State
William Carey to demolish 5 buildings after Jan. 21 tornado
AP
HATTIESBURG, MISS.
William Carey University says it will have to demolish five tornado-damaged buildings including the oldest structure on campus — Tatum Court.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article131170799.html
RESIDENTS OF LEE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD SAY SEWER SYSTEM NEEDS UPDATING
WCBI
LEE CO. MISS. (WCBI) – Residents of a Lee County neighborhood, that is serviced by Tupelo Water and Light will also address the city council about a foul smelling problem.
http://www.wcbi.com/residents-lee-county-neighborhood-say-sewer-system-needs-updating/
Hattiesburg residents with discolored water could see financial relief
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -Hattiesburg residents dealing with discolored water could receive a refund from the city for extra water used to flush their pipes.
http://www.wdam.com/story/34440118/hattiesburg-residents-with-discolored-could-see-financial-relief
Board of Supervisors vow to get tougher on litter in the county
Picayune Item
During Monday’s meeting, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors discussed strategies to combat the litter problem, including a potential countywide cleanup day.
http://www.picayuneitem.com/2017/02/board-of-supervisors-vow-to-get-tougher-on-litter-in-the-county-2/
PASCAGOULA ADDS ELECTRIC CARS TO FLEET
WXXV
The City of Pascagoula is going green with the newest additions to city equipment: electric cars.
http://wxxv25.com/2017/02/06/pascagoula-adds-electric-cars-fleet/
Pond at Lake Lamar Bruce stocked with rainbow trout
WTVA
SALTILLO, Miss. (WTVA) - it's hard to explain exactly why fishing is so popular. It's relaxing, to be sure, especially when temperatures are mild, the fish are biting, and a friend is willing to come along. And thanks to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, the rainbow trout are biting like crazy at Lake Lamar Bruce - and it's the only public place in the state where angles can fish for that particular species.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34441016/pond-at-lake-lamar-bruce-stocked-with-rainbow-trout
Miss. Power could lose investment-grade credit rating
AP
JACKSON — The increasing price and declining economic competitiveness of its $7.1 billion Kemper County power plant may cost Mississippi Power Co. its investment-grade bond rating from one of the nation’s three main credit rating agencies.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2017/02/06/miss-power-could-lose-investment-grade-credit-rating/97579502/
Majority of state employees could have civil-service protections lifted
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -State workers' fate could be hanging in balance if lawmakers advance one bill. It would remove civil-service protection for most of the state employees for three years.
http://www.wlox.com/story/34439796/majority-of-state-employees-could-have-civil-service-protections-lifted
Oil Spill
Senate bill would reserve BP millions for Coast
Mississippi Today
After months of debate over the issue, just one bill regarding how to spend millions in settlement funds from the 2010 BP oil spill made it through committee this session.
http://mississippitoday.org/2017/02/06/senate-bill-would-reserve-bp-millions-for-coast/
BP oil spill funds used for turtle friendly beach lights
Pensacola News Journal
An environmental group is working to bring turtle-friendly lighting to Panhandle beaches using millions of dollars in restitution money paid by oil giant BP in the aftermath of the 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill.
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2017/02/06/bp-oil-spill-funds-used-turtle-friendly-beach-lights/97554624/
BP Lifts Break-Even Oil Price After Profit Miss
Reuters
BP raised the oil price at which it can balance its books this year to $60 a barrel on Tuesday due to higher spending following a string of investments as annual earnings fell for a second consecutive year.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/02/07/bp-lifts-break-even-oil-price-after-profit-miss.html
National
GOP chair says report vindicates probe into climate study
The Hill
The chairman of the House Science Committee is hailing a new report in a British newspaper as vindication of his probe into a major federal climate study.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/318131-gop-chair-says-report-vindicates-probe-into-climate-study
Former EPA employees urge Senate to oppose Pruitt
The Hill
More than 400 former employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are urging senators to oppose President Trump’s pick to lead the department.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/318081-former-epa-employees-urge-senate-to-oppose-pruitt
Scores of EPA workers object to Trump's pick to lead agency
AP
CHICAGO
Hundreds of current and former employees of the Environmental Protection Agency are speaking out against President Donald Trump's pick to head the department.
http://www.fresnobee.com/news/nation-world/national/article131097834.html
Pipeline Companies Struggle to Contend with Reinvigorated Protests
Like political operatives, some are using polling and focus groups to develop public support
WSJ
Pipeline companies are bracing for a new round of volatile protests by environmentalists and other activists in the U.S., a sobering reality that is tempering the industry’s excitement over President Donald Trump’s moves to revive the Keystone XL and Dakota Access projects.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pipeline-companies-struggle-to-contend-with-reinvigorated-protests-1486389602
Trump Policies Unlikely to End Sustainable-Investing Trend
Presidential agenda poses short-term challenges, but experts say the ESG tenets are here to stay
WSJ
The Trump era could hinder the performance of some mutual funds that focus on sustainable investing in the short term, but it won’t put the brakes on the booming trend of investing based on environmental, governance and social factors.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-policies-unlikely-to-end-sustainable-investing-trend-1486404825
Opinion
A Libel Suit Threatens Catastrophe for the Climate of Public Debate
Michael Mann sues to silence critics, and errant courts ignore the First Amendment to help him.
WSJ
The First Amendment provides robust protection for political and scientific debate, but it faces a new threat from a climate activist determined to silence his critics. In a case pending before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Penn State professor Michael Mann is waging an aggressive campaign of lawfare, accusing of defamation those who dare to question his work. So far, the courts have given this assault on free speech a green light.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-libel-suit-threatens-catastrophe-for-the-climate-of-public-debate-1486336417
