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Jackson, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi can expect a long, slow economic recovery from the shock of job losses and the steep decline in commercial activity tied to the coronavirus pandemic, state economist Darrin Webb told legislators Tuesday. At the beginning of this year, the U.S. economy, and to a lesser extent the Mississippi economy, were doing "quite well," Webb said. Then, businesses were forced to close because of government orders aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. "This is like slamming on the brakes for the economy," Webb said. At the end of 2019, Mississippi's gross domestic product was just short of the level it had been when the Great Recession began in 2008, Webb said. He predicted it [...]

Jackson, Miss. (WXXV) - Mississippi senators will receive a full briefing on the economic outlook of Mississippi and revenue projections when the 2020 Legislative Session reconvenes next week, according to a press release from Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. State Economist Dr. Darrin Webb and Department of Revenue Commissioner Herb Frierson will present to the Appropriations Committee at 10:30 a.m. in Senate Room 216 on Tuesday, May 26. The Senate gavels in at 10 a.m. The economic briefing will be webcast (link available at www.legislature.ms.gov) with the help of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Citizens are encouraged to watch online rather than attend in-person. “Mississippi’s economy severely slowed for two months, with some businesses closing altogether. We need to understand the economic consequences [...]

Merdian, Miss. (WTOK) - Graduates of Meridian Community College this semester did not get the usual chance to cross the stage and be publicly cheered. But they did receive words of encouragement and were honored Monday through a virtual graduation ceremony. “Hello, Meridian Community College 2020 graduates. Yes! You did it!” said actor Brian Baumgartner from the TV show, The Office. “Boom!” said Cedric the Entertainer. “Congratulations and good luck to the rest of the way. Who dat!” said New Orleans Saints head football coach, Sean Payton. Screams and claps for MCC grads turned into Facebook likes and comments. “We’ve decided that we were going to create something special for our students. We did it online with the help of [...]

Jackson, Miss. (Mississippi Today) - One day last week during a committee meeting he was chairing, Rep. Larry Byrd, R-Petal, looked over his shoulder to see the imposing figure of House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton. “I had a stroke,” said Byrd, the non-assuming chair of the County Affairs Committee who was not expecting the House speaker to attend the meeting. Gunn, still catching his breath after running up four flights of Capitol stairs after attending another meeting, pulled off his mask and gave the charge he was delivering to the multiple House committees meeting throughout the building. That charge was to look for ways to efficiently and quickly distribute $1.25 billion in federal funds to help people and entities impacted [...]

Jackson, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday that he expects to sign a bill to create grants for small businesses by using part the state's coronavirus relief money. The governor's staff was involved in negotiations that led to the bill that the Republican-controlled state House and Senate passed with broad bipartisan support late Wednesday. Reeves said his staff will review the bill, and he will sign it if all the details are as expected. “Wall Street is going to be just fine,” Reeves said Thursday. “Main Street is where my concern is — Main Street, Mississippi.” The aid package was crafted days after Reeves and legislative leaders set aside a feud over whether the governor or legislators [...]

Jackson, Miss. (WLOX) - On the governor's desk right now is a measure that gives some relief to small businesses ordered closed because of the pandemic, but have yet to get help. That assistance totals $300 million and will go towards funding a couple of different programs. Joining us to talk about that Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann. View Original Story