Friday, March 30, 2018

News Clippings March 30, 2018

State

Water advisories in effect on some Coast beaches as spring break begins
WLOX

Spring break is here, which usually means more people out at the beach enjoying the beautiful Gulf Coast. But some South Mississippi beaches have water advisories in place right now, which means swimming is not recommended. 

$76 million transformation planned for Point Cadet
WLOX

Plans are in the works to transform a section of Biloxi's waterfront. 
The Point Cadet Enterprise project would be geared at bringing a lot more visitors to South Mississippi.

Toyota Mississippi president: 'We have a bright future'
Daily Journal

NEW ALBANY – Sean Suggs has been president of the Toyota Mississippi assembly plant in Blue Springs for three months, and he marvels every day at the people working under his tutelage.

CHILD'S PRAYER
Northside Sun

The simple prayer of a child for the patients of Batson Children’s Hospital brought about a $1.5 million gift from the Van Devender Family Foundation to expand pediatric care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC).


State Government

State Rep. Gipson named Mississippi agriculture commissioner
AP

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday appointed a third-term state lawmaker to be the state’s new agriculture commissioner.

Analysis: Mississippi lawmakers leave big issues unresolved
AP

Leaders of the Republican-dominated Mississippi Legislature put only a few big items on their to-do list for 2018, and two of the biggest — education and transportation— remained unresolved when the nearly three-month session was gaveled to a close Wednesday.

Mark Keenum Elected to Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History
MBJ

Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State University, has been elected to the board of trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, pending confirmation by the Mississippi State Senate.


Oil Spill

Why the bill to get BP money to the Coast didn’t get passed
Sun Herald

Another legislative session ended Wednesday with about $700 million in BP economic damages money unprotected from the grasp of upstate lawmakers.


Regional

New York City’s Sewage Shipment Runs Afoul in Rural South
Alabamans want human-waste deliveries to local landfill to stop; ‘We didn’t produce it. We don’t want it here.’
WSJ

New York City is famous for a lot of things: the Yankees, Times Square, bagels.
But 1,000 miles away in rural northern Alabama, it has become infamous for about 200 shipping containers full of sewage sludge that came by rail from the Big Apple. They have been rotting on train cars for six weeks, stalled on the way to a nearby landfill.

Lake Charles area petrochemical firms to pay $11 million for hazardous waste violations
Times-Picayune

Three major Lake Charles-area petrochemical companies have agreed to pay $11 million to federal and Louisiana government agencies to settle charges that they illegally disposed of hazardous waste that damaged natural resources in part of the Calcasieu River estuary for decades, according to a notice in the Thursday (March 29) edition of the Federal Register.

Congress pours money into fight against Louisiana's wetland pest
Times-Picayune

The fight against an insect invasion that's killing coastal wetlands is receiving long sought-after help from the federal government. 


National

States Go to Forefront as EPA Chips Away at Backlog of Decisions
Bloomberg

Shifting the burden of environmental protection to states could speed approvals of air and water permits that businesses need to operate, as the EPA tries to halve its backlog of overdue decisions.

EPA pushes informal policy to deal with polluters outside courts
The Hill

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is embracing an informal policy that would enable polluters to come to an agreement with the agency outside of the federal justice system.

How do coyotes thrive in urban areas? The answer is not for the weak-stomached
LA Times

Danielle Martinez donned a lab coat, pulled on a pair of latex gloves and adjusted her safety goggles in preparation for one of biology’s little surprises.

A century after WWI, munitions still making way onto beaches
AP

MANTOLOKING, N.J. 
It's been 100 years since World War I ended, yet munitions from that and other wars continue to surface on beaches around the United States.


Press releases


Ronnie Daniels appointed to CMR
 
BILOXI, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed Ronnie Daniels to the state Commission on Marine Resources to represent charter boat fishermen.
Daniels begins his term July 1. He will replace Ron Harmon, who currently represents charter boat fishermen. Harmon’s term ends June 30.
“I have enjoyed serving on the Commission,” Harmon said, “but my work obligations have made it difficult for me to devote the time needed to represent charter boat fishermen.”
Daniels owns Fisher-Man Guide Service and has 20 years of fishing experience. He lives in Pass Christian with his wife Jamie and their two children, Abigail and Fisher.
“I am honored to be asked to serve on the Commission,” Daniels said. “I am very excited about all this term will bring.”

