On December 9, 2020, we received the following letter from Mississippi State Auditor Shad White through a newsletter mailing. Friends, On September 8th and 9th, Prof. James Thomas of the University of Mississippi decided to go on a "work stoppage" (his words). He told the world on social media and his students in writing what he was doing: "I have strong feelings about this – if you have tenure, your #ScholarStrike activity needs to be a work stoppage. Tell your students you’re not working." Over two days Prof. Thomas ignored every single email from his students. I personally read each of those emails. One student was worried because they were having trouble responding to a writing prompt. Another could not access a lesson plan online. One student could not submit an assignment on time because of a technology problem and worried about getting full credit. Still another was worried about an assignment and asked if Prof. Thomas would be responding while on Scholar Strike. There are others.Prof. Thomas had three classes to teach on those two days, and he did not teach them. He also told his students, "I will not be responding to emails" and "I will not be holding meetings via zoom, including office hours . . ." In short, Prof. Thomas refused to perform his job duties, and his tuition-paying students suffered as a result. The taxpayers and donors to the university suffered, too. When Prof. Thomas realized he was going to be called on the carpet for not performing these duties, he attempted to explain by saying, "100 percent of my job requires time spent thinking . . . . If I’m thinking I’m working." Thinking isn’t going to cut it with me. That's why, not long ago, my office issued a demand for $1,912.42 to Prof. James Thomas for his work stoppage. "Concerted work stoppages" and strikes are illegal under Mississippi’s no-strike law, and paying someone for not working violates Sections 66 and 96 of the state constitution. It’s simple—the taxpayers of Mississippi cannot pay someone when they did not provide the good or service they were hired to provide. I knew I would take abuse from the radical Left when I did this, because they love Prof. Thomas and his views. But his viewpoints do not give him the right to not show up for work. And even though he and his friends will call me every name in the book, I knew someone had to step up and enforce the law--for you, the taxpayers. For a longer explanation of this case, you can listen to an interview I gave here. And thank you, as always, for standing with me. Yours in service, Shad

Special to Wesson News Surging COVID-19 cases in Mississippi over the past few weeks include a 12 percent spike in Lincoln County. In Lincoln County, which is now under a mask-wearing mandate ordered by Governor Tate Reeves, more than 1,700 cases total have been recorded. Due to the increasing number of cases in the area, the Brookhaven and Lawrence County School Districts switched to virtual learning in mid-November until after Thanksgiving. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported 8,000 new cases per week in late November similar to the surge in July and August, which saw a 13-day stretch with more than 8,000 new weekly cases. The number of hospitalizations also started surging, with the seven-day rolling averages up thirty-two percent, ICU patients increasing by thirty-two percent, and patients on ventilators increasing by thirty-six percent. Overall, the state’s ICUs are 84% full, with COVID-19 patients comprising 26% of all ICU beds. Sixteen of the state’s highest level COVID-care centers are at 86% capacity, and five of them — both Baptist Memorial Hospitals in Southaven and in the Golden Triangle, University of Mississippi Medical Center and St. Dominic in Jackson, and the Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville — have zero ICU beds available. According to the latest White House task force report, Mississippi’s test positivity rate is now fourteen percent. Mississippi has moved from “orange” to “red” on the Global Health Institute’s risk level tracker, meaning it now averages over 25 daily new cases per 100,000 residents. Despite the rise in cases in the state, Mississippi now ranks thirty-first in new cases per capita. In addition to Lincoln County, other Mississippi counties with large increases in cases COVID-19 cases include Choctaw (15%), Stone (12%), Attala (12%) and Marshall (12%). MSDH reports that 116,683 Mississippians have recovered from COVID-19.

