MS SC505

Honors Emily Wagster Pettus for her 30-year career as a Capitol Correspondent with The Associated Press, including 24 years covering the Mississippi Legislature beginning in January 2001.

Recognizes her coverage of five gubernatorial administrations, more than 65 legislative sessions, major trials including the 2005 Edgar Ray Killen case and 2007 Ford Seale trial, and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.

Notes her mentoring of new reporters and her reputation for fair, balanced, and accurate reporting with integrity, as described by University of Mississippi journalism faculty.

Documents the decline in Capitol press coverage, noting that when Pettus arrived there were a dozen reporters covering the Legislature, but with her departure The Associated Press will no longer have a dedicated state government reporter in Mississippi.

Directs that the resolution be presented to Pettus and her family, forwarded to The Associated Press, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.