JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - Local Jackson legal groups voiced their concerns on Thursday about the Hinds County ballot shortages on election day. Legal groups, including the Mississippi Center for Justice, the Legal Defense Fund and Mississippi Votes, spoke outside the Hinds County courthouse on Thursday. They said they're committed to finding out what exactly went wrong on election day and want to ensure it never happens again. US House chair probes ballot shortages that hampered voting in Mississippi’s largest county Amir Badat, the voting rights attorney for the Legal Defense Fund, explained wh ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The chair of a congressional committee with oversight of U.S. federal elections says ballot shortages in Mississippi’s largest county could undermine voting and election confidence in 2024 if local officials don’t make changes. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Republican from Wisconsin who chairs the Committee on House Administration, sent a letter, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, to the five-member Hinds County Election Commission, all Democrats. He demanded information on what steps local officials will take to prevent polling precincts from running out of ballots i ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - The Joint Legislative Budget Committee discussed the budget estimate for the upcoming Legislative Session. The committee's last meeting ended in a deadlock between committee members and Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.). They could not agree on a starting point for the state's budget. Legislative leaders within the committee advocated for a lower budget estimate that they believe is more in line with the state's revenue. Reeves believes setting the budget estimate at a lower number could erase support for the full elimination of the state income tax. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosem ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - State Auditor Shad White (R-Miss.) announced his legislative priorities for the 2024 session. “In my time as Auditor, my team and I have successfully asked lawmakers to make it harder for a court to wipe someone’s record clean when they steal taxpayer money, give investigators more time to identify fraud under the statute of limitations, and require state agencies to report suspected fraud to us,” said White. “These were important changes in the law. Now we’re going to work together to make our laws even stronger in our fight against corruption.” Mississippi lawmakers c ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - Online sports betting has become a main attraction in the United States. As of December 2023, online sports betting is illegal in Mississippi. In order to wager, you must be physically located at a licensed casino in the state. Mississippi introduced in person sports betting in 2018. Jay McDaniel, the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, said the upcoming Legislative session could see a new bill introduced. "I expect you'll see at least bills be introduced every year. Since 2018, we have seen at least a bill be introduced. What we have not seen is o ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - Oral arguments will be heard in Mississippi's State Supreme Court in an appeal that challenges the constitutionality of private schools receiving public funds. The case stems from 2022 when the Mississippi Legislature provided $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for private schools in the state. The Jackson-based nonprofit, Parents for Public Schools, challenged the allocation in court and emerged victorious when Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Crystal Wide Martin found it unconstitutional to provide public money for private schools. The state ..read more

Jackson's Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote discusses garbage service, city finances and more with 12 News' Byron Brown. Also, Jackson State University professor Robert Luckett considers 2023's voter turnout through a historical perspective. Produced by Tom Wright ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJTV) - Rep. George Santos' (R-N.Y.) time in Congress could be coming to an end soon after the House Ethics Committee published a blistering report outlining his conduct. House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) authored the report alongside his committee members. He said Santos' conduct is some of the most egregious he and his colleagues have ever seen. Defiant Santos announces effort to oust colleague ahead of his own likely expulsion “In my years here, there has been no conduct that has risen to the level that we've seen of Mr. Santos. In talking to other membe ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — After ballot shortages in Mississippi’s largest county sowed chaos and confusion on the evening of the November statewide election, the state Republican Party has filed a petition challenging a court order that kept polls open longer than usual. The Mississippi GOP filed papers Tuesday asking the state Supreme Court to dissolve a lower court order that kept polls open an extra hour as voters endured long lines and election officials scrambled to print ballots. The petition would not invalidate any ballots or change the election results. It was filed to clarify f ..read more

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - Rep. Earle Banks (D-District 67) received probation on a federal tax crime charge. Banks received two years of probation during a sentencing hearing on Monday, November 27. The restitution was set at $84,766.00, which Banks has already paid. In May 2023, Banks pled guilty as part of a plea agreement with the U.S. government. He pled guilty to “willfully making a false material statement on a federal income tax return” to the tune of $582,000. He received the money through the sale of property his family owned. Richard’s Disposal files complaint over Jackson’s ..read more