would look like during his presentation of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act in the Senate Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. The body passed the act. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Medical marijuana advances with Mississippi senate vote
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Thu,01/13/22-1:44PM , 230 Reads
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi senators voted Thursday to advance a bill that would create a medical marijuana program, sending it to the House for more work.
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A box of Legislative Budget Reports for the 2023 fiscal year await distribution at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Lawmakers begin the latest legislative session on Tuesday, at noon. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Teacher pay raise plan moves forward at Mississippi Capitol
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,01/12/22-4:08PM , 250 Reads
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House acted quickly Wednesday to approve a bill that would increase teacher pay, nudging ahead of senators who are working on a separate plan.

The House bill would give raises of $4,000 to $6,000. The Senate proposes an average increase of $4,700 over two years.
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House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Trey Lamar, R–Senatobia, introduces a bill on the Mississippi House of Representatives floor to phase out income tax, reduce grocery tax and increase the state sales tax in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. The bill was passed by a vote of 96-12. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)

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Mississippi House takes 1st step to approve tax cut plan
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,01/12/22-3:19PM , 213 Reads
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi would phase out its income tax, reduce the sales tax on groceries and set a higher sales tax rate on many other items, under a bill that advanced Wednesday through the state House.
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Cliff Johnson, director of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, is shown speaking to state lawmakers about prisons in this Feb. 13, 2020 file photograph, at the Mississippi State Capitol. A report released by the center on Jan. 12, 2022, says thousands of people in Mississippi are held in county jails for long periods while waiting to go on trial because they are too poor to afford bail, judges may deny bail altogether or public defenders might not be available when they're needed. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

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Thousands jailed long periods before trial in Mississippi
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,01/12/22-10:30AM , 336 Reads
JACKSON, Miss.
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