On August 28 at 10:00 a.m., the Mississippi Legislature will hold a joint House and Senate hearing at the Capitol to explore the clinical potential of ibogaine, a promising therapy for addiction and PTSD. Exploration of a promising treatment is a critical step forward in our commitment to not just t
Since my last column urging the launching of a regional Coastal Mississippi Economic Development Alliance, I’ve heard from state leaders, legislators, and business leaders.Two Coastal Mississippi leaders sharpened our challenge. One said we need more Business Council board members who know, from exp
When I became publisher of the Sun Herald in 2001, we launched a strategic mission to unite Coastal Mississippi. We expanded distribution, opened a Pascagoula news bureau, and worked to help shape a shared regional identity. Historically, territorial silos had stifled our progress – a challenge our
Recently, I have seen statements in some media that insinuate the University of Mississippi Medical Center is leaving Jackson.It’strue that we are creating more opportunities for all Mississippians to access our care outside the state capital, but leaving Jackson? Nothing could be further from the t
NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, with its core stage built in New Orleans and its engines assembled and tested in Mississippi, is designed to launch astronauts to the Moon, ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of space exploration. However, the Administration’s recent bud
It’s an exciting time in the Magnolia State as our leadership champions energy dominance and artificial intelligence technology on a national scale. As Governor Tate Reeves recently noted in an interview on Fox Business News, Mississippi’s Power Play initiative is focused on available, affordable, a
Children need a way to fall in love with nature and they need places for this to happen. Current writing on child development explains and reinforces this need. The book “Last Child in the Woods” (2008) by Richard Louv is a good place to start. When children reach adulthood with a solid tie to the n
Since first entering public service in 2008, I have dedicated myself to ensuring the security and integrity of Mississippi’s elections. Yet, I’m just one person and no one person can do things alone.Considering Mississippi is a bottom-up state when it comes to elections, my goal as Secretary of Stat
Not long ago, I received a call that created a conversation I won’t soon forget. Tommy Duff, a fellow Southern Miss alumnus and one of Mississippi’s most remarkable sons, wanted to sit down and talk about Coastal Mississippi, its untapped potential, and its power to continue to propel our state forw
For years now, Mississippians across our great state have worked tirelessly laying the foundation for a new kind of economic and technological leadership, built on innovation and pro-business policies for the next-generation industries. With Governor Tate Reeves’s recent signing of SB 2426, which cr
PETROGNANO, TUSCANY— Since 2017, over 1,350 people have traveled with me on more than 55 trips to seven European countries and 40 European cities. What started as a single, one-off trip hosting a few people interested in the people and places I had discovered in Tuscany has turned into a second busi
Sniffles and sneezes are an inevitable part of growing up. But if your child has a lingering runny nose and cough – or both appear around the same time each year – it could be seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies typically happen in the spring, summer, and early fall.Symptoms of seasonal allergie
It’s no secret that at the foundation of Coastal Mississippi’s success is gaming, government contracts, and military bases.The casinos in Harrison and Hancock counties rake in around $1.6 billion annually, employing thousands with over 9,000 direct jobs and another 18,000 or so tied to the ripple ef
Since I retired as a media CEO and started digging into Coastal Mississippi’s future on my SuperTalk Mississippi show, I’ve had over 1,400 conversations that keep me fired up and more focused on the potential of our region.So many of those conversations have been really important – statewide leaders
In virtually every political poll of current times, it has become impossible to beat an incumbent who has been there for more than one term unless the opponent has solid name recognition.Several questions have been raised about new candidates who are attempting to run for city positions in the upcom
Attention to detail – a phrase used in classrooms, locker rooms, and workplaces across the world. The basis of the phrase is if you pay attention to the little things, the big things will come together and work out as intended.Detail was not paid attention to by someone, or multiple people for that
Agriculture is the backbone of Mississippi’s economy and the lifeblood of many of our small, rural communities. Our farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses produce a vast array of food and forestry products. They are not just providing food, fiber, shelter, and fuel for consumption in the U.S.; they a
The last time I wrote about our future, I felt it: Coastal Mississippi teetering on the edge of something massive. We’re already an economic engine for this state, but our region is bursting with untapped potential.Thriving ports, new jobs, and our incredible cities – each with its own unique pulse
As the world watches America’s next moves, Senator Roger Wicker stands ready to play a pivotal role. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Republican from Mississippi brings a wealth of experience and a steady hand to a moment of significant global uncertainty. With President Donal
Despite successfully administering the 2024 Presidential Election just a few months ago, Mississippi has shifted full steam ahead into the 2025 municipal elections. While the presidential election routinely garners tremendous attention, our local municipal elections are often drastically overlooked
In my role with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, I’ve seen firsthand the unique challenges facing students and the critical role public charter schools play in addressing many of them. I have gained insight into different charter school sectors across the country and have witnessed
Trying to solve problems is a large part of the job of being the Mississippi Legislature. Sometimes we overthink it and the product we produce isn’t what is needed or at least reasonable people can disagree if the choice is the best path forward.I serve as a public defender in Tishomingo County and
As a former conservative newspaper CEO and publisher (I was center-right, but there weren’t many of us), I was slow to come back on board with President Donald Trump this time for a host of valid reasons.In the lead-up to the 2016 election, I actually wrote a piece about why I believed Trump would g
After a series of bad news headlines about the seafood served at restaurants in Coastal Mississippi, the push for seafood labeling has never been more critical. The House has spoken, overwhelmingly passing a seafood labeling bill. The Senate now stands as the gatekeeper of this vital legislation. It
