“We decided to homeschool this year because my children and myself have asthma, and my mother is immune suppressed. We do not want to bring COVID into our home. 

“I considered homeschooling in the past when the school denied me help with my son. That’s one of my concerns. That I will not have the resources to teach my child with learning disabilities.

“To make this change, we are having to cut back on things we enjoy on the weekends to pay for homeschooling. But in the end, I just want my children to be safe and healthy and to learn at the appropriate grade level.” 

Kayla Manning
Moss Point, Mississippi

"I never considered homeschooling previously, but decided to this year because I do not wish to send my children to school if they are required to wear a face covering for seven hours plus a day.

"It is simply too hot in south Mississippi. The school buses are not air conditioned. When a child is constantly thinking about when, if, how they are required to wear a face covering, they are not focused on their schoolwork.

"It’s too much of a distraction, even if I did believe that masks really would make a difference. My boys are highly intelligent and I’m confident that they will have no problem passing the placement test next school year and transitioning back to public school. My main concern is that I won’t be able to help them if they struggle with a particular area of instruction.

"But thankfully I’ve been blessed to have a job that allows me to work remotely, making it easier to homeschool.

"In doing this, I'm looking forward to having the chance to bond with my boys in a way that I’ve never been able to before. I want to take control of the things they learn and I want to have as much hands-on learning and take as many field trips as possible.

"This is a special chance for them to learn exactly the way they want to learn."

Kaleigh Vicknair
Long Beach, Mississippi

The order mandating masks in public places has been extended for two more weeks and expanded to an additional 10 counties.

Gov. Tate Reeves signed the updated executive order yesterday. The face mask requirement is now in place in the following counties: Bolivar, Claiborne, Covington, Desoto, Forrest, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Panola, Quitman, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Walthall, Washington, and Wayne counties. 

Under the order, all retail businesses are required to mandate that all employees and customers wear a mask. For people in public, everyone must wear a mask when in a public setting. Additionally, groups are now limited to no more than 10 indoors and no more than 20 outdoors. 

Those who violate the order could face a fine of up to $500 and/ or six months in jail. State, county, and local law enforce, as well as government entities, may enforce the order. 

The new order expires on August 3 unless it is extended prior to that time.

New legislation will expand Mississippi’s sales cap for cottage operators to $35,000. Previously, cottage food operators were capped at $20,000.

That was the third lowest in the country. Mississippi is now above the national average – for state’s that have a cap. Twenty-seven states have no limitation on what cottage food operators can earn. Which makes sense because all this cap does is restrict an entrepreneur’s ability to earn an income, which then contributes to the tax base. 

Several years ago, Mississippi brought home bakers into the light with the passage of the state’s cottage food law. This allows individuals to sell certain allowable products that they make at home. They can sell the products in various settings, such as farmers’ markets, without a government inspection or a professional kitchen. And there is no license required or government fees to pay to begin. 

Opponents of cottage food operators, largely the established restaurant or bakery industries, will point to the fact that these operators aren’t regulated by the state. But there has not been evidence to suggest that the lack of comprehensive regulations pose a threat to public health as some indicate. Consumers know what they are purchasing, where they are purchasing it from, and that it does not come from a government-inspected kitchen. They willingly accept the so-called risk. 

Today’s technology makes it easy to find high-quality food, read reviews from happy (or unhappy) customers, and make knowledgeable decisions. Online reviews and apps are doing the job of a government inspector.

In reality, the current limitations just serve to limit competition for established businesses. By eliminating restrictions in Mississippi, we can give consumers new options, grow the economy, and encourage entrepreneurship. 

As we outlined in High Road to Freedom, providing more freedom to cottage food operators, particularly in the new economy, is a good thing. This is a step in the right direction for a path to food freedom in Mississippi.

The government mandated shutdowns that decimated the economy in the spring may return if the number of coronavirus cases does not decrease in Mississippi warned Gov. Tate Reeves. 

During his daily press conference, Reeves pleaded with Mississippians to wear face masks, saying this is our best option.

“We’ve looked at every available tool and I promise you this this is the best weapon that we have,” Reeves said. “It’s not fun, but it’s a hell of a lot better than widespread shutdowns and if we don’t do something, that’s where we're headed.”

