From the Wire

Brandon PresleyWith a second Democrat coming onto the Mississippi Public Service Commission, Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley will likely take center stage at the utility regulatory agency.
Coast Guard Issues High-Water Advisory for Lower MississippiThe Coast Guard on Thursday issued a high-water safety advisory for a section of the lower Mississippi River and is asking the general public to stay off the fast-moving, rising waters swollen from heavy rainfall in the Midwest.
Mississippi Pot Legalization Initiative Falls Far ShortA DeSoto County woman's push for a ballot initiative legalizing marijuana in Mississippi has fallen far short of the required number of petition signatures.
Bryant Declares Emergency as Mississippi River RisesGov. Phil Bryant has declared a state of emergency ahead of expected flooding along the Mississippi River.
Requests for Special Education Money Fall Short of SupplyDemand so far has been low for $6,500 scholarships that Mississippi is awarding to parents of special education students to use in private or home schooling.
Mississippi Seeks Federal Disaster Ruling for Killer TornadoGov. Phil Bryant said Monday that Mississippi is seeking a federal disaster declaration for some or all of the seven counties hit by a tornado last week.
Analysis: Random Social Issue Will Rile Miss. Legislators In a few weeks, the Mississippi Legislature will work itself into a lather about something.
Mississippi Flag Debate Tops State News in 2015Debate over the Confederate battle emblem in the Mississippi state's flag is the top state news story of 2015.
Ole Miss to Receive Grant for Civil-Rights DiscussionsThe National Endowment for the Humanities has announced $3.6 million in grants for 21 community-based projects, including one at the University of Mississippi that will bring together scholars, students and others to discuss civil rights.
Threat of Tornadoes in South; Storm Kills 1 in ArkansasStorms packing strong winds and heavy rain slammed the nation's mid-section on Wednesday, and officials worried about Christmas yard decorations becoming projectiles in what forecasters called a threat of "multiple tornadic supercells."
Mississippi Signs Up 90K-Plus for Marketplace CoverageThe number of people who have enrolled for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act stands at 90,358 in Mississippi.
Incumbent: Votes Properly Counted in Tied Mississippi RaceLocal election officials consulted with the Mississippi secretary of state's office before deciding to count nine votes at the center of a disputed House race, an attorney for five-term Democratic Rep. Bo Eaton said in papers filed Friday.
Vic SchaeferMaybe this bodes well for Mississippi State, with Southeastern Conference play starting next month.
Tax Fairness Could be Issue in Push for Transportation MoneyMississippi could get smoother roads, lower taxes and a tax system more tilted to favor the rich than it does today.
Unemployment Rate Rises in Mississippi in NovemberMississippi's unemployment rate ticked up in November as the economy didn't generate enough jobs to absorb more people looking for work.