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Governor Tate Reeves addressed numerous issues during an interview with SuperTalk Mississippi this morning.
VACCINE MANDATES:
Mississippi is either already challenging or will challenge 3 different Biden Administration vaccine mandates.  Governor Tate Reeves explained that they’re fighting the OSHA mandate for companies with over 100 employees, the defense contractor regulation, and the requirement that all health care workers get vaccinated.  “In one of the cases that we filed Friday the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans issued a stay.   And we’re very clear that the grave concerns that this particular order put into effect from a constitutional standpoint meant that they had to immediately stay it.  They did it over the weekend.  They did it within 24 hours of Mississippi filing suit,” Reeves told us.
RISING CRIME:
Efforts to defund police have backfired in some cities, and when it comes to fighting crime, Governor Tate Reeves wants to do the opposite.  He recognizes that Hinds County Courts are behind on cases, and belives that there aren’t enough police in the city of Jackson.  “As you know we created the Capitol police.  We have 78 officers today.  We’re going to ask the legislature for funding to double that particular police force in size.  We think if we can go to 150-160 officers that’s gonna help us.”
MEDICAL MARIJUANA:
Medical marijuana supporters have been very vocal in their frustrations with the Governor for not calling a special session.  Reeves detailed a number of concerns during an interview on The Gallo Show this morning, but one particular quote pretty much summed up his thoughts.  “The bill as it currently exists lends itself much more to recreational than to medical.”  He said that concerns him significantly.  “It’s the reason we have not had a special session yet.”
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CLINTON, Miss. (WJTV) – Clinton High School will hold FAFSA Day on Tuesday, December 14th to assist seniors applying for college federal loans.

Representatives from Get2College will be on campus to assist students with the FAFSA application process. School leaders said students have already received an email to sign up for the event. However, students who cannot attend can reschedule with a Get2College representative for another day. Students and parents will be walked through the application process.

Parents react to Clinton school district lifting mask mandates

The school held this event last year and had to highest FAFSA completion rate when compared to other 6A schools.

“Neglecting to complete the FAFSA could result in missing out on certain scholarships and financial assistance opportunities,” said Clinton High School Counselor Dana Wright.

Complete a FAFSA application by clicking here. […]

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The following is an op-ed written by Mike Cole, Director of Ambulance Services at Covington County Hospital, a member of the Mississippi Ambulance Alliance

Nearly twenty months into the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is not an area of our lives that has not been touched by this virus. From education to retail to the service industry and of course healthcare, the way we live, work and play among each other has been turned upside down.
Mike Cole, Director of Ambulance Services at Covington County Hospital, a member of the Mississippi Ambulance Alliance
I run an ambulance operation for a hospital in rural Mississippi. Let me tell you how the pandemic has impacted us. Around the state, EMTs and paramedics are among the fallen first responders who lost their lives responding to COVID calls. Full emergency rooms have meant ambulances can’t unload patients and be ready for their next 911 call. Staff has been offered money to work elsewhere, supplies are more expensive and simply decontaminating an ambulance is yet one more costly expense.
During the second major COVID wave in the fall of 2020 before the vaccine was available, 40 percent of our staff contracted the virus. The overtime we had to pay to those who were able to work nearly devastated us financially. We even had a few individuals who worked 21 days in a row.
Even pre-pandemic, ambulance providers faced near insurmountable odds. Lack of adequate insurance reimbursements have long crippled the industry. Medicaid reimbursements are often times significantly under the actual cost of service.
And if a patient has no insurance, we still make the run, treat them and typically are paid nothing.
Public perception is that ambulance transportation is a public service. People think it’s free to them. Unfortunately, our collection revenue is less than 30 percent of what is billed. For example – imagine 100 people walk into Walmart and take items home with them, but only 30 of those people pay for what they got. Walmart couldn’t survive very long. This is a large part of why ambulance providers are struggling.
Beyond extra burdens caused by the pandemic and a reimbursement system that does not meet the cost of the service we provide, ambulance providers are also facing critical workforce shortages. Recently, my department had to pay higher wages for more highly trained paramedics to fill EMT and ambulance driver positions. We have even hired drivers just to keep us on the road and in service. That translates to overemploying and paying to make sure the ambulance is staffed and under employing to make sure it’s moving.
Across the state, the industry is lacking the EMTs needed to keep up with the demand. Like nurses, they are overworked, underpaid and burned out. They risk frequent COVID exposure which affects their lives outside of work. Many of these frontline medical professionals are leaving EMS to find another job that pays more and is less stressful. We want to pay them more, but simply cannot if we want to stay afloat. Additionally, there aren’t enough individuals getting accredited to become EMTs, so we have little to no workforce pipeline from which we can recruit new trained talent. This is not just a detriment to us, it is a threat to everyone. We all count on a response when we dial 911.
I am proud to be part of an industry that really thrives on its mission. We love to care for the ill and injured and to make sure they receive the best care when they need it. This mission is why we are still here, despite the odds.
The industry is at a pivotal crossroads caused by this perfect storm of COVID: insufficient reimbursements and workforce shortages. I can tell you this is not just the case at Covington County Hospital. We are a member of the Mississippi Ambulance Alliance and can testify to the fact that these burdens are felt throughout the state and among all our members.
So what can be done to help stop the bleeding that puts every 911 call at risk of a delayed response? In short, we need the sort of short-term support the other areas of healthcare have received during the pandemic. We also need a payment structure that recognizes the reality we serve every single Mississippian, regardless of insurance status.
Thankfully, our Mississippi lawmakers directed some COVID relief funds to help early on during the pandemic. Unfortunately, we did not receive federally directed healthcare dollars sent to some other providers simply due to categorization in Washington as a “transportation” service and not “healthcare.” We need the public to help make the case to elected officials that we cannot move forward without a properly funded ambulance provider system.
Our hope, and yours, is that our leaders make this a priority. […]

