State
MISSISSIPPI PHOSPHATE PLANT
WXXV
It’s been just over three years since the Mississippi Phosphate Plant closed its doors in Pascagoula. Residents have voiced concerns about pollution for years and might soon have more answers than questions.
OIL TANKER CATCHES ON FIRE
WCBI
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It was a busy morning for fire crews in Monroe County after a large fire broke out at an oil company.
LEE COUNTY SOLAR FARM GETS GREEN LIGHT
WCBI
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Construction will soon begin on a solar farm in Lee County, that will be able to provide electricity to more than 120 homes.
Major renovation underway for Clower-Thornton Nature Area
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -The Coffee Creek repair project has grown into much more than flood mitigation.
Gray wins Water Valley mayoral race
Oxford Eagle
Donald Gray has won the runoff in the special election for mayor in Water Valley, defeating Terry Rockette, 550 to 306 votes, according to the North Mississippi Herald.
COJ Water Update 01/10/2018
State Government
GOV. PHIL BRYANT TO CHAIR TENN-TOM WATERWAY DEV. AUTHORITY
WTVA
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) – Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has been appointed as the 2018 chairman of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.
Mississippi Health Department seeks small budget increase
AP
After two years of reductions, the Mississippi State Department of Health is requesting a modest budget increase for the coming year.
Mississippi Medicaid shrinks midyear request for more money
AP
Mississippi Medicaid is reducing its request for more money in the middle of the budget year.
Drew Snyder was appointed interim director in December when David Dzielak (JELL-ick) resigned after six years as director.
Oil Spill
POPP’S FERRY CAUSEWAY PROJECT ALMOST DONE
WXXV
A big project at a popular scenic park in the Back Bay of Biloxi is starting to take shape. The million dollar renovations at Popp’s Ferry Causeway Park have been dreamt of for decades and fishermen are excited for the work to be completed.
Democrats and Republicans working together? Here’s why that’s happening in Harrison County
Sun Herald
Harrison County Democrats and Republicans, in a rare show of unity on Wednesday, said they’d work together for a common goal: To bring the BP economic damages settlement money to the Coast.
National
Exxon, BP, Chevron Should Pay for Climate Costs, N.Y. Says
Bloomberg
New York joined other municipalities hoping to use the law to hold oil and gas producers responsible for costs related to the environmental effects of their products.
Interior to undertake largest reorganization in 168-year history; thousands of jobs moving
Washington Post
WASHINGTON - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke launched an unprecedented effort Wednesday to undertake the largest reorganization in the department's 168-year history, moving to shift tens of thousands of workers to new locations and change the way the federal government manages more than 500 million acres of land and water across the country.
More States Want Exemptions From Trump’s Offshore Drilling Expansion
Governors of North and South Carolina have asked to meet with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke after he agreed to carve Florida out of the plan
WSJ
WASHINGTON—Several more governors are asking the Trump administration to pare back plans for one of the largest offshore-drilling expansions in history, adding to pressure that has already led officials to exempt Florida from the plan.
Greitens touts Missouri's own plan to keep lakes clean
AP
ST. LOUIS
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to let the state take care of pollution concerns in its own lakes and reservoirs.
