Tuesday - May 26, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Mississippi Newsletter for Thursday April 09, 2026 ( 28 items )  

BLM first quarter 2026 oil and gas sales generate nearly $600 million
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: * * * BLM first quarter 2026 oil and gas sales generate nearly $600 million * WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Bureau of Land Management generated $592.7 million in total receipts from oil and gas sales held in the first quarter of 2026 - in line with the Trump administration's Energy Dominance initiative. These revenues reflect an ongoing focus on unleashing domestic energy, support  more

Chairmen of Senate and House Armed Services Committees Release Statement Ahead of President Trump's Meeting With NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * Chairmen of Senate and House Armed Services Committees Release Statement Ahead of President Trump's Meeting With NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, R-Ala., Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement ahead of the April 8   more

Chairmen of Senate, House Armed Services Committees Issue Statement Ahead of President Trump Meeting With NATO Secretary General Rutte
WASHINGTON, April 9 -- Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on April 7, 2026: * * * Chairmen of Senate and House Armed Services Committees Release Statement Ahead of President Trump's Meeting With NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, (R-MS), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative   more

Congressman Bennie Thompson Announces $367,620 Awarded to The Central Mississippi Civic Improvement Association, Inc.
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Bennie Thompson Announces $367,620 Awarded to The Central Mississippi Civic Improvement Association, Inc. * BOLTON, MS -Congressman Bennie Thompson announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a federal grant in the amount of $367,620 through the H49 Healthy Start Initiative to support critical maternal and child health services to the Centr  more

Construction Jobs Increase In 38 States And D.C. Between January 2025 And January 2026; 40 States Have One-Month Gain In Construction Jobs
ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 8 [Category: Construction] -- Associated General Contractors of America posted the following news release: * * * Construction Jobs Increase In 38 States And D.C. Between January 2025 And January 2026; 40 States Have One-Month Gain In Construction Jobs * Texas and West Virginia Top Lists of 12-Month Increases, While California and Oregon Have the Worst Decreases; Illinois and West Virginia Lead in Monthly Gainers; Idaho Has the Worst Number and Percent of Monthly Lo  more

Fight for Election Day is Now at the Supreme Court - ACLJ Brief Addresses Key Arguments
WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The American Center for Law and Justice posted the following news on April 8, 2026: * * * The Fight for Election Day Is Now at the Supreme Court - ACLJ Brief Addresses Key Arguments By Jordan Sekulow Recently the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in one of the most consequential election integrity cases in years - Watson v. Republican National Committee. The core question: Does federal law require that mail-in ballots be received by Election Day, or can   more

FSU students help shape Supreme Court debate in major election law case
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 8 -- Florida State University issued the following news: * * * FSU students help shape Supreme Court debate in major election law case * TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State University College of Law students didn't just study Supreme Court cases this semester -they helped write a legal filing that was cited during oral arguments in a major election law case before the nation's highest court. Students in the Supreme Court Litigation course, taught by Michael T. Mor  more

Gabrielle Nucosee crowned Miss Native American ECU
ADA, Oklahoma, April 8 -- East Central University posted the following news: * * * Gabrielle Nucosee crowned Miss Native American ECU * ADA, Okla. - The Native American Student Association at East Central University recently hosted their second annual NASA Princess Pageant, crowning ECU freshman Gabrielle Nucosee as Miss Native American ECU for 2026-27 and awarding her a $1,000 scholarship. Nucosee, a Mass Communication major, was one of three contestants in the pageant. Elizabeth Marsha  more

Judicial Watch: 372,000 Inactive Voters Removed from Colorado Voter Rolls after Lawsuit and Settlement
WASHINGTON, April 8 [Category: Law/Legal] -- Judicial Watch issued the following news release: * * * Judicial Watch: 372,000 Inactive Voters Removed from Colorado Voter Rolls after Lawsuit and Settlement * Six Million Inactive Names Removed Nationwide Due to Judicial Watch Judicial Watch announced today that 372,000 ineligible voter names have been removed from Colorado's voter registration lists following a Judicial Watch lawsuit and legal settlement addressing the state's compliance with   more

