Podcasts by @ISSUE

Mississippi lawmakers conclude 2021 legislative session from 2021-04-03T00:30:44

What are the highlights of the 3-month session? 

Most teachers, state workers and higher education employees are slated for a pay increase. A parole eligibility bill is awaiting the g...

Final days of the 2021 session from 2021-03-27T00:30:05

Lawmakers are ironing out final details on legislation.  

Lawmakers are approaching the final week of the session. Members of the Senate and House are conferencing on key measures suc...

Lawmakers continue squabbling over the House tax reform plan from 2021-03-20T00:30:39

The Senate allowed the income tax elimination bill to die. The House revived it. 

Both chambers killed each other’s Medicaid bill on deadline day. Plans to revive those bills and go t...

Gov. Reeves signs bill limiting transgender athletes from 2021-03-13T01:30

The House and Senate argue over a medical marijuana bill on deadline day.

Gov. Tate Reeves signs the Mississippi Fairness Act into law, even though it could be later challenged. After the ...

The House passes a bill limiting transgender athletes from 2021-03-05T21:28:32

A bill barring transgender athletes from competing in women sports heads to the Governor 

The House passed the “Mississippi Fairness Act” with no discussion or debate. Governor Tate R...

The Mississippi Tax Freedom Act from 2021-02-26T21:42:47

Some members of the House are calling it a historic day for tax policy in Mississippi 

The House approved a plan to phase out the state’s income tax within 10 years. Lawmakers say it ...

Historic winter weather brings legislative action to a near halt from 2021-02-20T02:38:53

Severe winter weather caused lawmakers in the House to convene via ZOOM for the first time in state history. Senators met in-person, despite the ice and snow, to pass a bill that would purge som...

Medical marijuana, transgender athletes, Medicaid expansion from 2021-02-13T01:30:21

Lawmakers worked past midnight to pass a medical marijuana alternative bill.

Lawmakers in the Senate vote to ban transgender athletes from competing in women's athletics. An effor...

Lawmakers mark deadline to pass bills out of committee from 2021-02-06T01:30

The Senate passes bills to create a teacher loan repayment program and expand broadband 

Lawmakers marked the first big deadline to pass bills out of committee. The Senate passed bill...

Gov. Reeves delivers his second State of the State speech from 2021-02-01T16:14:10

Gov. Reeves says his top priority is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in Miss.

Gov. Reeves says he supports a teacher pay increase, eliminating the state's income tax, and speedin...

Teachers in Miss. Could soon see a pay increase from 2021-01-22T13:30:44

A $1,000 teacher pay raise passes the Senate unanimously 

The Senate voted to give a $1,000 raise to teachers with at least three years’ experience. Newer teachers would get $1,100 to...

It’s official. Mississippi is flying a new state flag. from 2021-01-16T01:30:52

Ratifying a new state flag topped the agenda for lawmakers at the start of the 2021 session.

As the 2021 legislative session convenes, lawmakers move swiftly to ratify the “In God We Trust...

@Issue Special: Mississippi's Debate Over Legalizing Medical Marijuana from 2020-10-15T13:08:30

In this @Issue Special, host Wilson Stribling moderates a debate over the two initiatives on the ballot that could allow for the legalization of medical marijuana in Mississippi. Guests include An...

@Issue: Coronavirus Crisis | A one-on-one with State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs from 2020-08-06T14:42:01

In this special edition of @Issue, MPB's Desare Frazier talks one-on-one with State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, and takes viewer/listener questions about the coronavirus pandemic in Mississipp...

New DHS Director Appointed, State Prepares for Coronavirus from 2020-03-06T21:54:42

New DHS Director Bob Anderson has been appointed to root out corruption in the agency. State health officials discuss plans to control the threat of the coronavirus in Mississippi. Lawmakers move d...

Advocates Rally Against a Welfare Verification Bill from 2020-02-28T23:00:16

A bill to allow the state auditor access to tax returns of people receiving government assistance is moving through the legislature and advocates are speaking out. Senate committees pass a revised ...

Closing Parchmans's Unit 29, Mental Health Lawsuit, Historic Flood Recovery from 2020-02-21T23:00:59

Gov. Tate Reeves says the remaining prisoners in Parchman’s Unit 29 are being transferred to a nearby correctional facility. Reeves also tells flood evacuees how to report damages to MEMA. Lawmaker...

Lawmakers Pass Welfare Verification Bill Along Party Lines from 2020-02-14T23:00:55

Senate bill 2557 passed 35-14 along party lines but not without a fight. Democrats argue it’s an attack on poor people. The House and Senate corrections committees are listening to presentations ab...

Federal Investigation Opens Over Conditions at State Prisons from 2020-02-07T23:00:30

The Department of Justice is opening an investigation on conditions at four state prisons after at least 15 inmates have died. Governor Tate Reeves says he is in support of the investigation. The S...

2020 State of the State Address, School Choice Week from 2020-01-31T23:00:32

Gov. Tate Reeves announces the closing of parts of the State Penitentiary at Parchman that’s been recently rocked by deadly violence in his first State of the State address. It’s National School Ch...

Mississippi's Prison Unrest and Response from State Leaders from 2020-01-24T23:00:26

A recent string of deadly violence in Mississippi prisons has caught national attention. Prison advocates and families have been rallying outside the state capitol since day one of the 2020 legisla...