Senate Democrats block GOP’s Zika funding bill
A dysfunctional Senate split along party lines on Tuesday and left a $1.1 billion proposal to fight the Zika virus in limbo, despite growing fears and a more than 800 cases of Zika infection in the continental U.S.
No objections against partnership school bond emerge
The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is set to issue up to $16 million in bonds to renovate existing facilities and construct a partnership school with Mississippi State University, which will help solve post-consolidation overcrowding issues and establish a rural education center.
Senate vote sets up tricky talks ahead on anti-Zika bills
The Senate on Thursday approved its $1.1 billion plan to combat the Zika virus, setting the stage for difficult negotiations with House Republicans over how much money to devote to fighting the virus and whether to cut Ebola funding to help pay for it.
House to vote on scaled-back Zika bill despite veto threat
Republicans controlling the House are ignoring protests from Democrats and a White House veto threat as they speed legislation funding the battle against the Zika virus to a vote.
Senate likely to advance $1.1B in Zika funding
After a three-month delay, the Senate is acting on President Barack Obama’s request for money to combat the Zika virus.
SOCSD pursues $16 million in bonds to fund school
The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District board of trustees unanimously approved a 2.9 mill reverse referendum to fund a planned partnership school with Mississippi State University.
N.C. gov. faces Fed’s deadline on LGBT law
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory shows no signs of backing down in the face of the federal government’s deadline today to declare he won’t enforce the new state law limiting protections for LGBT people — defiance that could risk funding for the state’s university system and lead to a protracted legal battle.
‘Field of Dreams’ still hopeful for county, city funding
For five years now, Golden Triangle Outdoors, a local non-profit group dedicated to providing outdoor activities for the area’s disabled citizens, has struggled to find funding to build its “Field of Dreams” sports facility in Lowndes County, most likely as part of a renovation project at the city’s Propst Park complex.
NC college system’s federal funds in crosshairs of LGBT law
North Carolina’s prized public universities could be the biggest losers as state leaders defend a new law limiting the rights of LGBT people.
Holloway: Tax-neutral bond could be unveiled this summer
With a legislative promise for school construction funds in tow, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District administrators and trustees are now expected to begin discussions on moving forward with a local bond that will help build a grades 6-7 campus for all Oktibbeha County schoolchildren.
Shortfalls should not alter Riverwalk, horse park plans
It is a far cry from the $7-million-plus House Ways & Means Chairman Jeff Smith, R-Columbus, hoped to bring home for three local projects, but one project will be completed while two others will receive enough money to keep moving forward.
MSU-SOCSD partnership school receives funding
State lawmakers approved a $250 million bond bill on Monday that includes an appropriation for the construction of a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District-Mississippi State University partnership school after representatives and senators held pointed debates on it and a franchise tax cut in each chamber.
Miss. House leaders mull sales tax increase for roads, bridges
Mississippi legislative leaders are considering raising sales tax rates from 7 percent to 9 percent as part of plan to increase road and bridge funding. But they indicated they might remove the sales tax from groceries.
Under the Capitol Dome: Analysis: Road money lobbying heats up, as outcome unclear
Fights last week in the Mississippi Senate over a transportation spending bill that doesn’t actually do anything yet indicate how intensely people are lobbying for and against more money for roads and bridges.
Miss. senators preserve chance for road funding
Opponents are still heaping scorn on an empty vessel of a transportation funding package, but the bill remained alive Wednesday after the Mississippi Senate passed it 34-13.
House passes $1M SOCSD-MSU partnership school bill
House lawmakers passed a stripped down version of District 37 Rep. Gary Chism’s Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District-Mississippi State University partnership school funding request Wednesday.
State funding could shore up SPD renovation budget
Aldermen are expected to approve a resolution today asking state lawmakers to help fund upcoming Starkville Police Department renovations.
Roberson kills SOCSD school board shakeup bill
A bill disbanding the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees in favor of an expanded, majority-elected group was among a number of Oktibbeha County-specific proposals that died in the Mississippi Legislature this week.
Chism asks state to fund $10M for partnership school
State Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, joined other area lawmakers this week in filing a state funding request for the construction of a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District-Mississippi State University partnership school, but the District 37 representative’s bill could, if approved, delay the build by a year.
Push for partnership school funding coming
Local and state-level attempts to raise funding for a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Mississippi State University partnership school are expected to begin in earnest soon.