Monday, July 31, 2017

News Clippings July 31, 2017



State

DMR repairing oyster reefs damaged by 2015 spillway opening
Sun Herald

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is moving forward with restoring oyster reefs in the western part of the Mississippi Sound.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article164158437.html

Gulfport, HCUA running out of time to resolve garbage dispute
Sun Herald
 
The city and the Harrison County Utility Authority agreed to try one more week to settle their differences.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article164259562.html

What's in your drinking water, Mississippi?
Clarion Ledger

More than 20,000 Mississippians received their drinking water from utilities testing above legal limits for cancer-linked contaminants in 2015.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2017/07/28/whats-your-drinking-water-mississippi/510726001/

Could clean coal make a comeback in Mississippi?
Clarion Ledger

The green dream has been dashed in Kemper County, but Mississippi Power officials say their green dream remains alive through solar and similar technologies they are putting in place for their customers.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2017/07/30/could-clean-coal-make-a-comeback-in-mississippi/509655001/

Texas company KiOR hoodwinked Mississippi for $75M, documents show
Clarion Ledger

Then-Gov. Haley Barbour bragged in 2010 that the biofuel company KiOR would invest $500 million and create 1,000 jobs in Mississippi.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/30/texas-company-kior-hoodwinked-mississippi-75-m-documents-show/511059001/

Mississippi promised $400M to green companies, got few jobs back
Clarion Ledger

For the most part, Mississippi's green dream has become a black hole.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/30/mississippi-green-dream-becomes-black-hole/508003001/

Ducks celebrated at Audubon Center
WLOX

PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -A celebration of all things ducks happened at the Pascagoula Audubon Center on Saturday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/36002848/ducks-celebrated-at-audubon-center

KIDS USE RECYCLABLES TO BUILD ART
WCBI

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- The summer reading program at the Lee County Library ended with a unique art project.
https://www.wcbi.com/video-kids-use-recyclables-build-art/


Oil Spill

City Of Sarasota Funds 'Living Seawall' To Improve Water Quality
WGCU

The city of Sarasota recently decided to fund a “living seawall” project along the coast of Sarasota Bay. The city is using some of the settlement money it received from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The goal is to improve the Bay’s water quality.
http://news.wgcu.org/post/city-sarasota-funds-living-seawall-improve-water-quality

60 more snorkel reefs will be added to Navarre Beach
PNJ

The Navarre Beach snorkel reef expansion project approved by the Santa Rosa County Commissioners on Thursday will be a boon for marine life and the humans who want to observe a variety of species, according to state and local officials.
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/santa-rosa/2017/07/28/60-more-snorkel-reefs-added-navarre-beach/513570001/

Regional

EPA at last approves impaired-waters list
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The long-delayed federal approval of Arkansas' list of impaired water bodies adds and removes numerous water bodies, allowing some to be deprioritized and others to be considered for more rigorous study for the first time.
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jul/30/epa-at-last-approves-impaired-waters-li-1/?f=news-arkansas

National

Court rejects 2015 EPA biofuels waivers
The Hill

A federal court on Friday rejected an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to waive certain ethanol blending requirements that regulators said were appropriate due to the state of fuel markets.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/344320-court-rejects-2015-epa-ethanol-waivers

Down the Mighty Columbia River,
Where a Power Struggle Looms
The Trump administration has proposed selling off portions of a vast
system that produces nearly half of the nation’s hydropower electricity.
NY Times

To ride down the Columbia River as the John Day Dam’s wall of concrete slowly fills the view from a tugboat is to see what the country’s largest network of energy-producing dams created through five decades of 20th-century ambition, investment and hubris.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/28/us/columbia-river-privatization.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/science&mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=4AF89002E9FA53575CC85EF15B85F625&gwt=pay

At EPA museum, history might be in for a change
Washington Post

Scott Pruitt has repeated a particular line again and again since becoming the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/at-epa-museum-history-might-be-in-for-a-change/2017/07/30/9d83692c-6bd1-11e7-96ab-5f38140b38cc_story.html?utm_term=.d1dd38587d00

Air Force won't pay for towns' water contamination costs
AP
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. 

