Mississippi News

Congressman asks feds to investigate Gov. Phil Bryant

Published

3 years ago

July 15, 2022

Congressman asks feds to investigate former Gov. Phil Bryant’s welfare spending influence

by Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today
July 15, 2022

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson wrote a letter on Friday to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking for a Department of Justice investigation into former Gov. Phil Bryant’s influence over the possible misspending of federal welfare funds.

Bryant, who was Mississippi governor from 2012-2020, was first publicly accused of wrongdoing this week by key defendants in the state’s ongoing civil case regarding the sprawling welfare scandal. The defendants specifically said Bryant directed them to pay former NFL quarterback Brett Favre $1.1 million in welfare funds, among other grant spending.

“This gross misuse of (welfare grant) dollars must illicit a review of former Governor Phil Bryant’s involvement,” Thompson wrote. “Such an investigation should also examine the intolerable activity of retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and how his actions were aided by Governor Bryant.”

In his letter, Thompson referenced Mississippi Today’s “The Backchannel” investigative series, which first examined Bryant’s role in the scandal using never-before-published text messages shared with the news organization.

“It is egregious that news reports produce critical information that has yet to be addressed in the current investigations by state and local agencies,” Thompson wrote.

Thompson is not the first to call for a federal investigation of the former governor. In April, following initial publication of Mississippi Today’s “The Backchannel” series, the national president of the NAACP wrote a letter to Garland asking for a federal investigation.

Read the letter in full below:

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Trump says he will issue an executive order Monday to get TikTok back up

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-01-19 09:20:00

SUMMARY: President-elect Donald Trump announced that he will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to find an approved U.S. buyer. This decision follows the removal of TikTok from app stores due to a federal law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban, citing national security concerns. Trump’s order would delay the law’s restrictions, offering ByteDance more time to negotiate a sale. Despite challenges, including TikTok’s legal disputes, Trump emphasized the app’s potential value and the importance of keeping it operational in the U.S.

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Mississippi News

Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: January 17-19

Published

5 days ago

January 17, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – Kaitlin Howell – 2025-01-17 07:20:00

SUMMARY: This weekend (January 17-19), Mississippi offers a variety of events. Highlights include the JSU Tiger Parade of Champions in Jackson, Fleet Feet Coffee Run, and several Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. The Bridgid Ferguson Trio and Storytelling Festival also take place in Jackson, along with exhibits like “Of Salt and Spirit.” In Vicksburg, enjoy the Winter Youth Rodeo and Peruvian Delights Wine Dinner, while Natchez hosts a Krewe of Phoenix Ball and a Farmers Market. The Pine Belt features Artrageous in Hattiesburg and karaoke in Laurel. Other events include jazz, comedy, and live performances across the region.

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Mississippi News

Biden to address the nation days before Trump's inauguration

Published

7 days ago

January 15, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-01-15 10:43:00

SUMMARY: Joe Biden’s presidency aimed to “restore the soul” of America post-Trump, but despite bipartisan legislative successes and international alliances, he struggled to change the political landscape. Four years after defeating Trump, Biden faced electoral defeat as Trump made a political comeback. Polls show only a quarter view Biden favorably, even lower than Trump during his presidency. Although Biden touted achievements in infrastructure and economic recovery, rising costs and inflation eroded public support. As he prepares to leave office, questions persist about his legacy and the permanence of the political shift towards populism, leaving Biden’s ambitions unfulfilled.

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