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Governor Phil Bryant Announces Appointment of Rep. Andy Gipson Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

Governor Phil Bryant Announces Appointment of Rep. Andy Gipson Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

JACKSON, Miss. — Gov. Phil Bryant announced today that he will appoint Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. Gipson will replace Cindy Hyde-Smith, who Gov. Bryant appointed to the U.S. Senate
Gipson’s appointment will be effective April 2. He will serve the remainder of the term.
“I am delighted that Andy has accepted the appointment as Mississippi’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce,” Gov. Bryant said. “As a farmer and attorney, he is uniquely qualified to immediately assume the responsibilities of the agency and continue to grow Mississippi’s agricultural economy. Agri-business is our state’s largest industry and Chairman Gipson’s professional and public experience makes him well-suited for this opportunity.”
Gipson has represented House District 77, which encompasses parts of Simpson and Rankin counties, in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2008. He has served as chairman of the House Judiciary B Committee since 2012 and as chairman of the Ethics Committee since 2016.
“Thank you, Governor Bryant, for this unique opportunity to serve all Mississippians,” Gipson said. “I’m eager to build upon the excellent work Cindy Hyde-Smith has accomplished for Mississippi farmers, and I’ll be actively exploring ways to further strengthen agriculture as the largest industry of our state. I want to see Mississippi agriculture and commerce grow and thrive for the next generation, and you can bet I’ll work hard to reach that goal.”
During his legislative service, Gipson served on the House Agriculture, Appropriations, Ways and Means, County Affairs, Insurance, Municipalities, and Transportation committees, among others. He was treasurer for the Mississippi Legislative Conservation Coalition from 2010-17 and treasurer for the Mississippi House Republican Conference from 2012-16. He was selected this week as the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition’s 2018 Conservative Legislator of the Year.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving named him Legislator of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2014, Pro-Life Mississippi named him Pro-Life Legislator of the Year. The National Rifle Association bestowed its Defender of Freedom Award on Gipson in 2013. That same year, the Central Mississippi Friends of NRA selected him for the Kirk Fordice Freedom Award, named after the former governor.
Gipson has owned and managed a cattle operation in Simpson County for more than 20 years and a tree farm since 2004. He is a member of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association and the Simpson County Development Foundation.
Gipson received a bachelor of arts in political science in 1999 from Mississippi College and a juris doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law in 2002, graduating first in his class of 113 students. He was active in the Christian Law Students Association and was editor-in-chief of the Mississippi College Law Review. He has been in private law practice since 2002.
Gipson is a Baptist minister and has served as pastor of Gum Springs Baptist Church since 2011. He and his wife, Leslie, have been married since 2001. They have four children — Joseph, Benjamin, Abigail and Sarah. They reside on their small working farm in Simpson County.

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News Clippings March 29, 2018

State

Kerr-McGee redevelopment site meetings planned
Commercial Dispatch 

The Multistate Trust responsible for handling the clean-up and redevelopment of the former Kerr-McGee property in north Columbus has invited the public to share their ideas about how the site could be put to use in the future. 

NATCHEZ TRACE CELEBRATES ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
WTVA

TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - It's been 35 years since the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail was established, giving visitors a fresh new look at the parkway. 

Molds can be harmful to health
Picayune Item

Among the many unwanted things found in a home, one homeowners should watch for is the formation of mold.  


State Government

Senate confirms Bryant choices for agencies, College Board
AP

State senators are confirming Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant's choices to sit on state boards and to run state agencies.

Board approves recommendation toward next step for new zoo
AP

The board of directors for the Jackson Zoological Society has approved a recommendation to find a more optimal location for the animals and their visitors within the Mississippi city.


Regional

WWL's 'Toxic Truth' spurs St. John School Board to change tune on chloroprene
WWL

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish public schools superintendent said he’s tired of waiting on the state to curtail toxic emissions at a local chemical plant, and he credited a recent WWL-TV investigation with spurring him to act.


National

Trump administration picks new fight with California
The Hill

The Trump administration is picking a new fight with California, this time over global warming and emissions standards for cars.

Chicken Filth Spurs Mountaire Lawsuit Threat by Delaware Residents
Bloomberg

Nearly 50 rural Delaware residents say they’ll sue a local Mountaire chicken-processing plant to force it to stop polluting their drinking water with nitrogen from chicken waste.

Concerns about ice, environment spur NHL to fight climate change by thinking green
USA Today

Hockey features glove saves, skate saves and stick saves — though these are nothing, really, next to the most audacious save on which the NHL has set its sights:
Save the planet.


Press Releases

MDEQ to Host VW Trust Funds Public Meetings in April

(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has scheduled three meetings to garner input from the public on the state’s proposed mitigation plan that will spend funds allocated to the state from the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement.

Administrator Pruitt Announces Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
03/27/2018

WASHINGTON (March 27, 2018) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt is announcing a recently signed Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Water-Gen.