The Air Force doesn't plan to reimburse three Colorado communities for the money spent responding to water contamination caused by toxic firefighting foam previously used at a military base, potentially leaving the towns with an $11 million tab.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article164434167.html

Air Force to spend $30 million this year on Pease cleanup
AP

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The Air Force plans to spend an additional $30 million this year to clean up contaminated groundwater at a former base in New Hampshire, officials said this week.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Air-Force-to-spend-30-million-this-year-on-Pease-11685177.php

Mystery chemical discovered in Greensboro drinking water
Greensboro News & Record

GREENSBORO — Water-supply managers here are battling a chemical contaminant from the same family of man-made compounds as the GenX substance that made headlines recently by infiltrating the drinking water in North Carolina’s southeastern region.
http://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/mystery-chemical-discovered-in-city-drinking-water/article_6ca8dca9-1607-54b6-983d-10adc679ba72.html

Researchers creating warning system for toxic algae in lakes
AP
TOLEDO, OHIO 

Satellites in space and a robot under Lake Erie's surface are part of a network of scientific tools trying to keep algae toxins out of drinking water supplies in the shallowest of the Great Lakes.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article164431342.html

Cleaning up human waste is cheapest way to improve health of region's beaches, report finds
San Diego Union-Tribune

It’s been thought for decades that stormwater runoff is the major source of bacterial pollution in the county’s rivers, bays and beaches — triggering swimming advisories up and down the region’s shoreline for 72 hours after it rains.
However, the greatest source of dangerous pathogens flowing from these urban waterways into the ocean may actually be coming from human waste.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/sd-me-watershed-pollution-20170731-story.html

EPA OKs pollution controls on new diesel Jeeps, Ram pickups
AP

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. regulators have blessed emissions controls on 2017 versions of Fiat Chrysler diesel trucks, allowing them to go on sale and potentially helping to resolve allegations that the company cheated on pollution tests.
http://qctimes.com/business/epa-oks-pollution-controls-on-new-diesel-jeeps-ram-pickups/article_ac956872-43bf-5367-9d1a-1adb530f6598.html

EPA Requests The Closure Of 7 Well Sites In Oklahoma
AP

PAWHUSKA, Oklahoma -The Environmental Protection Agency has requested oil producers stop injecting wastewater in seven well sites in northeast Oklahoma to halt saltwater contamination in the area.
http://www.news9.com/story/36001123/epa-requests-the-closure-of-7-well-sites-in-oklahoma




Friday, July 28, 2017

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What Is Airbnb?

Airbnb is an online commercial center where visitors go to discover a bed to stay and has list their room/property for lease.

It is particularly similar to a lodging, be that as it may, visitors remain in the hosts home, and visitors don't get the standard ruffles of inn attendant. I'll go over the master's and con's of airbnb later.

Airbnb works in around 35 000 urban areas and in 200 nations. When you go to another city, you require some place to remain. You may pick a lodging, or possibly an inn, however Airbnb allows you to live in another person's home. This might be exactly what you're searching for, or it may not be. In any case, Airbnb is commonly less expensive than your conventional lodging. Also, that is a gigantic favorable position for Airbnb.

 

How Does Airbnb Work? The procedure

How Guests Use Airbnb

As a visitor, you look through the properties recorded in the city you are searching for a room in. A coolest aspect regarding Airbnb is that they have pretty much every kind of "room" accessible. You can discover only a solitary room (like leasing a solitary room back home), a whole house, condo, a chateau, estate, and even vessels like yachts.

As you channel your outcomes, you can see pictures of housing and read the host's profile to perceive what sort of individual they are. Now and then you will be living with the host, and now and then the host won't be there (you have the whole convenience to yourself). Whatever the case, you need to know who you will be leasing from.

You'll discover this data as you read the convenience portrayal. You will likewise need to message the host if this data isn't clear. You can message the host and make inquiries about the settlement or anything truly. I think this is a critical stride, since you get the chance to perceive what your host resembles. One of the greatest grievance about utilizing Airbnb is that the host wasn't satisfactory.

You can channel your outcomes by numerous things, in particular value, area, sort of settlement, courtesies, and close to specific purposes of intrigue. When you discover something you like, I'd message the property have and pose some broad inquiries you'll probably have. Above all, you need to ensure the property is accessible for the date you need it.

