Mississippi Edition

Residents of the capital city continue to face water outages following last week’s winter storm.

Then, a Mississippi agency assigned to distribute millions in federal pandemic relief funds is under pressure to get the program going or risk losing the money.

Plus, the Mississippi Economic Council responds to the House’s fast-tracked tax plan.

Segment 1:

The Mississippi National Guard has stationing tanker trucks outside several Jackson schools distributing non-potable water for residents in need. Parts of the city have not had running water for more than a week following last week's severe winter storm. The Guard has partnered with the City of Jackson and the Emergency Management Agency to supply the water through several large tanker trucks. Colonel Bobby Ginn is in charge of logistics. He shares more on the response with our Kobee Vance.

Residents Carol Green and Estell Green express their frustrations.

Segment 2:

A Mississippi agency assigned to distribute millions in federal pandemic relief funds is under pressure to get the program going or risk losing the money. Mississippi Home Corporation says it has a waiting list of more than 3,000 people seeking emergency rental assistance. Executive Director Scott Spivey tells the Senate Housing Committee, the agency has $186 million in pandemic relief funds for the program, but a narrow timeframe in which to distribute the money. 

Segment 3:

A tax overall championed by House Republicans has not yet received the endorsement of the Mississippi Economic Council. The Mississippi Tax Freedom Act was introduced and passed in the House earlier this week. The tax reform bill would - among other things - phase out the state income tax, reduce the grocery tax, and raise the sales tax. But, Scott Waller, President and CEO of the MEC, tells our Michael Guidry the Council still has to assess the potential impact of the plan.