Legislative Session 2022: State Senator Jenifer Branning
State Senator Jenifer Branning talked about MDOT’s participation in last week’s Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, the makeup of the Highways and Transportation Committee and more.
State Senator Jenifer Branning talked about MDOT’s participation in last week’s Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, the makeup of the Highways and Transportation Committee and more.
The Extra Mile - Legislative Session: State Senator Jenifer Branning
The Extra Mile - Legislative Session: State Senator Jenifer Branning
Show intro
- Introducing guest hosts Jas N Smith and Katey Hornsby - 00:27
Guest: State Senator Jenifer Branning
- Introducing Senator Jenifer Branning - 00:54
- Breakdown of Appropriations subcommittee meetings and what they mean for state agencies - 1:33
- MDOT brief on budget request for next year - 2:39
- Highlights of first two weeks of the session - 3:54
- Overview of Transportation Committee and how it functions – 4:50
- Biggest takeaways from Branning’s trip around the state to understand funding needs of different communities – 5:45
- Shout out to leaders of Senate Transportation Committee, Joey Fillingane, Charles Younger, and Bart Williams – 9:32
- ARPA Funding and its potential impact on Mississippi infrastructure – 10:27
- Important potential impacts from this session – 11:35
- Relationship between the Senate and the House – 12:32
- Difference between Senator Branning’s first and most recent session – 13:23
- Favorite place to travel around the state using Mississippi’s roads and bridges – 15:15
- Contact info for Senator Branning and her office – 16:15
Show outro
Creators and Guests
Producer
Drew Hall
Drew Hall is an award-winning media producer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, bringing more than 15 years of experience in video production, photojournalism, podcasting, and public affairs communications. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an emphasis in Broadcasting, Drew began his career in television news as a photojournalist, working for WDBD Fox 40 and WJTV News Channel 12 in Jackson. During nearly 11 years in broadcast news, he covered breaking news, feature stories, and live events throughout Mississippi while developing the ability to tell compelling visual stories under tight deadlines. Drew joined MDOT in 2019, where his work has expanded from video production and photography to strategic communications, multimedia campaigns, podcast production, and production leadership. He serves as the producer and editor of The Extra Mile, MDOT’s podcast featuring conversations with transportation leaders, engineers, policymakers, and other voices connected to Mississippi’s transportation system. His work has received recognition from organizations including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), and the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC). His honors include awards for The Extra Mile, “Don’t Trash Mississippi,” “I-269: Five Years of Economic Boom,” and MDOT Remembers Hurricane Katrina. In his current role, Drew oversees photographer scheduling and production logistics, helps manage the division’s digital media assets and archiving systems, and coordinates drone compliance and operations. He is an Adobe Certified Professional in Digital Video using Premiere Pro and an FAA-licensed remote pilot. Drew’s passion is using video, photography, audio, and storytelling to make complex subjects accessible, connect organizations with their audiences, and showcase the people and stories behind Mississippi’s transportation system.