| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Opinion: Victor Smith saved many lives in Malawi, Africa

By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 1,047 Reads
On Wed, 07/21/2021 - 05:48 PM

It was with sadness that I listened to the words of my friend David Beard telling me of Victor Smith’s death. He was a very influential person in my life.
I’d always heard Victor Smith had made and lost a fortune more times than anyone in the state. I guess that’s the nature of the oil business.
I got to know Victor through Clean Water for Malawi — a local charity that drilled and repaired water wells in Malawi, the poorest country in the world.

Opinion: Victor Smith saved many lives in Malawi, Africa

By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 1,047 Reads
On Wed, 07/21/2021 - 05:48 PM

Opinion: The silence of the scientists

By Kelley Williams, READ MORE > 6,593 Reads
On Fri, 07/02/2021 - 02:48 PM

I don’t always respond to comments. But when I do, it’s usually to dispel groupies’ myths about their demigods - like Dr. Fauci. I’ve been accused of insufficient reverence for the leader of the pandemic* panic band. After all, he’s a media rock star. And he’s been chief bureaucrat at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) forever and (with the President’s forbearance) exerts sweeping authority over broad swaths of society. He has been an advisor to four presidents - including the current and most recent one.

Opinion: The silence of the scientists

By Kelley Williams, READ MORE > 6,593 Reads
On Fri, 07/02/2021 - 02:48 PM

Opinion: Bidding reform has a long way to go

By Mark Henry, READ MORE > 25,282 Reads
On Sun, 06/27/2021 - 08:45 AM

Your recent article addressing the corrupt mess that are our procurement laws was a breath of fresh air to read as there are far too few voices pointing out the abuse of taxpayers that is being facilitated by legislators and other State leaders. However, the primary focus of your article, eliminating term contracts from the reverse auction process, is only the half of it!

Opinion: Bidding reform has a long way to go

By Mark Henry, READ MORE > 25,282 Reads
On Sun, 06/27/2021 - 08:45 AM

Reverse auctions secretly killed by special interests

By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 1,750 Reads
On Fri, 06/11/2021 - 04:07 PM

It didn’t take long for the powers that be to kill reverse auctions — about two years or so.
They killed this reform in the usual sneaky manner. They buried it deep in an unrelated senate bill on county bank accounts that had nothing to do with reverse auctions. As usual, it happened in a secret conference meeting that was closed to the public.

Reverse auctions secretly killed by special interests

By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 1,750 Reads
On Fri, 06/11/2021 - 04:07 PM

Reverse auctions secretly killed by special interests

By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 1,750 Reads
On Fri, 06/11/2021 - 04:07 PM

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson speaks to the Indianola Rotary Club this week.

Video: Secretary of State Visits Indianola Rotary

By Bryan Davis, Emmerich Newspapers, READ MORE > 15,441 Reads
On Wed, 05/26/2021 - 04:53 PM

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson visited the Indianola Rotary Club this week.

Watson spoke a variety of issues important to him and pertinent to the state, including elections, the recent Supreme Court decision to strike down Initiative 65 and the initiative process, as well as the potential need for a special session to remedy the legislative issue with the ballot initiative process.

Click the video to watch.

Governor Reeves talks Initiative 65 ruling, SCOTUS abortion case, more with Y’all Politics

By Frank Corder - Y'all Politics, READ MORE > 1,422 Reads
On Tue, 05/18/2021 - 01:47 PM

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves joined Y’all Politics on Tuesday for an exclusive interview where he discussed his thoughts on the recent ruling by the state Supreme Court on Initiative 65 and the initiative process, a possible income tax elimination in the 2022 session, and the case before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the 15-week abortion ban.

Watch the full interview with Governor Reeves below.

More than $4 billion in PPP loans have now made its way to Mississippi after Congress approved another round of federal support this year. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

PPP list: Who received federal loans in Mississippi?

By Alex Rozier - Mississippi Today, READ MORE > 4,403 Reads
On Fri, 04/30/2021 - 12:13 PM

More than $4 billion in loans have now made its way to Mississippi after Congress approved another round of federal support for businesses earlier this year.

As was the case after the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program last summer, the state’s top recipients so far include restaurants, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, legal practices, construction companies, car dealers, hotels and religious organizations.

Unacceptable in our democracy

By Jack Ryan, Enterprise-Journal, READ MORE > 1,844 Reads
On Thu, 01/07/2021 - 09:45 AM

Everyone understands that President Donald Trump’s most passionate supporters believe that election fraud in several states cost him a second term in office. But after a bunch of them burst into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, the question to ask is why they did it.

State surpluses looking short-lived

READ MORE > 148 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 07:48 PM

Not to rain on Mississippi government’s recent budgeting parade, but it’s looking more and more as though a recession later this year or next is likely.
Already, there are signs that the post-COVID boom could be tapering off.
In May, transfers from the collection of sales, income and other taxes to the state’s general fund were up 3.5%, compared to an average of 11.3% for the previous 10 months. Total fund transfers in May were up less than 1%, compared to nearly 12% for the previous 10 months.

State surpluses looking short-lived

READ MORE > 148 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 07:48 PM

COVID shot is safest bet for tots

READ MORE > 169 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 07:24 PM

It’s probably going to be a tough sale to persuade most parents to have their young children inoculated against COVID-19.
Not only have the shots become politically charged in this country, there’s a reluctance from parents to put anything in their children’s bodies unless they have complete confidence that it’s both safe and necessary.

COVID shot is safest bet for tots

READ MORE > 169 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 07:24 PM

‘System’ kept me from goo and Doodles Do

By Donna McLean, READ MORE > 87 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 08:42 AM

Electronic technology was supposed to make life easier. I’m sure employers who invested in that technology thought it would simplify sales and record-keeping in their stores.
But after the experience we had last weekend, I’m thinking that modern technology is making things too hard to buy.
My husband and I left Magee last Saturday with a list of things to pick up in Jackson. He needed things for a landscaping project that he couldn’t find in Magee, and I needed a hair product that is only sold in one store in Flowood.

Biden facing crisis of confidence

READ MORE > 76 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 08:34 AM

Joe Biden is correct in his assessment that the pandemic, record inflation and high gas prices have taken their toll on Americans’ sense of well-being. We’d throw in the current heat wave as another reason why “people are really, really down,” as the president said this week.
But one of the things they are most down about is Biden himself. There is a lack of confidence that he is up to the challenge, particularly when it comes to the economy, by which presidents are most often judged.

Lack of inspection creates problems

READ MORE > 97 Reads
On Wed, 06/22/2022 - 08:33 AM

COVID-19 has sparked a movement toward looking at ways to do most things from a distance: work remotely, learn remotely, doctor remotely, shop remotely.
But there are some things that absolutely require a personal touch. One of them is inspecting facilities that manufacture the food and chemicals Americans put into their bodies.