Oil Spill
Inspection finds shoreline mostly clear of oil, but 3 areas in Jackson
County needed cleaning
Published: Saturday, February 04, 2012, 6:57 AM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Recent oil spill inspections of 111 segments of
Mississippi shoreline turned up only 3 that needed to be cleaned, according
to a report from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/02/inspection_finds_shoreline_mos.html
Judge: Halliburton cement specialist can testify
Published: Friday, February 03, 2012, 3:05 PM Updated: Friday, February
03, 2012, 3:07 PM
By The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge will allow a Halliburton cement specialist at
the heart of decisions that led to the blowout of a BP-owned well in 2010
to testify — against the wishes of BP.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2012/02/judge_halliburton_cement_speci.html
RESTORE Act faces costly deadline for Coast
Editorial – Sun Herald
As a Letter to the Editor today makes clear, Congress should move quickly
to pass the RESTORE Act.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/04/v-print/3731701/restore-act-faces-costly-deadline.html
State News
Sampling set to begin at wells near Hercules
Hattiesburg American
Sampling of eight private wells near the old Hercules plant will begin this
month, according to officials with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120205/NEWS01/202050331/Sampling-set-begin-wells-near-Hercules?odyssey=tab|
topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Diamondhead a city at 10 a.m.
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM
Diamondhead officially will become a city today at 10 a.m. when state
officials present a charter to the prospective government in a ceremony
there.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/05/v-print/3733495/diamondhead-a-city-at-10-am.html
DeSoto urges quake prep
Officials stress personal readiness for temblors
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Robert Latham remembers the scare in 1989 when climatologist Iben Browning
predicted a major earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone centered in
southern Missouri.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/05/desoto-urges-quake-prep/?print=1
Schools plan shake pupils up Tuesday
Bolivar Commercial
by Emily Peacock
02.05.12 - 05:55 pm
Nearly all the schools in Bolivar County will be participating in the Great
Central U.S. ShakeOut on Tuesday morning.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/17410493/article-Schools-plan-shake-pupils-up-Tuesday?instance=latest_articles
Mississippi Science Standards Get C
Mississippi In Middle Of Disappointing National Results
WAPT
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- An educational research institute gives Mississippi a
grade of C for what it describes as mediocre standards for teaching science
in public schools.
http://www.wapt.com/news/30387150/detail.html
Gov. Bryant renews call for a Smart Budget Act
Sun Herald
@BR Ednote:EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is taken from Gov. Phil Bryant's
executive budget recommendation delivered to the Mississippi Legislature
last week.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/04/v-print/3731700/gov-bryant-renews-call-for-a-smart.html
National News
EPA: Playing in beach sand bigger health risk than ocean itself
February 3, 2012
LA Times
Take warning, beachgoers: That carefully built sand castle could turn out
to be a real pain in the gut.
Digging and playing in beach sand puts people at higher risk of getting
sick than swimming or sunbathing, according to a new study led by the
Environmental Protection Agency.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/digging-in-beach-sand-increases-risk-of-sickness-epa-study-finds.html
Republicans to Investigate EPA Handling of Renewable-Fuel Rules
Bloomberg
Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee said it will
investigate the actions of the Environmental Protection Agency in combating
fraud in the renewable-fuels program.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-06/republicans-to-investigate-epa-handling-of-renewable-fuel-rules.html
Sierra Club took $26M from gas industry to fight coal-fired plants
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/03/12 07:06 AM ET
The Sierra Club disclosed Thursday that it received over $26 million from
natural-gas giant Chesapeake Energy Corp. between 2007 and 2010 to help the
group's campaign against coal-fired power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/208477-sierra-club-took-26m-from-gas-industry-to-fight-coal
Press Releases
GREAT CENTRAL U.S. SHAKEOUT
PEARL – Even though Earthquake Awareness Week in Mississippi is winding
down it does not mean Mississippi families and residents should stop
preparing for a possible seismic event. On Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m. everyone
in our state is encouraged to take part in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.
The ShakeOut is a nine state, coordinated earthquake drill.
Residents in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi,
Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee will all drop, cover and hold on during
that drill. Knowing what to do if an earthquake hits will make sure fewer
people are injured during an event.
To participate in the ShakeOut just visit the MEMA website at www.msema.org
and click on the ShakeOut button on the front page, or visit the ShakeOut
website directly at www.shakeout.org/centralus/. There is no cost to
register and everybody, from individuals, families, faith based
organizations, businesses and schools are encouraged to take part in this
tremendous teaching opportunity.
"The ShakeOut is a great opportunity for all of us to practice our
earthquake safety plan, said MEMA Director Robert Latham. "That means
learning and sharing with your family and friends how to drop, cover and
hold on and identifying the safest place to take cover in each room of your
home. Individual and family preparedness is the most important step to
saving lives."
For information on preparing an all-hazards disaster preparedness kit and
tips for protecting your property against earthquake damage, visit MEMA
online at www.msema.org and click the "Preparedness" link. Additional
information is available from Central United States Earthquake Consortium
at www.cusec.org, the U.S. Geological Survey at www.usgs.gov and from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.fema.gov.
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