JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Hours after the , Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker (R) is praising a portion that will aid small businesses.However, Wicker voted against the bill, as did the other 49 U.S. Republican Senators.Wicker authored the RESTAURANTS Act, alongside Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), which will provide $28.6 billion for restaurants that have struggled to keep business during the pandemic.The grants provide up to $10 million per company with a limit of $5 million per physical location. The grants can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities and other operational...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Hours after the , Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker (R) is praising a portion that will aid small businesses.However, Wicker voted against the bill, as did the other 49 U.S. Republican Senators.Wicker authored the RESTAURANTS Act, alongside Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), which will provide $28.6 billion for restaurants that have struggled to keep business during the pandemic.The grants provide up to $10 million per company with a limit of $5 million per physical location. The grants can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities and other operational...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - President Joe Biden and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves are at odds over COVID-19 restrictions.Tuesday, Reeves made the decision to It came mere hours after Texas Governor Greg Abbott made a similar decision.Wednesday, President Biden referred to these actions as “Neanderthal thinking.”“I think it’s a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody’s realized by now, these masks make a difference. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we’re able to get vaccines in people’s arms,” He made it clear he...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - President Joe Biden and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves are at odds over COVID-19 restrictions.Tuesday, Reeves made the decision to It came mere hours after Texas Governor Greg Abbott made a similar decision.Wednesday, President Biden referred to these actions as “Neanderthal thinking.”“I think it’s a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody’s realized by now, these masks make a difference. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we’re able to get vaccines in people’s arms,” He made it clear he...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is allowing the statewide mask mandate to expire.The current executive order expires at 5 p.m. Wednesday.“I still believe that masks work,” Reeves said. “I think the facts and data across our country bear that out."He says he hopes people within the state will continue to wear a mask despite lifting the mandate. He says guidelines work better than mandates and that the people of America should be trusted to make their own decisions.Reeves says hospitalizations from COVID have dipped below 600, with a peak of more than 1,200 months...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is allowing the statewide mask mandate to expire.The current executive order expires at 5 p.m. Wednesday.“I still believe that masks work,” Reeves said. “I think the facts and data across our country bear that out."He says he hopes people within the state will continue to wear a mask despite lifting the mandate. He says guidelines work better than mandates and that the people of America should be trusted to make their own decisions.Reeves says hospitalizations from COVID have dipped below 600, with a peak of more than 1,200 months...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is again discussing COVID-19 response in Mississippi., with 644 reported Tuesday.Reeves praised Mississippians after another day of lower numbers compared to recent weeks.“Your efforts are working,” he said. “When things are bad, I’m going to tell you they’re bad. [...] When things are good, I’ll tell you they’re good.”He says the lower numbers are working because of the efforts of Mississippians wearing masks and social distancing.“Masks work far better than lockdowns,” he said.He wants the positive results continue into classrooms...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is again discussing COVID-19 response in Mississippi., with 644 reported Tuesday.Reeves praised Mississippians after another day of lower numbers compared to recent weeks.“Your efforts are working,” he said. “When things are bad, I’m going to tell you they’re bad. [...] When things are good, I’ll tell you they’re good.”He says the lower numbers are working because of the efforts of Mississippians wearing masks and social distancing.“Masks work far better than lockdowns,” he said.He wants the positive results continue into classrooms...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi has the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests in the country, data over the past 14 days shows.A comparison of the 50 states (plus Washington, D.C.) was done on .The data, pulled from multiple sources, shows a 21.7% of positive cases in the Magnolia State in the past two weeks, which is the highest in the United States.Just three states--New York, Vermont and Maine--appear to be trending in the right direction.The data also puts Mississippi at the highest rate of ICU capacity filled, with 98% of ICU beds occupied in the state. Alabama and Georgia are...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi has the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests in the country, data over the past 14 days shows.A comparison of the 50 states (plus Washington, D.C.) was done on .The data, pulled from multiple sources, shows a 21.7% of positive cases in the Magnolia State in the past two weeks, which is the highest in the United States.Just three states--New York, Vermont and Maine--appear to be trending in the right direction.The data also puts Mississippi at the highest rate of ICU capacity filled, with 98% of ICU beds occupied in the state. Alabama and Georgia are...