Author

Bobby Harrison

Bobby Harrison

Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today’s senior capitol reporter, covers politics, government and the Mississippi State Legislature. He also writes a weekly news analysis which is co-published in newspapers statewide. A native of Laurel, Bobby joined our team June 2018 after working for the North Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo since 1984. He is president of the Mississippi Capitol Press Corps Association and works with the Mississippi State University Stennis Institute to organize press luncheons. Bobby has a bachelor's in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi and has received multiple awards from the Mississippi Press Association, including the Bill Minor Best Investigative/In-depth Reporting and Best Commentary Column.

Signage at an early voting center on September 23, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Full 5th Circuit to hear arguments on whether felony voting ban is unconstitutional

By: - October 1, 2023

The entire U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will rule, again, on whether Mississippi’s lifetime ban on voting for people convicted of certain felonies is unconstitutional. The decision of the 5th Circuit to hear the case en banc vacates a three-judge August ruling that did find the lifetime ban unconstitutional. Now, the entire 5th Circuit […]

In Mississippi, no statewide official endorses Medicaid

By: - August 3, 2023

In 2013, then-state Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, said he opposed Mississippi expanding Medicaid because there was no guarantee the federal government would continue to pay for the program. “Knowing that the federal government may pay for a portion of it for the next two or three years is not enough comfort for me to go […]

Attorney General Lynn Fitch speaking at the Neshoba County Fair

AG Lynn Fitch wants to make info on out-of-state abortions available to Mississippi authorities

By: - July 16, 2023

JACKSON, Mississippi — Attorney General Lynn Fitch wants to ensure Mississippi authorities are allowed to investigate and gather information on abortions performed out of state on Mississippi women. Fitch, Mississippi’s first-term Republican attorney general, and 18 other state attorneys general have filed comments in opposition to a proposed change to federal regulations, known as HIPAA, […]

The Mississippi River at Natchez, Mississippi

Louisianans on Medicaid expansion can get care across river at Natchez hospital

By: - November 30, 2022

Just across the Mississippi River bridge from Natchez are the Louisiana towns of Vidalia, Ferriday and other communities where there are people who have health care coverage through the expansion of Medicaid. Those Louisianans, if they are in the correct Medicaid health care network, can obtain medical services across the bridge in Mississippi at Merit […]

Jackson water system is failing; city with little or no drinking water indefinitely

By: and - August 30, 2022

The drinking water system in Jackson — Mississippi’s largest city and home to more than 160,000 residents — is failing, state officials announced on Monday. Thousands of Jackson residents already have no or little water pressure, and officials cannot say when adequate, reliable service will be restored. The city water system has been plagued with […]

An aerial view of the Mississippi State Capitol at dusk.

9 bills restoring felons’ voting rights pending in Mississippi Senate

By: - March 28, 2022

The chairman says it is probable that at least some of the suffrage bills will be taken up in his Judiciary B Committee with the intent to send them to the full Senate chamber for consideration.