In the event that you need to proceed with the reservation, you present your reservation with your installment data. Presently, Airbnb will gather your installment after the host acknowledges your demand. In case the host decays your demand, no cash will be gathered. Once the host acknowledges your installment, your cash will be "held" via Airbnb until 24 hours after you check in. They have this approach set up to guarantee the two gatherings are content with their exchange. I figure 24 hours is sufficient time to make sense of that. The assets are discharged and given to the host, less expenses. Cheerful days.

 

How Airbnb functions

Airbnb works in 190+ Countries

 

How Hosts Use Airbnb

As a host, you get the opportunity to profit from the property you possess. Many sorts of individuals set up their own homes for arbitrary outsiders to utilize. For instance, you may have an additional room in your home and you need to make a smidgen of salary from it. You could lease locally, or utilize an administration like Airbnb to help lease your unused space.

Or, on the other hand maybe you travel a considerable measure and in some cases you're away for a couple of months. Rather than leaving your home unfilled and unused, you could profit off it while you are away by leasing it out to individuals who could utilize your home. In any of the cases, you can make a touch of side money with the land you possess.

To list your property on Airbnb, you'll have to agree to accept a record, be affirmed, and enter data about your property for lease. It's a genuinely simple process. Once your property is recorded, kick back and sit tight for the reservation solicitations and individual messages come through.

Much the same as how visitors can see your own profile, you can see visitor profiles too. Regularly however, the visitor might not have much to their profile, but rather you should open up a road of correspondence to see who will conceivably be experiencing your property.

Keep in mind, you are putting forth your home up to others. The greatest potential issue has have is that individuals will harm, take, or generally wreck your property. Airbnb offers $1,000,000 in harms to shield their hosts from these sorts of issues (with specific confinements and impediments).

 

The Pro's and Con's of Using Airbnb

Master's of utilizing Airbnb

  1. Can discover a wide range of properties, from single rooms to chateaus
  2. Price of Airbnb lodging is normally less expensive than a run of the mill inn
  3. You find the opportunity to live "locally" in the city you are setting out to, and make tracks in an opposite direction from the conventional lodging vibe
  4. Your host can be truly magnificent. He/She can truly make your visit uncommon by cooking sustenances, prescribing you things to do, and demonstrate you culture
  5. Can lease property for only a day or two, or settle down for a couple of months
  6. Hosts get the opportunity to meet visitors, in some cases habitually, making life intriguing and fun
  7. Hosts can profit on generally squandered space

 

Con's of utilizing Airbnb

  1. Hosts can be unusual or not of course, or have negative behavior patterns like being boisterous late during the evening
  2. Property recorded could be distinctive that delineated
  3. You need to pay fee's, somewhere in the range of 6%-12%, and remote exchange charge's if required, and also a VAT impose in a few nations

 

Rundown of What Airbnb is

Whenever you go on a family excursion to Hawaii, or visit Chicago with a few companions for the end of the week, observe Airbnb properties. You could very well wind up taking a gander at a private beachside estate for just you and your family, or a little downtown flat room near night life in Chi town.

As a visitor of Airbnb, your choices are abundant in each city Airbnb works in. Simply more decisions in the variety of housing accessible to explorers. Nonetheless, costs of Airbnb lodging are normally less expensive, and cash talks! As an Airbnb have, you can profit with your generally unused property.

Having said all that, there are some potential issues with Airbnb, similar to the host and their property not being as portrayed or delineated, or terrible visitors who harm your property or take your stuff. Be that as it may, hello, I prescribe you give it a shot in any event once. You may very well discover you'll need to do it once more.

 

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News Clippings July 28, 2017




State

Debris removers hired, working on testing rubble
Enterprise-Journal

McComb Mayor Whitney Rawlings said this morning that the contractor in charge of debris removal of the Kramer Roof building was testing material it gathered from Main Street for asbestos. 

Gulfport has a new deal for garbage collection
Sun Herald

GULFPORT  Residents will be paying three cents more for garbage and rubbish pickup than they would have had the city remained with the Harrison County Utility Authority. Under a contract approved unanimously by the City Council on Thursday, the monthly price per customer under the contract with Waste Pro will be $14.36, three cents more than the rest of the county’s households will pay under the Team Waste contract negotiated by the Utility Authority. 

New trash hauling ordinance not quite in effect
Picayune Item

In March, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment of what is now known as the Pearl River County Refuse and Litter Hauling Ordinance.
The new regulations require commercial trash haulers to undergo a semi-annual inspection at the county barn.