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the details of the 56th Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, which takes place January 22 through February 21, 2021. This annual event features Mississippi’s youth and open livestock exhibitions, as well as the largest rodeo competition east of the Mississippi River. The Dixie National Rodeo runs Thursday, February 11, through Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at the Mississippi Coliseum on the State Fairgrounds. The public can purchase tickets for the Rodeo beginning Tuesday, February 8, at 10:00 a.m. “During this week, as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is ongoing in Texas, I want to invite everyone to come out to the greatest show on dirt next year in February at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds,” said Commissioner Gipson. “The annual Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo will include all the usual events, like the palomino show, Dixie Queen pageant and Junior Sale of Champions in addition to the rodeo. I’m excited to announce that this year we will host an agricultural and vendor expo in the new Mississippi Trade Mart for the very first time at the Dixie National.” The 2021 Dixie National Rodeo, held at the Mississippi Coliseum, features different acclaimed musical artists each night following the rodeo competitions. Performers include The Oak Ridge Boys, Parker McCollum, Moe Bandy, John Conlee, Sawyer Brown, Gary Allan and Riley Green. Tickets will be limited due to public health guidance. Sanitization stations and safe practices signage will be posted throughout the facility. Applicable public health guidance will be observed regarding social distancing and masks. Tickets to the daily Dixie National Rodeo competitions and concerts go on sale for Fan Club members at 10:00 a.m. today, December 7, through Tuesday, December 8, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets will be available to the general public online and at the Coliseum Box Office beginning Tuesday, December 8, at 10:00 a.m. To purchase tickets to the Dixie National Rodeo, visit www.ticketmaster.com/dixie-national-rodeo-tickets/artist/848320. For more information on the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, visit www.DixieNational.org or call 601-961-4000.

The United States Senate has passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) to name a Brookhaven post office in honor of three local law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The legislation, which U.S. Senator Roger Wicker cosponsored, was approved by unanimous consent late Thursday, clearing it for President Trump’s signature. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives on Sept. 14, 2020, designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 201 West Cherokee Street, Brookhaven, as the “Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post Office Building.” “Brookhaven is my home and the loss of these officers continues to break the hearts of so many in our community. Senate passage of our legislation puts us a step closer to ensuring their service is honored and remembered,” Hyde-Smith said. “I commend Congressman Guest for his good stewardship in getting us to this point.” “Mississippi respects our law enforcement officers, and we are grateful for the risk they take on in the line of duty. For this reason, it’s important to commemorate those we’ve lost in remembrance of their sacrifice. It’s my hope that our efforts will preserve the memory of Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White, who demonstrated John 15:13 in their heroism: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.’ I’d like to recognize Senator Hyde-Smith and Senator Wicker for their commitment to honoring these fallen officers,” Guest said. “Every single day, our law enforcement officers risk their lives to protect and serve their communities,” Wicker said. “Renaming the Brookhaven Post Office is a small but fitting tribute to the sacrifices of Deputy Durr, Corporal Moak, and Patrolman White. I hope this renaming will serve as a powerful reminder of all those men and women who wear the badge.” Hyde-Smith and Guest introduced companion bills (S.1182 and HR.2246) in April 2019 to honor the fallen officers. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker cosponsored the Senate measure. Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff William Durr was killed while responding to a domestic dispute in May 2017. A veteran law enforcement officer, he previously served with the Brookhaven Police Department. Brookhaven Police Officer James Kevin White and Corporal Walter Zachery Marshall Moak lost their lives in a standoff in September 2018. Moak served with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department before serving with the Wesson and Brookhaven police departments. In addition to serving as a police officer, White served in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard where he sustained a serious injury.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Mississippi Department of Health urge consumers to use caution to avoid falling victim to medical marijuana scams. Since passage of Initiative 65 last month, the Attorney General’s Office has received questions about advertisements claiming to offer pre-registration for medical marijuana cards in Mississippi. “As Mississippi’s chief legal officer, I will not allow companies to engage in fraudulent and deceptive business practices in our State,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “My office will remain watchful and continue to work closely with the Mississippi Department of Health to protect the health and safety of Mississippi consumers. We urge you to be wary of any promises to jump you to the head of the line for access to medical marijuana in Mississippi. It is too early for any company to guarantee those promises will be kept.” Companies have begun promoting to Mississippians pre-registration and telemedicine consultations for medical marijuana cards. The MSDH has not issued any regulations pursuant to Initiative 65, nor has it licensed any providers at this time. “The Mississippi State Department of Health is in the initial stages of researching, developing and producing the essential elements needed to implement a successful medical marijuana program,” said State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. “Any information regarding medical marijuana will be posted on a specified website page. The regulations are due this summer. It is premature for any company or entity to post information offering medical marijuana. Do not be vulnerable to these scams. The Mississippi State Department of Health is your accurate source for information regarding this matter.” To report suspected scams or fraudulent activity, contact the Mississippi Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-800-281-4418 or emailing consumer@ago.ms.gov.

