Courtney Ann Jackson

Jackson

Anchor and Statewide Reporter at WLBT-TV (Jackson, MS)

Award-winning WLBT/FOX 40 Anchor and Statewide Reporter. Ole Miss alum. Story ideas? Send to: [email protected].

Articles

Legislature approves state budget and concludes special session

4 weeks ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A state budget is now finalized by the legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s approval. The special session ended Thursday, but not without continued jabs being taken between the two chambers. Senators don’t like the way the process unfolded. “I hope we get to a point next year where we can we can earn the respect that we try to show to our colleagues over there that they obviously don’t share with us down here,” said Sen. Jeremy England.
Country music superstar has big plans for Metrocenter Mall. See details

4 weeks ago | wlbt.com | Anthony Warren |Courtney Ann Jackson

The Randy Travis Foundation is investing $5 million into the former Burlington Coat Factory at Metrocenter Mall.(WLBT)By Anthony Warren and Courtney Ann JacksonPublished: May 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM CDT|Updated: moments agoJACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A Country music superstar is planning to invest some $5 million in a portion of Metrocenter Mall.
Legislature returns to the Capitol for special session to finalize state budget

1 month ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The state budget is still not finalized after day one of the special session. Lawmakers are deciding on how to spend your tax dollars. The 101 budget bills were split between the House and Senate. “There’s no way to predict how long our appropriations committee will take taking up this many bills,” said Speaker Jason White early in the day. The answer was more than 3 hours of House appropriations committee members going through each bill individually.
Governor calls special session for Wednesday to finalize state budget

1 month ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Governor Tate Reeves announced Tuesday that he’s calling lawmakers back to the State Capitol for a special session to begin at 11:00 Wednesday morning. “On the call is the approval of the $7.135 billion budget,” explained Governor Tate Reeves. Reeves says that the budget will essentially mean level funding for state agencies. “There weren’t a lot of huge disagreements around funding of the core functions of government,” said Reeves.
Looking at what the implications of the federal budget bill might be for healthcare

1 month ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The budget bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives early Thursday morning will have major impacts on healthcare around the country. We joined a conversation with some of the stakeholders to learn what it could mean for Mississippi. “Thankfully, it’s not as bad for Mississippi as it is in some other states,” noted Mississippi Hospital Association President and CEO Richard Roberson. That’s in large part because Mississippi hasn’t expanded Medicaid.
Mississippi family reacts to federal ‘Take It Down Act’ being signed into law

1 month ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A new federal law is aimed at addressing the growing problem of deepfakes, sextortion and online bullying. One Mississippi family knows the issue all too well. In Walker Montgomery’s case, it was online sextortion through a social media platform. “It’s designed really around what happened to Walker in a lot of ways,” said Walker’s father Brian Montgomery about the Take It Down Act.
Mississippi’s average teacher salary is again lowest in country

1 month ago | actionnews5.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - You may remember the big celebration of the 2022 teacher pay raise. But in the three legislative sessions since, pay hasn’t been boosted further. This year’s report from the National Education Association shows Mississippi is back on the bottom, dropping from 48th to 51st for average teacher salary. “We are continuing to lose our educators to other industries because of this low pay,” explained Mississippi Association of Educators Executive Director Erica Jones.
Mississippi’s average teacher salary is again lowest in country

1 month ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - You may remember the big celebration of the 2022 teacher pay raise. But in the three legislative sessions since, pay hasn’t been boosted further. This year’s report from the National Education Association shows Mississippi is back on the bottom dropping from 48th to 51st for average teacher salary. “We are continuing to lose our educators to other industries because of this low pay,” explained Mississippi Association of Educators Executive Director Erica Jones.
Lawmaker plans to file bill to get trial for ibogaine as PTSD and addiction treatment

1 month ago | wlox.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - There’s a psychadelic drug called Ibogaine that some Americans are crossing the border to use. And many say it’s been life-changing as a treatment for PTSD and addiction issues. “It’s the staggering numbers,” said House Public Health and Human Services Chairman Rep. Sam Creekmore. “It sounds too good to be true but it’s also something we can’t ignore.”Representative Sam Creekmore first heard about ibogaine,d erived through the root of an African plant, through a podcast.
Lawmaker plans to file bill to get trial for ibogaine as PTSD and addiction treatment

1 month ago | wlbt.com | Courtney Ann Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - There’s a psychadelic drug called Ibogaine that some Americans are crossing the border to use. And many say it’s been life-changing as a treatment for PTSD and addiction issues. “It’s the staggering numbers,” said House Public Health and Human Services Chairman Rep. Sam Creekmore. “It sounds too good to be true but it’s also something we can’t ignore.”Representative Sam Creekmore first heard about ibogaine,d erived through the root of an African plant, through a podcast.