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Jackson police are investigating after a man was shot and killed on Monday, November 8.

According to Officer Sam Brown, the shooting happened around 11:00 a.m. on Capitol Street. William Tellis, 21, was shot multiple times, and he died at the scene.

McComb man dies in fire at apartment complex

Officer Brown said Gregdrick Brown, 16, admitted to shooting Tellis. The teen said the victim had chased him with a broken beer bottle at a convenience store.

Investigators said Brown got a gun from a vehicle and shot Tellis. They stated he tossed the gun back into the vehicle.

Brown turned himself in to police on Monday. […]

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The Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) surpassed the $1 billion mark in gross sales last week, achieving this milestone in less than two years from the first day of sales.
With sales reaching this level, the MLC has been able to return nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to the State of Mississippi for roads, bridges and education since sales began Nov. 25, 2019.
“Reaching the $1 billion mark is an incredible accomplishment considering the challenges we all faced just three and a half months after we launched,” said MLC President Jeff Hewitt. “Our players have embraced our games, while our lottery retailers and vendors have worked hard to achieve this historic milestone for our organization and Mississippi.”
Dr. Mike McGrevey, chairman of the MLC Board of Directors, reiterated the success of reaching $1 billion in gross sales and the lottery’s continued success.
“Enthusiastic retailers, loyal players, dedicated Lottery employees and knowledgeable vendors have all contributed to the success of the MLC,” said Dr. McGrevey. “Given the achievements so far and the plans for the future, I sincerely believe the Mississippi Lottery will continue to be a winner for Mississippi.” […]

Acting United States Attorney Darren LaMarca announced today that Pharmaceutical Trade Services, Inc., which does business as Durbin USA, an importer, distributor, and exporter of pharmaceuticals in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has agreed to pay the United States $175,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to maintain complete and accurate records of controlled substances, including thousands of doses of Schedule II-IV substances.
In addition to paying $175,000 to resolve the government’s allegations, Durbin USA has entered into a three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which includes additional responsibilities regarding the handling of controlled substances.  The MOA imposes compliance obligations beyond those contained in the applicable laws and regulations.
Congress enacted the CSA to deter the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession, and improper use of controlled substances, including prescription medications.  To help achieve this aim, the CSA subjects all registered handlers of controlled substances to strict requirements regarding the inventory control and recordkeeping of controlled substances.  These requirements ensure that DEA registrants account for controlled substances from the time that they are purchased until the time that they are delivered to other registrants, dispensed to patients, or discarded.  The CSA’s recordkeeping requirements play a vital role in ensuring the appropriate handling, accounting, and distribution of controlled substances. 
In response to the Department of Justice’s focus on combatting the opioid epidemic, the DEA has continued to conduct inspections and audits of DEA registrants, including pharmacies, narcotics treatment programs, medical providers, and distributors, throughout the Southern District of Mississippi.  Based on results from multiple DEA audits of Durbin USA’s Ocean Springs facility, the United States alleges that Durbin USA violated the CSA by negligently failing to keep accurate records and inventories associated with Schedule II-IV narcotics that the company imported, distributed, and exported between 2013 and 2020.
“This settlement demonstrates our office’s continued commitment to combating the opioid epidemic on all fronts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca.  “Part of our strategy is making sure that registered opioid handlers keep accurate records of these highly addictive and potentially dangerous drugs.  All individuals and facilities, large or small, licensed to handle controlled substances are responsible for maintaining accurate records, and all will be held accountable for any failures.”
“Prescription drug abuse has risen to epidemic proportions, with over 70,000 opioid related overdose deaths in 2020,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley.  “DEA Registrants, which include all importers, exporters and distributors, have an obligation to ensure that controlled prescription drugs are being distributed for legitimate use and not being diverted for abuse.  Through enforcement and regulatory actions, education, and training, DEA is committed to keeping our communities safe from those who facilitate and enable the abuse of prescription drugs,” said Byerley.
Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca commended the work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for its work on this case.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination or admission of civil or criminal liability. […]