BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi lawmaker on Friday called on veterans leaders to remove a rainbow flag flying at the entrance to the Biloxi VA Medical Center. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell sent a letter about the flag to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Dr. Stephanie Repasky, who serves as interim director of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, WLOX-TV reported. The flag was added to a display of American flags on Thursday to mark LGBTQ+ Pride month. “While I believe everyone should be treated with respect, I take serious issue with any flag flying at a VA facil ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Financial documents show no sign that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has fulfilled his pledge to give away campaign donations from people charged with misspending welfare money in the state's largest public corruption case. Reeves, a Republican, became governor in January 2020 after serving two terms as lieutenant governor. On Feb. 5, 2020, the state auditor announced former Mississippi Department of Human Services executive director John Davis and five other people had been arrested on charges related to misspending welfare money that was intended to help some of the poore ..read more

The debate over climate change and humanity's role in it often obscures a very simple question: Is our weather truly changing? And are Mississippi communities prepared for it? 12 News Chief Meteorologist Ken South and Dr. Jason Senkbeil of the University of Alabama offer their observations. Hosted by 12 News Byron Brown and produced by Tom Wright ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - In his most recent campaign ads, Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) has used footage from a 2019 ad of him in the private school that was once owned by Nancy New. New is one of the key figures in the ongoing welfare scandal investigations. Brandon Presley calls for independent investigator to examine welfare scandal When asked about the repeated use of the 2019 footage at New Summit School, the Reeves Campaign said, "The political donations from anyone who is connected to the TANF scandal will be donated to a worthy cause at the ultimate conclusion of the legal proceedings ..read more

NATCHEZ, Miss. (WJTV) - There is a new alderman for the City of Natchez. Curtis Moroney received 86 percent of the votes cast during Thursday's special election, according to the Natchez Democrat. Flowood ALDI opens to shoppers in June Moroney faced Chris Jackson in the Ward 6 alderman race. The seat was left vacant by the unexpected death of Dan Dillard, who died on March 29. The newspaper reported Jackson received 39 regular votes in Thursday’s election and two absentee ballots. Moroney received 248 regular votes and 13 absentee votes.   Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in yo ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - The Mississippi Supreme Court ordered an "expedited consideration" for an appeal of a lower court's ruling on House Bill 1020. Under House Bill 1020, Capitol police would be given primary jurisdiction within the expanded Capital Complex Improvement District (CCID) boundary lines. Jackson police would have secondary jurisdiction. Hinds County judge rules against lawsuit challenging House Bill 1020 The bill will also allow place certain areas within the majority-Black city — most of them majority-white neighborhoods — under the jurisdiction of a new court system. That new ..read more

GULFPORT — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley called Tuesday for a new investigator to scrutinize Mississippi’s massive welfare scandal and continued to hammer Republican Gov. Tate Reeves’ lack of support to reform the state’s welfare agency. Presley, the state’s Northern District Public Service commissioner, told reporters in Gulfport on Tuesday that, if elected to the state’s highest office, he would urge the Mississippi Ethics Commission to appoint the independent inspector who would operate freely of political pressure from state lawmakers and the governor.  “I promis ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - A federal judge ordered an extension of the temporary restraining order to House Bill 1020. The decision delays the implementation of the bill, which was signed by Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.). Hinds County judge rules against lawsuit challenging House Bill 1020 Judge Henry Wingate granted the motion sought by the NAACP as they plan to file a preliminary injunction to HB 1020's judicial appointment requirement by Wednesday, May 24. The temporary restraining order will be in place until a ruling on the preliminary injunction has been reached. Close Thanks for signing up ..read more

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley comes to Jackson and calls for ethics reforms and a war on corruption in state government. Also, Dr. Erica Walker explains how researchers can help struggling communities with issues such as Jackson's water crisis. Hosted by 12 News' Byron Brown and produced by Tom Wright ..read more

A legislative committee on Friday released a report about an LGBTQ+ clinic at the University of Mississippi Medical Center that came under fire last year after lawmakers were angered to learn it had provided gender-affirming care to trans youth.  UMMC leadership ultimately decided the “Trustworthy, Evidence-based, Affirming, Multidisciplinary,” or TEAM, clinic should stop seeing trans kids last fall even though gender-affirming care for minors was legal at the time, according to emails obtained by Mississippi Today.  It wasn’t until earlier this year that lawmakers passed House Bill ..read more