Author: Randy Bell

The cheapest gas prices in Mississippi are now in Attala County.  That’s what AAA's gas station survey shows this week.  The auto club says Attala’s average price countywide is $2.75, down about a penny and a half in the past week. And that’s lower-- in most cases a good bit lower-- than any of the other 81 counties. In fact, it’s about 20 cents below the statewide average.   In Leake County, the average price at the pump is up... Read More.

Warmer temperatures are expected in Mississippi by the middle of the week-- along with another round of thunderstorms, some possibly severe.   The National Weather Service says the storms are expected to develop ahead of a strong cold front on Wednesday.  At this point, much of the state is facing a Level 1 "marginal risk" of isolated severe storms with damaging wind gusts and hail.  In the wake of the storms, with cold air in place, forecasters say there's a... Read More.

With a band of heavy snow moving across central Mississippi Sunday morning, accumulations varied widely-- even in areas just a few miles apart.  The largest amounts reported to the National Weather Service in Jackson were both in Rankin County-- 9 inches in Leesburg north of Pelahatchie and 8.5 inches in Sandhill, a few miles to the west.  Near the Leake-Scott county line, 5.4 inches fell near Ludlow.  In Neshoba County 3.5 inches fell in Philadelphia. In Leake County at... Read More.

It's been one record after another for COVID-19 case counts in Mississippi this week.  For the third day in a row, the State Health Department is reporting a number the state hasn't seen before. Thursday's total was 9,300 new cases.   Neshoba County accounted for 166 of those pushing the county's total since the pandemic began to 8,107.   Leake County passed the 5,000 mark with 61 new cases.  Attala County had 56 as it approaches 4,000 total cases.

The Mississippi Senate voted Thursday to approve legislation setting up a medical marijuana program.  The vote followed a series of unsuccessful amendments from senators who wanted to tweak the bill.  Senator Kevin Blackwell, who handled the bill on the Senate floor,  said " a lot of sick folks will benefit from the legislation".   But he said changes could be made in the future, if needed.  The bill now goes to the House.

The State Health Department on Thursday reported the highest one-day COVID-19 totals since the pandemic began– twice.   A delayed report for Tuesday showed 8,204 new cases– but that record stood for only a few hours until Wednesday’s report was released with 8,356 cases.   During that two-day period, Neshoba County had 271 new infections, Leake County had 133 and Attala County 73.

The Mississippi House voted 96-12 Thursday to approve the largest tax cut in state history, phasing out the income tax and reducing taxes on car tags and groceries.  But it would raise the sales tax on many items.   Ways and Means Committee chairman Trey Lamar said the bill "rewards work" and is "fair for everyone".   Mississippi would become the tenth state without an income tax.  The sales tax on groceries would be gradually reduced from seven per cent to... Read More.

The State Veterans Home in Kosciusko will be hiring new employees on the spot Thursday.   Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board Executive Director Stacy Pickering says they have openings for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and maintenance/housekeeping. Pickering says the pay for those jobs has been boosted and employees receive state benefits.  And he says it's a chance to serve those who've served this country.  The job fair runs from 10-4.