Jubilee occurring in Mississippi Sound; Seafood safe to eat, but people should use caution
Sea Coast Echo

Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources have confirmed that a jubilee is occurring in the Mississippi Sound due to weather conditions.
On Wednesday, several different species of finfish, as well as shrimp, crabs and eels were found near the Gulfport and Long Beach harbors. 

New deer regs, misinformation raise questions
Clarion Ledger

With so many regulations concerning deer hunting in Mississippi, it's not surprising that hunters can become confused. Some of the questions raised recently stem from changes in the 2017-18 bag limits for antlerless deer while others have been around for years. Annual season bag limits for antlerless deer were reduced this season from five to three in the Delta, Northeast, East Central and Southwest zones. 

Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command welcomes new commander
WLOX

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, MS (WLOX) - The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command has a new commander. Rear Adm. John Okon relieved Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet in ceremonies at Stennis Space Center on Thursday. About 300 people, mostly Naval personnel, attended the ceremony with featured speaker Adm. Philip Davidson, Commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Let the sunshine in: Local attorney converting home, office, rental properties to solar power
Commercial Dispatch 
 
Columbus attorney David Owen and his wife, Renee, are having solar panels installed in their historic Southside home, rental houses and his downtown office building.     And in a roundabout way, President Donald Trump was the incentive -- if not for converting their properties to solar, at least the timing of it.   

Oil Spill  

What you need to know before returning to tourist sites after disasters
Washington Post

Bad things can happen to good places. Like New Orleans, a city forever changed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Or Alabama’s Gulf Coast, peppered by oil pellets after the Deepwater Horizon spill seven years ago. 

Regional  
12 years after Gulf oil platform destroyed, feds start investigating environmental damage
Times-Picayune

Twelve years after Hurricane Ivan destroyed a Taylor Energy Co. platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal government has finally started investigating how oil and gas that is still leaking from its wells damages natural resources. 

Did DeKalb developer get special privileges?
Fox 5 ATLANTA 

A new tactic to let one developer tie into DeKalb County's sewer system without a backup plan has environmentalists up in arms and county watershed management officials concerned.  

National  
States threatening to sue EPA to force new environmental policies
The Hill

States are threatening to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to try to force the Trump administration into writing new environmental policies. The potential lawsuits from states like Maryland and Connecticut could put the Trump administration and EPA head Scott Pruitt in a tough spot, where they may have to take new enforcement actions or take new actions that could have a negative impact on fossil fuel plants.

EPA Water Rule Repeal Based on Sloppy Cost Analysis: Economists Bloomberg

The Trump administration was sloppy in how it estimated the economic impact of a proposal to repeal an Obama-era water pollution regulation, relying on data and assumptions that industry previously criticized, according to economists and regulatory analysts interviewed by Bloomberg BNA.

EPA approves long-awaited fix for Volkswagen diesel cars
USA Today

U.S. regulators have approved repairs for Volkswagen Group diesel cars that were engulfed in a scandal over excess emissions, meaning that owners eligible for buybacks can instead choose to accept a fix and cash compensation.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/07/27/epa-volkswagen-diesel-fix/516686001/Bottom of Form

Fracking rules get day in Denver court even though Trump administration has no plans to enforce them
Environmentalists say the rules would protect land and water
AP

DENVER — A lawsuit contesting new rules for hydraulic fracturing on federal land will get its day in court even though President Donald Trump’s administration doesn’t intend to implement them. Arguments will take place Thursday before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

Opinion  

DiFatta: MWF Wildlife Extravaganza a good way to get ahead of the 'game'
Hattiesburg American

My, how time flies when you're having fun! It wasn't long ago, or so it seems, that the 2016-17 hunting seasons closed, yet it's already time to begin preparing for the upcoming seasons. And I can't think of a better way to get ahead of the “game” than attending the Mississippi Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Extravaganza.
   
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/sports/outdoors/2017/07/28/difatta-mwf-wildlife-extravaganza-good-way-get-ahead-game/518780001/      

Press Releases  

Federal Partnership Launches Water Quality Challenge Piloting Low-Cost Nutrient Sensors for Local Decision-Making 07/26/2017 Contact Information: 

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON D.C.  

Today, a federal partnership launched a technology-accelerating water quality challenge to demonstrate how nutrient sensors can be used by states and local communities to help manage nutrient pollution.

Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costliest, and most challenging environmental problems. It is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. This results in major environmental damage and serious health problems in people and animals. Nutrient pollution and algal blooms also take a toll on the economy, hurting industries and sectors that depend on clean water. Federal, state and local governments spend billions of dollars every year to combat nutrient pollution or prevent its effects.

The Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge builds upon the 2014 Nutrient Sensor Challenge, which helped facilitate the development of affordable, high-performing, continuous nutrient sensors and analyzers. The Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge calls for demonstrations showing the effective use of low-cost sensors, innovative partnerships to pilot the sensors and data management, and demonstrations of how collected data and information can be part of state and local decision-making. By proving there are successful strategies for incorporating nutrient sensors into existing water monitoring efforts, the Challenge can help states and communities overcome the major barriers to taking action to prevent and reduce nutrient pollution.

In Stage 1 of the Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge, which closes September 20, 2017, teams will submit action plans. These plans will explain how teams intend to deploy and use sensors and how they will meet Challenge goals. Judges will review the submissions and select up to 10 winning applications. Top entries will receive cash prizes totaling $50,000 and invitations to participate in Stage 2 of the Challenge. In Stage 2, teams will deploy the sensors and collect data as they compete for a share in $100,000 in prizes.

An informational webinar for the Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge will take place August 2, 2017 at 2pm ET: https://www.epa.gov/research/nutrient-sensor-action-challenge-informational-webinar

The Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge is a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-led U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS®). Joining the federal collaboration is the Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT) which is a partnership organization of research institutions, resource managers, and private sector companies dedicated to fostering the development and adoption of effective and reliable sensors and platforms.

For more information on the Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge: http://www.challenge.gov/nutrient-sensor-action-challenge/    

Mississippi Wins Gold Shovel Award   Jackson, Miss. – Mississippi received a 2017 Gold Shovel Award from Area Development magazine. The Gold Shovel signifies substantial economic development achievement in the state.   Gov. Phil Bryant announced the award on Thursday morning at the Neshoba County Fair   “Area Development magazine’s Gold Shovel Award shines the spotlight on Mississippi’s supportive business climate and skilled workforce, while demonstrating to the world we are committed to the economic development of communities throughout the state,” Gov. Bryant said.   Area Development is a leading economic development publication covering site selection and facility planning.   The Shovel Awards are presented to state economic development agencies that demonstrate significant economic development success. Criteria include the number of high-value added jobs per capita, amount of investment, number of new facilities and industry diversity.   “Governor Bryant’s economic development leadership with the Legislature and teammates across Mississippi promotes innovation and creates advantages for the state’s business climate and workforce. This enables companies which call Mississippi home to win in today’s global economy,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr.   All 50 states were invited to submit their top-10 job-creation and investment projects for 2016. Mississippi’s submissions included Continental Tire’s manufacturing plant in Hinds County, Southern Motion’s expansion in Baldwyn, Niagara Bottling’s new plant in Marshall County, Premium Waters’ new plant in Hinds County, BPI’s new location in Olive Branch, BMSI’s new location in Burnsville and Delta Furniture’s expansion into Houlka.   To view a complete list of the 2017 Shovel Award winners, visit www.areadevelopment.com/awards.  

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Thursday, July 27, 2017

News Clippings July 27, 2017



State

Mississippi Phosphates site raises environmental concerns
WLOX

PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -Recent heavy rainfall has prompted some emergency environmental measures at the old Mississippi Phosphates plant in Pascagoula.
http://www.wlox.com/story/35980569/mississippi-phosphates-site-raises-environmental-concerns

Gulfport sued over plan to negotiate its own garbage contract
Sun Herald

A Biloxi garbage and rubbish hauling and disposal company is suing Gulfport over its plan to sign a contract with another company.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article163812548.html

‘No water is sterile; there are bacteria in lakes, rivers, streams,’ state epidemiologist says
If left untreated, flesh-eating bacteria can lead to loss of limb or death
WAPT

ROSS BARNETT RESERVOIR, Miss. — What started as a simple dip in the reservoir led to a flesh-eating bacteria infection for at least two people this summer.
http://www.wapt.com/article/no-water-is-sterile-there-are-bacteria-in-lakes-rivers-streams-state-epidemiologist-says/10365298

