Statewide officials sworn in Thursday after bomb threat shuts down capitol

Grant McLaughlin, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Updated ·1 min read
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After a bomb threat temporarily disrupted business Thursday morning at the Mississippi State Capitol Building, the Legislature still met for a joint-session of the house and senate to swear in statewide elected officials.

Those who were elected to statewide positions in fall 2023 included Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State Michael Watson, Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson, among others.

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann waves to lawmakers in the joint session of the Mississippi Legislature after delivering his speech, moments after reciting the oath of office for his second term, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in the Mississippi House Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol, in Jackson, Miss.
Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann waves to lawmakers in the joint session of the Mississippi Legislature after delivering his speech, moments after reciting the oath of office for his second term, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in the Mississippi House Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol, in Jackson, Miss.

During the session, Hosemann spoke to the legislative body, stating he hopes for four years of changes to laws revolving around healthcare, K-12 education, workforce development the Public Employment Retirement system in Mississippi, to name a few key items.

Hosemann said among his larger goals is to help create more workforce development and education to boost the state’s labor participation, which sits at more than 53% of state residents over 16 years old, according to a 2023 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mississippi Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, right, recites his oath of office given to him by Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph, left, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in the Mississippi House Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol, in Jackson.
Mississippi Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, right, recites his oath of office given to him by Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph, left, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in the Mississippi House Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol, in Jackson.

“Economic development will wilt without an educated workforce to retain it,” Hosemann said. “Further declines in the number of people who are actually working are not sustainable, and encouraging personal initiative to be gainfully employed is paramount.”

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, right, hugs Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph, left, after being sworn into office, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in the Mississippi House Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol, in Jackson.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, right, hugs Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph, left, after being sworn into office, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in the Mississippi House Chamber at the Mississippi State Capitol, in Jackson.

Hosemann also said passing laws to make healthcare more affordable to state residents and workers is also important for the future of the current legislative session, as well as for the next four years.

“We are focused on the long-term solutions which will make Mississippi an even better place for our children and grandchildren,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Lawmakers meet to swear in statewide officials after bomb threat