JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is giving his first State of the State address on Monday, less than two weeks after he was inaugurated.
Governors generally use the State of the State to discuss the economy and to outline goals for the legislative session.
The speech is set for 5 p.m. Monday at the state Capitol, and it will be carried live by Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
Reeves, a Republican, is expected to discuss problems in the state prison system — an issue that has absorbed much of his time during his first days in office.
At least 12 inmates have died in Mississippi prison since late December. Most of the deaths happened at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, and many happened amid outbreaks of violence.
Reeves and other officials toured part of Parchman last week, and he said Thursday that the state is taking immediate steps to try to improve living conditions that he described as “terrible.” Multiple health department inspections have shown problems at Parchman, such as broken sinks and toilets, holes in cell walls and widespread mold and mildew in showers.
Before Reeves became governor, he served two terms as lieutenant governor and two terms as state treasurer.
He said during his inaugural address that he supports pay raises for teachers. He also said he wants his administration to work “for all Mississippi.”