COMMISSION WANTS UPDATE ON DRAINAGE ISSUES
Northside Sun

Jackson’s one-percent oversight commission could begin talks next month on how it plans to fund the city’s numerous drainage needs.
http://www.northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news-breaking-news/commission-wants-update-drainage-issues#sthash.hyVkxfVK.dpbs

SEAWALL RECONSTRUCTION
Northside Sun

Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRV) officials are getting ready to begin the second phase of the seawall construction project at Sunrise Pointe and Paradise Pointe.
http://www.northsidesun.com/news-breaking-news/seawall-reconstruction#sthash.Hj30TpmL.dpbs

It’s not a jubilee or red tide, but fishermen are scooping up crabs and fish near shore
Sun Herald
GULFPORT 

Hundreds of crab, flounder, speckled trout and other fish crawled or swam to the shoreline near Courthouse Road on Wednesday as fishermen and beach-goers grabbed nets and scooped up the bounty.
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/outdoors/article163737993.html

Duck population overpowering Jackson Co. neighborhood
WLOX

Residents of Martin Lake Resort in Jackson County say they're trying everything they can do to get rid of the rapidly multiplying duck population wreaking havoc on their neighborhood.
http://www.wlox.com/story/35971158/duck-population-overpowering-jackson-co-neighborhood

Senate minority leader Stone stepping down
Daily Journal

JACKSON – Bill Stone of Holly Springs, the Mississippi Senate’s Democratic leader, is stepping down from his District 10 post.  Stone, 51, is stepping down, effective Monday, to become manager of the Holly Springs Utility Department.
http://www.djournal.com/news/senate-minority-leader-stone-stepping-down/article_463f0523-c052-55cc-aa51-41ce144a862c.html

Regional

Memphis water meets health standards but that doesn't mean it's safe, group says
Commercial Appeal

Although all public drinking water in Shelby County meets government health standards, an environmental group that studied utility systems nationwide has identified contaminants it says are flowing from local taps in unsafe concentrations.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2017/07/26/memphis-water-has-contaminants-above-health-guidelines-report-says/504580001/

National

EPA to seek comments on Obama water rule repeal
The Hill

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is allowing the public to weigh in on its proposal to repeal the Obama administration’s controversial water pollution rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/343898-epa-to-seek-comments-on-obama-water-rule-repeal

Roger Wicker votes for wildlife bill favored by environmental, hunting groups
Sun Herald

Sen. Roger Wicker on Wednesday voted to advance a bill backed by a long list of environmental advocacy groups.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/article163847163.html

Corn could be victim of climate change
The chances of major swaths of corn-producing regions getting hit with severe water stress at the same time is 6% per decade.
Delta Farm Press

The weather has always been an unpredictable element of agriculture, but climate change is expected to make matters significantly worse. Determining how much worse has historically been a challenge. A new study, however, says climate-induced drought could hit several of the world's major corn producing regions all at once.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/corn/corn-could-be-victim-climate-change

America’s Waterways: A Vicious Cycle of Inefficiency
Delays lead to lower demand which leads to higher costs
WSJ

For American producers who rely on the nation’s waterways to export and distribute billions of tons of grains, coal and chemicals each year, aging locks systems on rivers and the frequent delays they cause cost more than just time.
https://www.wsj.com/graphics/americas-waterways-a-vicious-cycle-of-inefficiency/

Keene hires goats to trim grass at landfill
Dubbing them its new lawn mowers, the public works department in Keene said it had brought in 30 goats in June to munch on the grass and shrubs at the fenced-in landfill.
NBC 5

http://amp.mynbc5.com/article/keene-hires-goats-to-trim-grass-at-landfill/10356795

Meet Corythoraptor: Newly found dinosaur sports fancy headgear
USA Today

From enormous feet to scrawny neck and wicked claws, a newly discovered species of dinosaur resembles an ostrich gone bad. But no ostrich ever had this dinosaur’s fancy headgear: a towering “helmet” of bone and tissue probably functioning like some kind of beckoning billboard.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/27/meet-corythoraptor-newly-found-dinosaur-sports-fancy-headgear/514191001/

Opinion

PASTORS FOR KEMPER
Northside Sun

We thought nothing regarding the Kemper power plant could surprise us anymore, but we were wrong. We now have a campaign called the Ministerial Alliance calling for the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) to take mercy on Mississippi Power and its failed boondoggle.
http://www.northsidesun.com/opinion-editorials/pastors-kemper#sthash.e2nBgB91.dpbs

