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Will Mississippi see meaningful prison health care reform?

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Mississippi Today reporters Gwen Dilworth and Michael Goldberg recap some of the findings from their series “Behind Bars, Beyond Care,” which uncovered widespread accusations of lack of adequate health care in Mississippi prisons and the suffering it causes. They discuss the potential for passage of reform in the upcoming 2026 legislative session.

Will Mississippi spend its opioid settlement dollars in a way that helps address the crisis and prevent deaths?

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Mississippi Today health reporter Allen Siegler and health editor Laura Santhanam give an update on the state’s plan to spend its initial pot of opioid lawsuit settlement money. Siegler’s in-depth reporting has chronicled some issues and raised serious questions about how the state and local governments are spending the money, which is supposed to help address the scourge of opioid addiction, which has cost at least 10,000 lives in Mississippi since 2000.

Mississippi first responders want separate pension plan after changes to PERS

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers and New Albany Fire Chief Mark Whiteside said pending changes the Legislature made to the state employee retirement system will make it even harder to hire and retain first responders. They want the Legislature to revisit an overhaul of the Public Employee Retirement System set to take effect in March for those who serve in high-stress, low paying and dangerous first-responder jobs.

Senator-elect Johnny DuPree says keeping constituents informed, educated on issues is vital

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Newly elected state Sen. Johnny DuPree is no stranger to state politics. He was longtime mayor of Hattiesburg and is a former Democratic nominee for governor. He outlines issues he’ll tackle in his new job, and vows to keep his constituents informed of what’s happening at the Capitol.

The work of Mississippi Today's nonprofit newsroom.

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Mississippi Today CEO and Executive Director Mary Margaret White, Jackson Editor Anna Wolfe and Editor-in-Chief Emily Wagster Pettus discuss Mississippi Today's mission as a nonprofit newsroom and how donors' support helps pay for expenses such as public records that journalists use in their work.

Early education advocate Cathy Grace outlines dire issues facing childcare in Mississippi

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

The link between good, affordable child care and economic development is discussed by Cathy Grace of Tupelo, the early childhood program specialist with the non-profit North Mississippi Education Consortium. She praised Gov. Tate Reeves and other Mississippi political leaders for acknowledging the need for an additional commitment to child care, but said much more of an effort by the state is needed than what is currently being proposed.

Senate Elections Chair England on early voting, late counting, ballot initiative

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Sen. Jeremy England, chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, says he plans to again introduce legislation for Mississippi to join most other states and allow in-person, no-excuse early voting. He also talks about the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear a Mississippi case challenging the counting of mail-in ballots after Election Day, and about major issues he foresees in the 2026 legislative session.

Did Mississippi see a ripple from Tuesday’s ‘blue wave?

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Mississippi Today’s Michael Goldberg, Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance break down last week’s special legislative elections, where Democrats gained three seats. Goldberg complains of a dearth of election-night pizza.

We're spending millions on prison health care ... and we're not getting any

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Republican House Corrections Chairwoman Becky Currie of Brookhaven began touring state prisons when she got her committee chair assignment a couple of years ago, and found a disturbing dearth of medical care for inmates. 'We're paying $124 million to a company for health care and they are not going it and they are keeping the money," said Currie, who is pushing for reform and been a centerpiece of Mississippi Today's investigative series on prison health care, "Behind Bars, Beyond Care.

Would school choice upend athletics in Mississippi public education system?

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Ricky Neaves, director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association said that the push for expanded "school choice" by Mississippi lawmakers could have a drastic impact on athletics and other programs in the state's public education system. He said improper "recruitment" of athletes already happens, even with his agency's oversight, but that universal school choice would exacerbate competition to lure athletes with ill effect on public schools, especially small, rural ones. Neaves said he hopes lawmakers leave MHSAA's eligibility authority intact if they expand school choice.

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