State
Mississippi has growth potential where recycling programs are concerned
MBJ
Each day, Americans create 4 pounds of trash, and landfills fill up a little more. To help counter that, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is working with local governments to encourage recycling.
Local pastor proposing solar farm near Kerr-McGee site
Commercial Dispatch
When the Columbus Light and Water board of directors meet on May 17, it will consider adopting a policy that may be the first step in bringing the first solar farm to the city.
...The Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust, working alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, is overseeing the cleanup of the 90-acre Columbus site, and more than 400 other Kerr-McGee sites in 24 states.
FEDERATION WORRIES ABOUT IMPACT ONE LAKE WOULD HAVE ON LOWER PEARL RIVER
Northside Sun
Reducing river flow and raising the water temperature along the Pearl River are two of the major concerns of the Mississippi Wildlife Federation (MWF) when it comes to the One Lake Project.
...Of the 100 or so discharge permits, Lemmons said companies, like International Paper (IP) and Georgia Pacific (GP), already come close to exceeding permitted discharge levels during low flow times, because of reduced water on the Pearl.The firms are permitted by the Environmental Protection Agency and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to release a certain amount of industrial byproducts into the river.
Entergy gift of $150,000 to move Fannye Cook Natural Area closer to opening
MBJ
Move over Central Park. The 2,700-acre Fannye Cook Natural Area along the Pearl River is Mississippi largest urban natural area–three times the size of New York City’s Central Park. A recent $150,000 grant from Entergy Mississippi will help move the natural area closer to opening.
Mississippi fertilizer plant to close, laying off 81
AP
PEARL, MISS. A liquid fertilizer plant in central Mississippi is closing, with 81 full-time employees to be laid off.
What's in the water in Horn Lake?
Fox 13
DESOTO COUNTY, Miss. - Neighbors in Horn Lake, Mississippi called FOX13 for help, because the water coming from many of their faucets is brown.
Four South MS schools receive grant for STEM programs
WLOX
Nearly a dozen school districts in the state, including two in South Mississippi, are sharing $886,000 in grants aimed at creating and growing STEM programs for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade.
State Government
Counties suing governor claim bridge closures politically motivated, endanger citizens
Clarion Ledger
Jasper and Smith counties are suing Gov. Phil Bryant, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and others over the recent emergency closure of county bridges, saying it was politically motivated and endangers residents.
Oil Spill
$7.4 million park underway in Escambia County
WEAR
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WEAR-TV) — Construction is now underway on a new recreational facility in Escambia County.
Minnesota requests BP oil spill money to help loons recover
Some of the record setting $18B settlement from the BP oil spill could soon make its way to Minnesota to help the loon population recover.
KARE
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota could soon receive millions of dollars to help improve the population of the state bird.
Regional
Police: Chemical plant fire in Louisiana, no injuries
AP
RAYNE, LA. A fire has broken out at a Louisiana chemical plant, sending massive smoke plumes in the air and prompting an evacuation for a mile (1.6 kilometers) all around.
Louisiana testing waters for controlled black bear hunts; survey suggests public support for it
The Advocate
Louisiana hunters may someday have a new legal quarry to pursue — bears.
National
Influential outsiders have played a key role in Scott Pruitt’s foreign travel
Washington Post
Scott Pruitt’s itinerary for a February trip to Israel was remarkable by any standard for an Environmental Protection Agency administrator: A stop at a controversial Jewish settlement in the West Bank. An appearance at Tel Aviv University. A hard-to-get audience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pruitt once bought house with Oklahoma lobbyist: report
The Hill
During his time as an Oklahoma state senator, now-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruitt did not disclose that he was sharing a house with a lobbyist who frequently had business with the state.
Pruitt’s top spokesperson latest to leave embattled EPA
AP
WASHINGTON — Scott Pruitt’s top spokesperson said Thursday she was leaving the Environmental Protection Agency, the latest high-profile departure as the embattled EPA administrator fights ethics allegations.
Ex-Volkswagen CEO indicted in alleged plot to rig diesel cars to pass U.S. emissions tests
USA Today
A federal grand jury has indicted ex-Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn and five other former company executives on felony charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and violation of the Clean Air Act for their alleged involvement in the diesel car scandal that has engulfed the automaker.
VW Settlement: Draft Plan for Cash Disappoints Activists, Lawmakers
WTTW
Almost $109 million is coming to Illinois from German car giant Volkswagen as part of a multibillion-dollar settlement after the company admitted to secretly installing devices in its diesel cars to cheat emissions tests.
Anheuser-Busch aims for zero-emissions truck fleet
The Hill
Budweiser beer's parent company wants its vehicles to produce zero carbon emissions by 2025.
Texas officials ignore dioxin spread in Houston waterways
AP
HIGHLANDS, Texas (AP) — Evelyn and Jerome Matula were still polka-dancing newlyweds in 1950 when they spotted a half-finished cottage in the woods along the San Jacinto River east of Houston.
An Ancient Horse Is Unearthed in a Utah Backyard
Paleontologists recently determined that a skeleton discovered during a landscaping project belonged to a horse from the Pleistocene Era.
NY Times
The horse had arthritis when it died. It is possible, too, that it had bone cancer in one ankle.
That can happen to any horse once it gets to be a certain age. This one is nearly 16,000 years old.
Press Releases
Former CEO of Volkswagen AG Charged with Conspiracy and Wire Fraud in Diesel Emissions Scandal
05/03/2018
NOTE: The indictment can be found here.
WASHINGTON — An indictment was unsealed earlier today charging Martin Winterkorn, 70, the former chairman of the management board of Volkswagen AG (VW), with conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with VW’s long-running scheme to cheat U.S. diesel vehicle emissions requirements.
