SUMMARY: Mississippi's new laws include allowing sign language courses as foreign language credits for high school graduation and extending Medicaid coverage during pregnancy for better maternal and infant health. The Mississippi Student Funding Formula replaces its predecessor, providing extra funds for special education needs. A new inheritance law grants rights to children born via assisted reproductive technology posthumously. Cities of any size can vote on alcohol sales. Ranked-choice voting is mostly banned. Shoplifting laws now penalize aiding in theft over $1,000 as a felony. Transgender bathroom use is restricted in public education buildings. Run-offs for elections will be set four weeks after.

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SUMMARY: Hurricane Beryl intensified into a rare Category 4 storm as it neared the southeastern Caribbean, prompting urgent shelter warnings. Expected to hit the Windward Islands, including Barbados and St. Lucia, Beryl posed a severe threat with 130 mph winds and significant storm surges. This makes Beryl the earliest recorded Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Moving west-northwest, Beryl was set to graze Barbados and enter the Caribbean Sea, targeting Jamaica and weakening midweek. Historically fast-intensifying and dangerous for this season, Beryl follows 2004's Hurricane Ivan's devastating trajectory.

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SUMMARY: The IRS announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in Mississippi affected by severe storms, winds, tornadoes, and flooding from April 8, 2024. The relief extends tax return and payment deadlines to November 1, 2024. The announcement covers Hancock, Hinds, Humphreys, Madison, Neshoba, and Scott counties following a FEMA disaster declaration. Taxpayers in these areas get extra time to file returns and make payments. The relief includes quarterly estimated tax payments and payroll taxes, penalties abatement, and options for claiming disaster-related casualty losses. Additional relief covers retirement plan distributions, and the IRS may offer further assistance in the future.

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