Magnolia Tribune
Magnolia Mornings: May 22, 2026
Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed.
By: Magnolia Tribune - May 22, 2026
In Mississippi
1. BLEOST approves part-time officer bridge program
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety announced Thursday that the Board of Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training (BLEOST) approved Rule 9.5 for filing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
The rule establishes a pathway for currently certified part-time law enforcement officers to obtain full-time certification through demonstrated competency, training equivalency, and sustained service.
DPS said the rule recognizes prior completion of an approved part-time training program and provides officers the opportunity to pursue full-time certification through evaluations conducted by accredited full-time training academies. The initiative is aimed at strengthening law enforcement agencies across Mississippi by expanding opportunities for qualified officers to advance their careers and continue serving their communities.
“This is a great change to help our part-time officers achieve full-time status through the proper evaluation and training process that needs to be done to help increase our public safety in local communities across the state,” said Lee County Sheriff Jim H. Johnson.
2. Rural hospital legislation passes U.S. Senate, heads to House for consideration
The U.S. Senate late Wednesday approved the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act (S.4460) by unanimous consent, making it available for consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith cosponsored the measure as it reauthorizes a federal health program that currently supports six rural Mississippi Hospitals.
Introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), S.4460 includes a five-year reauthorization of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) program that would allow rural hospitals to continue using innovative Medicare hospital payment models that improve financial sustainability and support health care access.
Hyde-Smith’s office noted that in November 2024, CMS agreed to enroll additional hospitals, which led to Greenwood Leflore Hospital, Magee General Hospital, and Wayne General Hospital joining the program in April 2025. Other RCHD hospitals in Mississippi include Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Highland Community Hospital in Picayune, and Marion General Hospital in Columbia.