Press Releases

Prescribed Burning Program Accepting Applications

Jackson – The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is continuing its partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Wildlife Mississippi, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Mississippi Forestry Commission and others to provide cost-share for prescribed burning on private lands. Since its inception in 2011, the “Fire on the Forty” program has provided cost-share funding for prescribed burning on more than 55,000 acres in North and South Mississippi.
Prescribed fire is a very important tool for forest and wildlife management, but many private landowners are reluctant to use it because of cost and liability concerns.  As part of the “Fire on the Forty” initiative, the partnership will reimburse burning projects in selected focal counties up to 50 percent of costs for implementing and performing a prescribed burn.  These focal counties include Monroe, Lowndes, Noxubee, and Prentiss in North Mississippi and Amite, Pike, Walthall, Jefferson Davis, Covington, Marion, Lamar, Pearl River, and Forest in South Mississippi. For more information or to view a map of focal areas visit www.mdwfp.com/fireontheforty.  
Landowners must submit an application for entry into the program prior to October 6, 2017 to be considered for this year’s funding.  All applications will be competitively ranked based on potential habitat benefits for wildlife. Funding for the “Fire on the Forty” initiative is provided by the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Mississippi Forestry Commission, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
For more information regarding the “Fire on the Forty” program, including project application forms, visit www.mdwfp.com/fireontheforty, contact John Gruchy at johng@mdwfp.state.ms.us, or call us at (601) 432-2199.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

New EPA Tool Helps Communities Access More Than $10 Billion in Water Infrastructure Financing
New EPA tool gives communities access to information and financing opportunities that will help improve water quality and protect public health
07/26/2017

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching the Water Finance Clearinghouse, a web‐based portal to help communities make informed financing decisions for their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs. The Clearinghouse provides communities with a searchable database with more than $10 billion in water funding sources and over 550 resources to support local water infrastructure projects. It consolidates and expands upon existing EPA-supported databases to create a one-stop-shop for all community water finance needs. The Water Finance Clearinghouse was developed by EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center, an information and assistance center that provides financing information to help local decision makers make informed decisions for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to reach their public health and environmental goals.  
 
“Every day, Americans depend on water infrastructure to ensure that their drinking water is safe and that local waterways stay clean,” said EPA’s Office of Water’s Deputy Assistant Administrator D. Lee Forsgren. “Investing in water infrastructure sustains local economies by creating jobs, protecting public health, and increasing quality of life. EPA’s Clearinghouse is a vital portal that helps connect communities with the information and tools they need to finance much needed water infrastructure improvement projects.” 
Many communities around the country have aging or inadequate water infrastructure: each year approximately 240,000 main breaks occur while elsewhere billions of gallons of raw sewage are discharged into local surface waters from aging conveyance systems. Communities increasingly need efficient access to up-to-date water finance information to rehabilitate or replace their water infrastructure. EPA’s new Water Finance Clearinghouse meets this need.
The Water Finance Clearinghouse gives local decision makers an opportunity to search for available funding sources for water infrastructure as well as resources (such as reports, webpages, and webinars) on financing mechanisms and approaches that can help communities access capital to meet their water infrastructure needs. State, federal, local, and foundation funding sources and resources on public-private partnerships, asset management practices, revenue models, and affordability approaches are included in the Clearinghouse.
The Water Finance Clearinghouse is updated in real-time, following a crowdsourcing model. States, federal agencies, and other water sector stakeholders have the ability to suggest edits and new resources or funding options at any time through the Contributor Portal. Stakeholders can use this interactive feature to manage how their programs and initiatives are displayed in the Clearinghouse.  
EPA webinars on how to use the Clearinghouse are scheduled for:
  • July 27
  • July 31
  • August 3
  • August 14
  • August 18
  • August 24
  • August 31
All webinars will be held 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. You can register for a webinar at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/4533646364837520386
More information on the Clearinghouse: https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter/water-finance-clearinghouse
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/new-epa-tool-helps-communities-access-more-10-billion-water-infrastructure-financing

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance needs pictures.

What better place to get them than from our partners!
We need quality images from those of you that live, work, and play around the Gulf so we’ve decided on a competition.
http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/announcements/photo-competition/