At the end of March, Reeves issued a shelter in place order that closed non-essential businesses in the state. To many this was an unfair move that left most big box retailers open, while shutting the doors at most small businesses. Over the next two months, Reeves slowly allowed the economy to reopen, and by June 1 the entire state was reopened.

This was a similar path to many other states, who like Mississippi have since seen a similar spike in cases and have had to pause reopenings. 

Yesterday, a new order from Reeves went into effect, requiring face masks when you are in public. The order impacts the following counties: Hinds, Desoto, Madison, Harrison, Rankin, Jackson, Washington, Sunflower, Grenada, Claiborne, Jefferson, Wayne, Quitman. 

Violators of the order face fines of up to $500 and up to six months in jail. 

Also, in those counties no more than 10 people can gather indoors, and no more than 20 people can gather outdoors. 

A new executive order requires face masks in retail establishments and in all public settings.

The order goes into effect July 13, and lasts at least one week. The order impacts residents and businesses of Hinds, Desoto, Madison, Harrison, Rankin, Jackson, Washington, Sunflower, Grenada, Claiborne, Jefferson, Wayne, and Quitman counties.

Tell us what you think.

The new executive order mandating face masks and limiting public gatherings for Mississippi’s most populous counties can come with a fine of up to $500 and/ or six months in jail for violators. State, county, and local law enforcement, as well as government entities such as the Department of Health, may enforce the order. 

This is according to Mississippi Code 33-15-43.

The order that Gov. Tate Reeves signed today, which will go into effect Monday, impacts residents and businesses of Hinds, Desoto, Madison, Harrison, Rankin, Jackson, Washington, Sunflower, Grenada, Claiborne, Jefferson, Wayne, and Quitman counties. The order lasts one week, though it can certainly be extended before it expires. 

All retail businesses are required to mandate that all employees and customers wear a mask. For people in public, everyone must wear a mask when in a public setting. Additionally, groups are now limited to no more than 10 indoors and no more than 20 outdoors. 

Prior to the order, mask ordinances had been enacted at the local level in Jackson, Tupelo, Starkville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, Greenwood, Columbus, West Point, Natchez, Grenada, and Greenville.

Residents in Mississippi’s largest counties will soon be required to wear a mask in public and gatherings will again be limited.

At a news conference today, Gov. Tate Reeves said the new regulations will impact the following counties: Hinds, Desoto, Madison, Harrison, Rankin, Jackson, Washington, Sunflower, Grenada, Claiborne, Jefferson, Wayne, Quitman. These counties account for more than a third of state’s population. 

Under the new order, which will go into effect next week, no more than 10 people can gather indoors, and no more than 20 people can gather outdoors. All citizens must now wear masks when shopping or in public places. 

Prior to today, Reeves had issued expanded restrictions in Attala, Jasper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Scott counties. 

Meanwhile, mask ordinances have been enacted at the local level in Jackson, Tupelo, Starkville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, Greenwood, Columbus, West Point, Natchez, Grenada, and Greenville.

Numerous cities throughout Mississippi have face mask requirements. And you could be fined or sent to jail for violating such orders, while businesses could be shut down. 

The mask issue has become increasingly political with Democratic mayors in Mississippi attacking President Donald Trump and Gov. Tate Reeves for not taking a harder stance on the issue. While there isn’t a statewide order, the state is requiring masks in select counties that have seen a more widespread outbreak. This includes Attala, Jasper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Scott counties. 

Cities with mask ordinances include Jackson, Tupelo, Starkville, Oxford, Hattiesburg, Greenwood, Columbus, West Point, Natchez, Grenada, and Greenville, along with a smattering of smaller cities. 

The punishment for not wearing a mask varies. 

Jackson residents could be fined $300 and sent to jail for six months. Businesses could be shut down for a day. The fine in Canton is steeper. For individuals it’s $500, and $1,000 for businesses. In Columbus and Greenwood, you can be fined up to $1,000. 

The $1,000 fine applies to businesses in Oxford. So far, they have hit at least 12 businesses in the city.