As Mississippians decorate for Christmas this week, many will buy live trees that need to be watered daily to prevent them drying out and catching fire. There have been 61 fire deaths in Mississippi so far in 2020. That’s compared to 57 at this time last year. To prevent more fire deaths, the State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends the following fire safety measures. Use holiday decorations made with flame‐retardant or non‐combustible materials. Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. Use lights approved by Underwriter’s Laboratories. Do not overload extension cords. Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and make sure any lit candles in the room are placed away from tree branches. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. Cut at least one inch off the bottom of the tree trunk before placing it in a stand. Live trees can “drink” one gallon of water of water daily. Check water at least twice daily. Make sure the tree is at least six feet away from any heat source. Take the tree down when it becomes dry. Recycle it, use it as a fish shelter in a farm pond or put it out with the trash. Do not burn a tree in the fireplace. Heat may explode the wood and set the room on fire. Check with your tree provider to see if they will apply a Fire-Retardant for you. You may also consider making a “Fire-Retardant” solution. The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service recommends placing your tree in a solution after it is cut. Fill the tree stand with the following mixture. 2 gallons hot water 2 cups corn syrup 2 ounces liquid bleach 2 pinches Epsom salt ½ cup borax 1 tsp chelated iron (available at garden shops)

Due to the rapidly rising burden of COVID-19 cases, excessive hospitalizations and the high risk of COVID-19 infection in the community, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is issuing the following Public Health Guidance. All residents of Mississippi should avoid any social gathering that includes individuals outside of the nuclear family or household. MSDH recommends that Mississippians only participate in work, school or other absolutely essential activities. MSDH recommends that all Mississippians protect themselves and their families by avoiding public or social gatherings such as the following: Social events or parties Family gatherings outside of the household or nuclear family Weddings Funerals (other than close family and preferably outdoors) Sporting events In-person church services

The Mississippi Boychoir is pleased to announce its annual Christmas Concert to be premiered virtually on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. on its website - www.msboychoir.org In keeping with our 2020 Fall Semester theme, our Be the Light Christmas Concert is our first ever virtual-only event. The event is free to the public, although donations are appreciated! This event is funded in part by the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

With Christmas season here, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants you to make sure your perfect Christmas tree makes it home by properly securing it to your vehicle. “Unsecured Christmas trees can easily put your safety, and the safety of other motorists, at risk,” said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT Executive Director. “Trees could become airborne and strike another vehicle. They could also come to rest in the road, creating a hazard for everyone.” Road debris from unsecured loads, such as Christmas trees, was responsible for more than 19,000 injuries and 680 deaths across the country in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition to being a safety hazard, debris from unsecured loads contributes to roadside litter which costs Mississippi over $3 million a year to remove. Motorists responsible for debris from unsecured loads could face fines up to $500 and up to six months in prison. “The holiday season should be a joyous time of year,” McGrath said. “Keep the cheer alive and keep everyone safe by securely bringing your Christmas tree home.” Whether your tree is fresh-cut from the farm or purchased from a vendor, you can safely transport it by taking the following steps: Use an appropriate vehicle. Christmas trees can be securely tied to roof racks. If you don’t have a roof rack, use the bed of a truck or the inside of an SUV or van. Tie the tree down with strong rope or nylon straps at several points along the trunk. Lightweight twine found at many tree lots may not be strong enough. The bottom of the trunk should point toward the front of the vehicle. Secure loose branches with netting, rope or twine. Always double check the load to make sure it is secure. Drive slowly. Higher speeds create air resistance which can cause tie-downs to fail.