2018 Fishing Forecast for Northeast Mississippi
From MDWFP

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists expect a good year for anglers, during the upcoming fishing season in Northeast Mississippi. 
https://www.mdwfp.com/media/news/fishing-boating/2018-fishing-forecast

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

News Clippings March 28, 2018

State

Here's what to do if you find a dead or injured sea turtle. And why it matters.
Sun Herald

One by one, three dead Kemp's ridley sea turtles were found on beaches in Biloxi, Gulfport and Long Beach over the weekend.

Meeting set for trash, recycling companies to ask questions about city’s requestfor proposals
Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — All companies vying to become Natchez’s next waste and recycling hauler will convene Thursday for a public meeting to pose questions about the upcoming new contract.

City seeks loan for water improvements
Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — City leaders approved an application Tuesday night for a $1.9-million state loan to improve the city’s water system. pinion about the likelihood that this mechanism would come to fruition.

Hattiesburg Clinic to offer drop box for old medication
WDAM

Soon you'll be able to drop off old medications at Hattiesburg Clinic, which is teaming up with the Mississippi Medical Alliance to install a drop box.

Dozens of Jackson County residents share thoughts on outdoor improvements
WLOX

Dozens of Jackson County residents attended the first of two workshops Tuesday night to talk about outdoor spaces in their city. Leaders in Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Moss Point, and Gautier want citizens’ input on how they can improve outdoor walking, bicycling and paddling areas in their cities.

Dr. FJ Eicke Receives High Honor for Conservation Work
MBJ

The Mississippi Wildlife Federation recently recognized Dr. FJ Eicke of Ocean Springs as MWF’s 2017 Fisheries Conservationist of the Year for his commitment to the fisheries resources of Mississippi.


State Government

Budget work completed, session nearing end
Daily Journal

The Mississippi Legislature finished work Tuesday on its $6.1 billion budget when legislation passed both chambers to set parameters on the state’s Medicaid program.

Will Rep. Andy Gipson replace Cindy Hyde-Smith as the next agriculture commissioner?
Clarion Ledger

A spokesman for Gov. Phil Bryant on Tuesday night confirmed the governor will likely name someone next week to become interim state agriculture commissioner to replace Cindy Hyde-Smith, the governor's choice to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.


Oil Spill

Why the Coast rejected a plan to get a large chunk of $700 million in BP money
Sun Herald

Yes, it was the third time the Mississippi Legislature failed to pass a bill thatwould determine how $700 million in BP funds would be spent, but Coast business leaders said a plan presented Monday, HB 1185, isn't good for South Mississippi.

Coast won't get BP money, at least for now
WLOX

ver the next several years, $750 million is coming to the state of Mississippi to pay for BP oil spill damages. But the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where the spill actually happened in the summer of 2010, won't be seeing any of that money anytime soon. That's because a bill that would have sent most of the money to the coast has died. 


Regional

Georgia lawmakers want Tennessee to give up portion of southern border, Tennessee River
Fox 17

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A resolution working through the Georgia General Assembly seeks to reclaim Tennessee land Georgia lawmakers believe belongs to their state.

Volkswagen emissions settlement split begins in the mountains
WLOS

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The process of splitting North Carolina's share of the $3-billion Volkswagen emissions settlement began in the mountains Monday.

Emergency quarantine declared for pest that's decimating Louisiana wetlands
Times-Picayune

An emergency quarantine has been declared for an Asian insect decimating roseau cane, a critically important plant on Louisiana's coast. 

Arkansas aims to slow spread of beetle that kills ash trees
AP

Arkansas agriculture officials have approved a statewide quarantine in hopes of slowing the spread of an invasive beetle that destroys ash trees.


National

Michigan crowns winner in contest to prevent carp invasion
AP

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The state of Michigan has declared a winner in its contest to find new ideas for preventing Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.

Dodger Stadium sewage leak cuts short final spring training game
USA Today

A sewage leak at Dodger Stadium led to a half-hour delay and forced the cancellation of the final innings of Tuesday night's exhibition game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels. 


Press Releases

EPA Announces Nissan North America Automobile Assembly in Mississippi as 2017 ENERGY STAR® Certified Plant
03/27/2018

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Canton-based Nissan North America, as one of 93 manufacturing plants that earned ENERGY STAR certification for their superior energy performance in 2017.

Early Earthquake Warning! New Study Examines Safety Potentials and Limits
USGS

In a newly published study, U.S. Geological Survey scientists and their partners calculate possible alert times that earthquake early warning systems can provide people at different levels of ground motion from light to very strong shaking.