Archive for May 2022
The road from Canada to Clinton
So why would I leave the northern lights of Canada for the Natchez Trace running through Mississippi? While most international students choose larger metropolitan cities to pursue work and education, I found the smaller town of Clinton, Mississippi better fit for me. Over my past three years of attending Mississippi College, I have been able…
Read MoreEmpower to host Unleash Mississippi with state leaders, national policy experts
Empower Mississippi will host the second annual Unleash Mississippi to provide a solutions-centered discussion among state leaders and policy experts on the biggest challenges in Mississippi. The event will be held on June 2 at the Civil Rights Museum beginning at 1 p.m. It will include discussions with Gov. Tate Reeves, Speaker Philip Gunn, Sen.…
Read MoreHow Good Samaritan Laws can curb overdose deaths
In 2021, the United States recorded a grim record – over 100,000 drug overdose deaths, the most ever. Mississippi has seen its fair share, with regular reports of tragic overdose deaths in communities across the state. Many of these overdoses are attributed to fentanyl, a potent opioid that can result in overdose in very low…
Read MoreMississippi’s occupational regulation burden
Mississippi requires licenses for 66 of the 102 professions that do not require a traditional 4-year college degree. From 1993 to 2012, Mississippi added licensing requirements for 49 professions, which was 18 above the national average. This ranks Mississippi as the 15th most widely licensed state. Around 19 percent of workers in the state are…
Read MorePrison work initiatives alone aren’t enough
The Mississippi Department of Corrections recently promoted their efforts to offer job training to people incarcerated in the state through a mobile welding program. A bill passed by the legislature this year aims to expand these offerings as well by creating a pilot work initiative at the state’s largest prison. These programs represent a broader…
Read MoreRemembering Officer Langley
I was a senior at Ole Miss when University of Mississippi Police Officer Robert Langley was dragged to his death while attempting to pull over a student. To say it sent shockwaves through a close-knit college community that is often isolated from matters like this would be an understatement. I vividly remember buckets being passed…
Read MoreHonoring Fallen Officers
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared this week ‘National Police Week,’ in honor of those officers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. There are many who deserve that honor in Mississippi. As a state, we have experienced 324 law enforcement deaths in the line of duty since records have been…
Read MoreA new solution to help address crime in Mississippi
Recent stories of crime in Jackson have dominated local media coverage in Mississippi, sparking conversations about how to address these issues. Diversion programs, a new solution that has been pioneered in other states, could provide an additional tool to combat crime in the Magnolia State. The term “diversion program” can refer to several different types…
Read MoreDOJ releases report on state prisons: What’s next?
A two-plus year investigation that began under the Trump administration has resulted in a scathing report from the Department of Justice on the status of Mississippi prisons. Empower Fellow J. Robertson talked about what was in this report and what it means for the state:
Read MoreJob openings hit record high
There are now twice as many job openings as there are job seekers across the country while Mississippi continues to suffer from the lowest workforce participation rate in the country. The latest news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows 11.5 million jobs available in March, up slightly from 11.3 million in February. This represents…
Read MoreTeachers Deserve Appreciation
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. It’s well deserved. Mississippi’s educators play a pivotal role in shaping our future every day in their classrooms and communities. As the father of two young children at a Mississippi public school, I see that dedication first hand. My son’s teacher, Mrs. Taylor, and my daughter’s teacher, Mrs. Dell,…
Read MoreMississippi mourns the loss of Wirt A. Yerger, Jr.
Today Mississippi lost a giant of a man – my friend, political mentor, and early Empower Mississippi board member – Wirt A. Yerger, Jr. His accomplishments are well documented and I encourage you to read his obituary here. Many know Mr. Yerger as the father of the Mississippi Republican Party. He was fiercely committed to…
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