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced his decision on reopening of schools.“None of this is simple,” Reeves said.He explained that school districts across the state have guidelines in place as precautions against COVID-19, including not using cafeterias, sanitizing the buildings, and staggering in-person schedules to limit the amount of children in schools.Reeves is issuing an executive order to delay in-person learning for students in 7-12th grade in schools in hot spots. That includes: Bolivar, Coahoma, Forrest, George, Hinds, Panola, Sunflower, and Washington...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced his decision on reopening of schools.“None of this is simple,” Reeves said.He explained that school districts across the state have guidelines in place as precautions against COVID-19, including not using cafeterias, sanitizing the buildings, and staggering in-person schedules to limit the amount of children in schools.Reeves is issuing an executive order to delay in-person learning for students in 7-12th grade in schools in hot spots. That includes: Bolivar, Coahoma, Forrest, George, Hinds, Panola, Sunflower, and Washington...WW…

Gov. Reeves says risk of not going back to school greater than alternative By JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is discussing the latest response to COVID-19 in the state. Cases in the Magnolia State continue to spike, reported again Friday. Reeves says his safe return order, along with the , will likely be extended. Both orders expire Monday morning. He said there are additional counties they are looking at, but are hesitant to issue any orders on: Forrest, Jones, Lamar, Panola, Bolivar, Sharkey, Tallahatchie, Humphreys, Simpson, Tate, Walthall and Covington. With...…Gov. Reeves says risk of not going back to school greater than alternative By JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is discussing the latest response to COVID-19 in the state. Cases in the Magnolia State continue to spike, reported again Friday. Reeves says his safe return order, along with the , will likely be extended. Both orders expire Monday morning. He said there are additional counties they are looking at, but are hesitant to issue any orders on: Forrest, Jones, Lamar, Panola, Bolivar, Sharkey, Tallahatchie, Humphreys, Simpson, Tate, Walthall and Covington. With...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is discussing the latest COVID-19 response in his state.As cases continue to spike in Mississippi,a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, met with Mississippi leaders in Jackson on Wednesday, including Reeves.Reeves says Birx and others within President Trump’s task force agree that masks work and are needed to slow the spread of the virus.Reeves announced a new hub for Mississippians to purchase masks, hand sanitizer and other protective equipment that is made in Mississippi. was launched in an effort to prevent...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is discussing the latest COVID-19 response in his state.As cases continue to spike in Mississippi,a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, met with Mississippi leaders in Jackson on Wednesday, including Reeves.Reeves says Birx and others within President Trump’s task force agree that masks work and are needed to slow the spread of the virus.Reeves announced a new hub for Mississippians to purchase masks, hand sanitizer and other protective equipment that is made in Mississippi. was launched in an effort to prevent...WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says he is isolating as he awaits the results of his COVID-19 test.Reeves was in touch with at least one House member who , including Speaker Phillip Gunn.Sunday, Reeves took to social media to --something State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has previously refuted.Reeves doubled down on these comments Monday. He says “the media” only paid attention to protests around the country while coronavirus cases continued to rise. He is upset that blame is not placed upon the “thousands and thousands” of protesters for a spike in cases....…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says he is isolating as he awaits the results of his COVID-19 test.Reeves was in touch with at least one House member who , including Speaker Phillip Gunn.Sunday, Reeves took to social media to --something State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has previously refuted.Reeves doubled down on these comments Monday. He says “the media” only paid attention to protests around the country while coronavirus cases continued to rise. He is upset that blame is not placed upon the “thousands and thousands” of protesters for a spike in cases....WW…

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill that will partially end prohibition in Mississippi.Currently, there are in Mississippi. By default, all counties in Mississippi are dry and require an election to turn wet, thanks to a law passed in 1966.The bill will make possessing alcohol in these counties legal, but does not make it lawful to possess with the intent to sell., introduced by Rep. Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia) would renounce this requirement and make all counties wet by default. They would be able to be dry again with an election.The bill passed by the House and Senate...…JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill that will partially end prohibition in Mississippi.Currently, there are in Mississippi. By default, all counties in Mississippi are dry and require an election to turn wet, thanks to a law passed in 1966.The bill will make possessing alcohol in these counties legal, but does not make it lawful to possess with the intent to sell., introduced by Rep. Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia) would renounce this requirement and make all counties wet by default. They would be able to be dry again with an election.The bill passed by the House and Senate...WW…