Kelly Announces First Congressional District Art Competition Winners
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * Kelly Announces First Congressional District Art Competition Winners * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Trent Kelly is proud to announce Abigail Presley as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Mississippi's First Congressional District. Presley, a junior at Corinth High School, earned this honor for her watercolor painting titled "Legacy." Her art teacher is Jennifer LeGo  more

Louisiana Voting Rights Act Heard before Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee
NEW YORK, April 8 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund posted the following news: * * * Louisiana Voting Rights Act Heard before Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee * Today, the Louisiana Voting Rights Act (LAVRA), introduced by Senator Royce Duplessis, was heard before the Louisiana Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee. Also known as SB 365, the LAVRA will act as a crucial safeguard for voters, particularly for Black voters and other voters of color t  more

MSU earns national recognition for student voter engagement action plan
STARKVILLE, Mississippi, April 8 -- Mississippi State University posted the following news: * * * MSU earns national recognition for student voter engagement action plan * STARKVILLE, Miss.- Mississippi State has earned the Highly Established Action Plan Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for the 2026 election cycle, recognizing the university's commitment to increasing nonpartisan student voter engagement and civic participation. MSU is one of only 129 campuses nationally to   more

New Scholarship to Benefit Students with Learning Challenges
OXFORD, Mississippi, April 8 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news: * * * New Scholarship to Benefit Students with Learning Challenges * OXFORD, Miss. - Mark Paukune, of Fort Worth, Texas, struggled with learning disabilities throughout his education, but he persevered and built a successful career in investment banking. Now, the University of Mississippi graduate wants to help other students who face similar challenges earn their college degrees. The 1987 graduate has  more

NIH: Low-Cost Care Model Reduces Blood Pressure in High-Risk Populations
WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release on April 8, 2026: * * * Low-cost care model reduces blood pressure in high-risk populations NIH-supported clinical trial shows coordinated care strategy more effective than standard care * A clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that a scalable, team-based intervention strategy in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)   more

NRL to Highlight Revolutionary Technologies at Space Symposium 2026
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory issued the following news: * * * NRL to Highlight Revolutionary Technologies at Space Symposium 2026 * The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) will highlight cutting-edge space-related programs and technologies during the 41st Space Symposium in exhibit booth #625 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, April 13-16.  NRL represents the rich history and ongoing innovation of the U.S. Navy in space. From pioneering the technology behin  more

Pascagoula Strengthens Smoke-Free Ordinance
WASHINGTON, April 8 [Category: Medical] -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network posted the following news release: * * * Pascagoula Strengthens Smoke-Free Ordinance * PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The city of Pascagoula, Mississippi updated its smoke-free ordinance Tuesday night. The following is a statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Mississippi Government Relations Director Kimberly Hughes : "We applaud the leaders of Pascagoula for making critical ch  more

Personnel Staffing, Inc. to Pay $155,000 in EEOC Sex Discrimination Charge
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * Personnel Staffing, Inc. to Pay $155,000 in EEOC Sex Discrimination Charge * Staffing agency settles federal charge alleging unlawful sex discrimination against female temporary workers BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Personnel Staffing Inc., an agency providing staffing services in more than 15 states across the southeastern U.S., will pay $155,000 to a class of female employees, conciliating an  more

Pulling Back the Curtain: Grisham Master Teacher Moser unpacks 'magic' of teaching at upcoming lecture
STARKVILLE, Mississippi, April 8 -- Mississippi State University posted the following news: * * * Pulling Back the Curtain: Grisham Master Teacher Moser unpacks 'magic' of teaching at upcoming lecture * STARKVILLE, Miss.- Mississippi State's Grisham Lecture Series continues this month with a talk by 2025-26 Grisham Master Teacher Kelly Moser on purposeful practices in teaching. Scheduled for April 23 at 3 p.m. in Mitchell Memorial Library's John Grisham Room, the Department of Classical an  more

Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump's Deranged Threats on Iran
WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump's Deranged Threats on Iran * April 7, 2026 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on Donald Trump's heinous - and sociopathic - threats against Iran: "Donald Trump's threats to destroy Iran are completely deranged. They show the world that our count  more

Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump's Deranged Threats on Iran
WASHINGTON, April 9 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement on April 7, 2026: * * * Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump's Deranged Threats on Iran Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on Donald Trump's heinous - and sociopathic - threats against Iran: "Donald Trump's threats to destroy Iran are completely derang  more

Troy University Naturalist Club to host Gopher Tortoise Day April 10
TROY, Alabama, April 8 -- Troy University issued the following news: * * * Troy University Naturalist Club to host Gopher Tortoise Day April 10 * On Friday, April 10, the Troy University Naturalist Club will present Gopher Tortoise Day at the Troy University Arboretum, a family-fun event designed to teach students about gopher tortoises and their environmental significance. Sponsored by the Gopher Tortoise Day Grant from the Gopher Tortoise Council (GTC), the event will feature face painti  more

U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Secures Over $11 Million in Funding for Minnesota's Third District
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Secures Over $11 Million in Funding for Minnesota's Third District * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) announced over $11 million in funding for community projects across Minnesota's Third District - securing grants for every community project submitted last year. "I'm so proud to announce the over $11 million in funding we've secured f  more

US Department of Labor recovers $122K in back wages for 140 Mississippi HVAC workers
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: * * * US Department of Labor recovers $122K in back wages for 140 Mississippi HVAC workers * JACKSON, MS - The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $122,476 in back wages for 140 workers following an investigation that found a Mendenhall-based cooling, heating, and electrical employer failed to pay workers their full wages, in violation of federal law. The department's Wage and Hour Division determined tha  more

USDA Announces 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds and Rice
WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: * * * USDA Announces 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds and Rice * (Washington, D.C., April 8, 2026) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan rates. The 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan rates are available on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website and below:   more

USPOULTRY and Foundation Approve More Than $570,000 in New Research Grants Through the Comprehensive Research Program
TUCKER, Georgia, April 8 [Category: Agriculture] -- The U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY) issued the following news release: * * * USPOULTRY and Foundation Approve More Than $570,000 in New Research Grants Through the Comprehensive Research Program * USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved more than $570,000 in funding for seven new research grants at institutions across the country through the Comprehensive Research Program. The funding was authorized by the boards o  more

Why doesn't the U.S. recycle more plastic? New study points to lack of access.
BUFFALO, New York, April 8 -- The University at Buffalo (State University of New York) posted the following news release: * * * Why doesn't the U.S. recycle more plastic? New study points to lack of access. * From left to right, UB researchers and study authors Janet Z. Yang, John D. Atkinson, Monica Miles and Aditya Vedantam. Credit: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki, University at Buffalo. Recycling infrastructure inequities in the South, sparsely populated states tied to lower income, less-coll  more

Why Rounding Remains One of Healthcare's Most Powerful Patient Experience Practices
LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 9 -- NRC Health, a provider of customer intelligence in healthcare, issued the following commentary on April 8, 2026, by Strategic Advisor Jason Messerli: * * * Why Rounding Remains One of Healthcare's Most Powerful Patient Experience Practices Rounding has been a best practice for decades. However, it is routinely treated as the basics. One of the most common questions I receive is, "If we can only do one thing, what should we do?" My answer is almost always rounding  more

Wicker Hosts Roundtable on Childhood Investment Accounts
WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: * * * Wicker Hosts Roundtable on Childhood Investment Accounts * Event Photos | Event Videos JACKSON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., hosted a roundtable discussion focusing on new childhood investment accounts today in Jackson, Mississippi. The childhood investment accounts were created in the 2025 Working Families Tax Cut law, and they provide a free $1,000 investment account to all Americans  more