NEW: After discovering that some officials in Mississippi and nationwide were keeping unidentified bodies for "personal collections" and refusing to return them, Pascagoula Lt. Darren Versiga began pushing for a law to regulate how remains are handled. mississippifreepress.org/40991/cold-cas…
Lt. Versiga told @Shaunicy_ that he uncovered the problems when he began looking into decades worth of unsolved cold cases in Pascagoula.
@Shaunicy_ Lt. Versiga also said the bill, introduced by Sen. Brice Wiggins, could also help prevent cases where counties bury bodies without ever informing families of a loved ones' death—as happened to at least seven families in Hinds County. mississippifreepress.org/38668/mothers-…
NEW: The Mississippi Senate stripped out the House Medicaid expansion bill and replaced it with one that could cost the State millions more while covering less people.
Sen. Kevin Blackwell estimates that 80,000 Mississippians would qualify for Medicaid coverage under the Senate plan, but said he expects as few as 40,000 may actually enroll—significantly lower than the House’s estimation of up to 200,000 for its version. mississippifreepress.org/40893/senate-m…
The House plan includes full Medicaid expansion under the ACA, allowing residents who make up to 138% of the federal poverty level ($20,120 for an individual) to qualify. The Senate plan only allows people making up to 100% (~$15k) to qualify. mississippifreepress.org/40893/senate-m…
To quote Taylor herself reflecting on her eating disorder:
“If you’re thin enough, then you don’t have that ass that everybody wants. But if you have enough weight on you to have an ass, your stomach isn’t flat enough. It’s all just f—ing impossible.” variety.com/2020/music/new…
Here's how people reacted after she stopped starving herself (yes, she really did that).
"'No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want,” Trump said, recalling a conversation with an American ally's president. mississippifreepress.org/39734/trump-en…
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NEW: Brett Favre was interrogated by state attorneys for nine hours Monday during a secret deposition about the Mississippi welfare scandal and the millions in TANF funds that went to him, a volleyball stadium and a drug company he was heavily invested in. mississippifreepress.org/38290/brett-fa…
Favre's deposition was originally scheduled for October, but the State rescheduled it for after the statewide elections.
Hattiesburg Patriot's Tom Garmon found out about the deposition's secret location and staked it out. Clip courtesy @HPatriot mississippifreepress.org/38290/brett-fa…
It is unlikely that the transcript will become public anytime soon. In October, a judge agreed to a request from the State, Favre and other defendants to issue a protective order sealing certain discovery documents—like deposition transcript.
NEW: Some Mississippi voters were left in line for hours as election officials printed new ballots after at least 9 Hinds County polling places ran out.
Voters told the Mississippi Free Press earlier today that the McLeod Elementary polling place ran out of ballots as early as 8:30 a.m.; voting began at 7 a.m. and lasts until 7 p.m.
“We were not prepared for this amazing turnout,” Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee member Jason McCarty said today, calling the ballot shortages "unacceptable." mississippifreepress.org/37392/nine-hin…