Inside Mississippi’s false promise of putting the Family First

The news that Mississippi was revamping its foster care system had reached countless officials, churches and charities across the state before Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam realized: The plan was never going to take root.

News, Mississippi NewsJerry MitchellJuly 24, 2022Phil Bryant, Gov Bryant, low-income, welfare funds, TANF, Nancy New, embezzlement, arrested, Justice Dawn Beam, Mississippi Supreme Court, foster care, Family First Intiative, poverty

Gov. Phil Bryant directed $1.1 million welfare payment to Brett Favre, defendant says

Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant instructed his wife’s friend — whose nonprofit was receiving millions in subgrants from the welfare department he oversaw — to pay NFL legend Brett Favre $1.1 million, according to a new court filing.

News, Mississippi NewsJerry MitchellJuly 16, 2022Phil Bryant, Gov Bryant, low-income, welfare funds, TANF, Nancy New, Zach New, embezzlement, arrested, rehab, Brett Favre, civil suit, MDHS, Mississippi Community Education Center, Prevacus

Family first: Gov. Phil Bryant turned to welfare officials to rescue troubled nephew

Noah McRae was the kind of kid who, if you said the sky is blue, would argue it is red until he was ready to fight.

News, Mississippi NewsJerry MitchellApril 18, 2022Phil Bryant, Gov Bryant, low-income, welfare funds, TANF, poverty, Noah McRae, great-nephew, Nancy New, Zach New, embezzlement, arrested, New Summit School, burglary, Families first, rehab

Phil Bryant’s star-powered selfies and slick brochures didn’t Save the Children

As Jennifer Garner spoke about growing up and her family’s narrow escape from poverty in West Virginia, a C-SPAN camera panned over to then-Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.

News, Mississippi NewsJerry MitchellApril 14, 2022save the children, Jennifer Garner, Phil Bryant, Gov Bryant, low-income, Tracy Price, Mississippi Delta, welfare funds, TANF, poverty

Medicaid expansion would boost economy significantly more than Gunn income tax cut, studies show

Expanding Medicaid would provide a significantly bigger boost to the Mississippi economy than the far-reaching tax cut proposed by House Speaker Philip Gunn, according to studies from the nonpartisan state economist’s office.

Mississippi physicians’ group lobbies for options to expand Medicaid

The largest physician group in Mississippi will pursue options to expand Medicaid in the state despite opposition from two statewide top political leaders.

Congress considers Medicaid expansion workaround to provide health care to poor Mississippians

Democrats in the U.S. Congress are considering a way to offer health care insurance for low-income Mississippians who have been denied coverage because of the refusal of the state’s political leadership to expand Medicaid.

Mississippi News, News, Mississippi SpotlightKatherine MitchellSeptember 21, 2021Mississippi Medicaid, federal money, expand coverage, medicaid expansion, Mississippi Spotlight, Unsteady Pulse, medicaid coverage, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, U.S. Congress, Democrats, health insurance, low-income, American Rescue Plan Act