Baby bust’s effect on public schools
Mississippi public school enrollment is set to steadily shrink. In 2007, Mississippi had 46,455 births, about 127 per day. In...
Change laws. Change lives.
Karrece spent her years as a young girl at the feet of her grandmothers watching them apply makeup. She followed...
Life changing reforms are winning the day
This week the Empower team was in Atlanta for State Policy Network’s Annual Meeting. SPN works alongside a national network of independent...
Empower reacts to charter board approving only one new charter
Today, the Mississippi Charter Authorizer Board approved one new charter application and denied four others, including denying a strong application...
Why has charter school progress been slow?
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Mississippi approving charter schools, we remain excited for the kids who have been...
Lawsuit filed to stop student loan cancellation
A month after President Joe Biden announced plans to cancel a substantial portion of student loan debt, a lawsuit has...
Mississippi part of growing flat tax trend
Earlier this year, Mississippi lawmakers adopted legislation that will institute a 4 percent flat tax in the state. The Mississippi...
What charter school rankings really show
New school rankings show Leflore Legacy Academy Charter School in Greenwood, in only its second year of operation, was rated...
Mississippi’s regulations lead to fewer jobs, more poverty
New data shows that federal regulations have led to more people living in poverty, greater income inequality, fewer businesses, less...
Crime spike not due to prison reforms
Suggestions that the recent spike in homicides is due to recent statewide criminal justice reforms are not supported by evidence....
Are our schools doing better or worse?
We’ve seen conflicting reports on progress in Mississippi’s schools. This week, scores for all states on the National Assessment of...
Does Every Crime Deserve a Life Sentence?
Mississippi has a poverty problem. We are the poorest state in the union by a wide margin. We have the lowest gross domestic product, lowest per-capita income, and highest number of people living in...
Empower Mississippi Announces New Chairman of the Board
Ridgeland, MS – March 20, 2024 – Empower Mississippi announces the election of Abb Payne as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. Payne will succeed Gerard Gibert, who has served with distinction...
Empower Mississippi Announces New Chairman of the Board
Ridgeland, MS – March 20, 2024 – Empower Mississippi announces the election of Abb Payne as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. Payne will succeed Gerard Gibert, who has served with distinction...
SB 2574: Expand the Fresh Start Act
Senate Bill 2574, sponsored by Sen. John Horhn, expands the Fresh Start Act to make it easier for someone with a criminal record to be approved for an occupational license when the past crime...
SB 2574: Expand the Fresh Start Act
Senate Bill 2574, sponsored by Sen. John Horhn, expands the Fresh Start Act to make it easier for someone with a criminal record to be approved for an occupational license when the past crime...
HB 1303: Expand the Fresh Start Act
House Bill 1303, sponsored by Rep. Shanda Yates, expands the Fresh Start Act to make it easier for someone with a criminal record to be approved for an occupational license when the past crime...
HB 1303: Expand the Fresh Start Act
House Bill 1303, sponsored by Rep. Shanda Yates, expands the Fresh Start Act to make it easier for someone with a criminal record to be approved for an occupational license when the past crime...
SB 2442: Establish the Prison-to-Paycheck Pipeline Pilot Program
Senate Bill 2442, sponsored by Sen. Juan Barnett, would create the post-release service pilot program designed to reduce recidivism by providing a variety of support services to people who leave prison. The program will...
HB 1683: Expand opportunity for establishment of charter schools
House Bill 1683, sponsored by Rep. Jansen Owen, would make several changes to Mississippi’s charter school law designed to expand the establishment of charters in the state. Under the proposal: Mississippi’s colleges and...
Hattiesburg Art Alliance
Local Charities
Things To Do
Local Dining