5.31.13
Oil Spill
State commits $15M in BP oil disaster funds to proposed Biloxi baseball
stadium
BP oil disaster funds to be tapped
Clarion Ledger
Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday said the state would kick in $15 million in BP
oil disaster money to help build a minor league baseball stadium in Biloxi.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130531/NEWS01/305310044/State-commits-15M-BP-oil-disaster-funds-proposed-Biloxi-baseball-stadium
Gov. Bryant to ball team: They've got a home, we're committed
WLOX
Beau Rivage made the Biloxi Visitors Center feel as much like as baseball
stadium as they could Thursday afternoon. They had employees dressed as
ballpark vendors, handing out peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22459818/gov-bryant-to-ball-team-theyve-got-a-home-were-committed
Bryant announces $15 million state contribution to Biloxi stadium project
(gallery)
Mississippi Press
By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
May 30, 2013 at 8:49 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant announced today that
the state will contribute $15 million in matching funds toward construction
of a new minor league baseball stadium on U.S. 90 in Biloxi.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/05/gov_bryant_to_appear_in_biloxi.html#incart_river
Biloxi scores $15 million from state for new stadium
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- After more than nine years of dreams and plans, Biloxi scored a
minor league baseball stadium Thursday when Gov. Phil Bryant kicked in a
$15 million BP grant to help build the ballpark on U.S. 90.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/05/30/4700687/mississippi-pitches-15-million.html
Oil spill cleanup comes to an end
Pensacola News Journal
Nearly three years after black, gooey oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill disaster washed up on Escambia County beaches, the extensive U.S.
Coast Guard-led oil spill monitoring and cleanup response grinds to a halt
today.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20130531/NEWS09/305310021/Oil-spill-cleanup-comes-an-end
State News
Hattiesburg City Council calls special meeting to decide on wastewater
treatment
Hattiesburg American
The Hattiesburg City Council called a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday
at City Hall to select an option on wastewater treatment.
The council faces a Friday deadline to comply with an Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality order and select a treatment option to
replace the city's aged lagoon system.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130530/NEWS01/130530030/Hattiesburg-City-Council-calls-special-meeting-decide-wastewater-treatment
MDEQ awards grant money
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality has awarded Tishomingo County a solid waste assistance grant of
$14,606 that will be used by the county to clean up illegal dump sites.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-awards-grant-money/EAmroXeno0uUTQ6o-m3naw.cspx
National News
Oil industry frets over new smog standard
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 05/30/13 12:14 PM ET
The oil and gas industry is pushing back against an expected Obama
administration rule to tighten smog standards that public health groups say
could save thousands of lives.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/302573-oil-industry-frets-new-smog-standard-
Obama: No 'patience' for climate skeptics
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 05/30/13 10:33 AM ET
President Obama, echoing his new Energy secretary's recent comments, said
late Wednesday that he's open to new climate policy ideas but has no
interest in battling over whether climate change is real.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/302537-obama-has-no-patience-for-climate-skeptics
D.C. ambulance delay linked to EPA-required filtering system
Washington Post
By Peter Hermann, Published: May 30
A D.C. ambulance rushing a gunshot victim to a hospital Wednesday had to
pull over to avoid engine failure that fire officials blamed on an
emissions system required by the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-ambulance-delay-linked-to-epa-required-filtering-system/2013/05/30/261869a4-c942-11e2-8da7-d274bc611a47_story.html
Press Releases
Gov. Bryant Announces Plans for a Minor League Baseball Stadium
BILOXI–Mississippi anticipates providing the City of Biloxi a $15 million
grant to construct a minor league baseball stadium downtown, Gov. Phil
Bryant announced today.
The state's anticipated financial assistance for the project comes from
funds BP granted to Mississippi in 2010 during the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill.
"The oil spill of 2010 had a significant impact in Mississippi, especially
to our coastal tourism," Gov. Bryant said. "This stadium will be a major
regional asset for South Mississippi and will be an exciting new attraction
for our residents and tourists of Mississippi's Gulf Coast."
Earlier this month, the Biloxi City Council passed a resolution of intent
to issue up to $21 million in bonds to construct a new stadium near
Caillavet Street. The state anticipates providing a matching grant of $15
million. The stadium construction is expected to cost approximately $35
million.
The anticipated state matching grant for the stadium would not reduce or
otherwise affect Mississippi's right to recover damages from BP and other
parties responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including under
the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Process or RESTORE Act.
In 2012, Gov. Bryant began working with a baseball ownership group, led by
team owner Ken Young, to identify a suitable site and potential financing
for a stadium development. Young, a former minor league executive of the
year and owner of four minor league baseball franchises, is in the process
of purchasing an existing minor league team and relocating the team to
Biloxi.
"I believe Biloxi will be an excellent location for minor league baseball,"
Young said. "The community will immensely enjoy the sports and
entertainment. The venue will be one of the best in baseball, and the
region will take great pride in it."
Once constructed, the stadium will likely feature a capacity of
approximately 6,500-7,000 people for baseball, including luxury boxes. For
other events, such as concerts, the stadium will seat upwards of 14,000
people, including temporary field level seating.
"This project will have major economic and tourism impacts for the
Mississippi Gulf Coast," Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway said. "We expect the
stadium to spur additional development in downtown Biloxi. We are excited
about having baseball in our city."
The Gulf Coast Business Council's research foundation estimates the stadium
development will spur an additional $10 million annually in visitor
spending on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Before the stadium construction begins, the baseball franchise ownership
group will need to finalize the purchase of the existing franchise and
receive final approvals from Minor League Baseball for the team's
relocation.
"We are going to continue to work with our partners to make Minor League
Baseball a reality on the Gulf Coast," Bryant said. "This is an important
first step in the process. I look forward to adding professional baseball
to the list of amenities our Gulf Coast has to offer."
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