With the lifting of the statewide mask mandate instituted on August 4th, the daily average of COVID-19 cases has increased at an alarming rate, overwhelming Mississippi’s hospital systems, resulting in a struggle to provide emergency care for patients, and the transferring of patients out of state. In order to protect the integrity of our healthcare system, the Mississippi State Medical Association (MSMA), supports Mississippi physicians’ call for a statewide mask mandate requiring masks in all public spaces. “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare delivery at every level. Our state’s healthcare system cannot continue to bear the overwhelming strain of the outbreak at its current state. The present stress on the healthcare system affects the ability of patients to get emergency care they desperately need,” said Dr. Claude Brunson, MSMA Executive Director. Science and evidence have proven to be our best defenses against a health crisis such as this. We must be diligent in continuing to practice the measures that have aided us before in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of this deadly virus. When the initial mask mandate was lifted on September 30th, daily COVID-19 numbers were around 500 cases per day. The daily average has since increased to a current approximation of 1,200 new cases per day. Based on this data alone, evidence shows that masks and face coverings significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19. Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new evidence supporting this advice. Researchers analyzed coronavirus infection rates in Kansas following a statewide mask mandate. They found that counties that chose to enforce the mandate saw their cases decrease. Counties that chose to opt-out saw their cases continue to rise. “When leaders fail to lead, then we often see a poor performance from those who are attempting to follow,” said Dr. Mark Horne, MSMA President. “The anti-mask, anti-personal distancing, anti-anything to slow the spread of the disease is an article of faith. And faith is not subject to fact,” Horne said. Since the onset of COVID-19, physicians and healthcare workers have stood on the front lines, providing care for patients, and public trust, with expertise based on scientific knowledge. With the holiday season and winter weather approaching, we are certain that our state’s healthcare system cannot sustain the trajectory of the pandemic in its current state. To combat the devastating effects of COVID-19, we must act immediately, and in the best interest of the health of all Mississippians, by reissuing a statewide mask mandate through the remainder of the year.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that Mississippi, along with the Attorneys General of 45 other States and the District of Columbia, have obtained a $17.5-million settlement against Georgia-based retailer, The Home Depot. This resolves a lengthy multistate investigation of a 2014 data breach, which exposed the payment card information of approximately 40 million Home Depot consumers nationwide. The State of Mississippi will collect $147,874.48 through this settlement. “When companies fail to protect personal data, they leave millions of consumers vulnerable to identity theft and misuse of their personal information,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “This settlement highlights the importance of implementing procedures to protect consumers’ sensitive personal information and every business’ duty to do so.” The breach occurred when hackers gained access to The Home Depot’s network and deployed malware on its self-checkout point-of-sale system. The malware allowed the hackers to obtain the payment card information of customers who used self-checkout lanes at The Home Depot stores throughout the U.S. between April 10, 2014 and Sept 13, 2014. In addition to the $17.5-million total payment to the states, The Home Depot has agreed to implement and maintain a series of data security practices designed to strengthen its information security program and safeguard the personal information of consumers. Specific security provisions agreed to in the settlement include: Employing a duly qualified Chief Information Security Officer reporting to both the Senior or C-level executives and Board of Directors regarding Home Depot’s security posture and security risks; Providing resources necessary to fully implement the company’s information security program; Providing appropriate security awareness and privacy training to all personnel who have access to the company’s network or responsibility for U.S. consumers’’ personal information; Employing specific security safeguards with respect to logging and monitoring, access controls, password management, two factor authentication, file integrity monitoring, firewalls, encryption, risk assessments, penetration testing, intrusion detection, and vendor account management; and Consistent with previous state data breach settlements, the company will undergo a post settlement information security assessment, which in part will evaluate its implementation of the agreed upon information security program. Other states participating in this settlement include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Governor Tate Reeves announced additional counties that have qualified and met certain requirements to be placed under mask mandates with his “Safe Recovery” executive order that is in effect until December 11th. Those additional counties are: Alcorn, Attala, Bolivar, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lowndes, Neshoba, Panola, Perry, Prentiss, Stone, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union. As of now 41 of Mississippi’s 82 counties are included within this order. “As we go into Thanksgiving, please be extra cautious and look out for your loved ones. These are critical times," Governor Reeves said. “There is much more COVID-19 around us, and therefore a greater risk that you pass the virus to someone that you love dearly.” A copy of the executive order can be found here.