EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS | The Greenwood Commonwealth

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant speaks about his legacy following a life of public service, Jan. 8, 2020, in his office at the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss. The former Mississippi governor on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, gave notice that he intends to sue a news organization unless it apologizes for statements that he said some of its employees made about him in connection to misspending of welfare money that was intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

AP
free content

Mississippi ex-governor threatens to sue news site over welfare fraud comments
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,05/10/23-5:32PM , 1274 Reads
JACKSON (AP) — Former Mississippi Gov.
READ MORE

Mississippi state Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson, asks a question at the Mississippi state Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Oct. 18, 2022. Federal court documents unsealed on May 4, 2023, show Banks has been charged with willfully making a false statement on a tax return for allegedly failing to report more than $500,000 of income from the sale of real estate in 2018. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

AP
registered content - login required to view
Click to register / login

Mississippi Rep. Banks charged with felony false tax return
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Wed,05/10/23-9:27AM , 570 Reads
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A longtime Mississippi lawmaker has been charged with willfully making a false statement on a tax return for allegedly failing to report more than $500,000 of income from the 2018 sale of real estate.
READ MORE

Residents of the Golden Keys Senior Living apartments flock to a trailer full of water being delivered by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Jackson, Miss., on Sept. 1, 2022. Southern Poverty Law Center announced Friday, May 5, 2023, that it had filed a federal civil rights complaint saying the state of Mississippi had created hurdles that prevent the majority-Black capital city of Jackson from receiving enough money to repair a long-troubled water system. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

AP
free content

Mississippi impeding funds for Jackson's water, group says
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Fri,05/05/23-4:16PM , 531 Reads
JACKSON, Miss.
READ MORE

Gov. Phil Bryant ponders a response to a question regarding his legacy following a life of public service, while sitting in his Capitol office in Jackson in 2020. The former governor said Wednesday that he will release all of his text messages related to a welfare fraud investigation. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

premium content - for subscribers only
Click to subscribe

Bryant to release texts related to welfare scandal
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS - Associated Press
Fri,05/05/23-2:00AM , 1288 Reads
JACKSON — Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said Wednesday he will release all of his text messages related to a welfare fraud investigation — including money spent on building a university volleyball arena that was pushed by retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and others with connections to Bryant.
READ MORE

Subscribe to EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

The E-Edition

Weekend, February 28-01, 2026

Join Those Who Support Local News

Local news matters to Greenwood. It keeps the people informed and connected. It asks the questions they want answered. It elevates what’s good, and it exposes what’s not.

To do that work well takes skilled reporters and editors, as many as a community can support through advertising, subscriptions and philanthropy.

The Greenwood Commonwealth expanded its newsroom in 2025 by adding Gerard Edic as a reporter covering public safety and other stories of interest to the community.

His position is partially funded by a two-year grant from Report for America, a national nonprofit. Generous supporters in the community donated the matching funds in the first year. We are now raising funds for Year 2.

Will you join this effort with a tax-deductible contribution?

Donate