State
Scalise: Pearl River dam project must get full approval from Corps before receiving funding
The Advocate
A proposed dam and reservoir on the Pearl River in Mississippi will not be able to avoid review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under a bill working its way through Congress, creating a new hurdle for a plan that supporters have hoped to push quickly through regulatory review.
CITY CONSIDERS SUSPENDING CURBSIDE RECYCLING SERVICE TO HELP REDUCE EXPENSES
Northside Sun
Recycling could be on the way out in the capital city, in large part, to help save money.
Public Works Director Robert Miller told the city council recently that he is considering renegotiating the city’s solid waste contract to save money, and that one way to do that would be to cut out the curbside recycling service, at least temporarily.
NO TIMELINE ON REPAIRING SEWER MAIN BREAKS IN EASTOVER; ON RIDGEWOOD
Northside Sun
Jackson city officials aren’t sure when they’ll be able to repair two recent sewer main breaks on the Northside but hope to make the repairs as soon as possible.
Moody's downgrades Jackson over water and sewer challenges
Clarion Ledger
Moody's Investors Service may have moved the state's financial outlook into "positive" territory, but the opposite holds true for the state's largest city.
Wildlife Department establishes CWD sampling drop-off points
Clarion Ledger
In response to identifying Mississippi's first case of chronic wasting disease earlier this year, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has established tissue sample collection sites and drop-off points for the 2018-19 deer season to help determine prevalence and range of the disease.
TWO ALLIGATORS FOUND DEAD IN CLAY COUNTY
WCBI
Two dead alligators were found at a Clay County boat landing.
Now, law enforcement want to know who killed them.
State Government
Bill Walker is paying what he owes but can’t afford $5K each month, Scott Walker says
Sun Herald
Former Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Executive Director William “Bill” Walker could be going back to prison because he is not making his monthly payments in court-ordered restitution and fines for embezzling from the state agency.
Oil Spill
Santa Rosa County receives $8.5M for aviation park
WEAR
Santa Rosa County will receive $8.5 million to develop Whiting Aviation Park.
Regional
Oil Spill at Center of Legal Battle Worse Than Earlier Estimated, Study Finds
Gulf of Mexico oil leak is subject of ongoing litigation between U.S. agencies and Taylor Energy
WSJ
A subsea oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico may be spilling much more oil than previously understood, according to a new government study, raising the stakes in a legal battle between the federal government and a small Louisiana oil company.
Florence Washes Away Portion of Coal-Ash Landfill in North Carolina
Duke Energy, owner of the landfill, says some of the coal ash escaped into a nearby lake
WSJ
CAPE FEAR, N.C.—Heavy rains from Florence washed out a portion of a landfill used to dispose of coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal to generate electricity.
National
Interior moves ahead with opening wildlife refuge next to contaminated nuclear site
The Hill
The Trump administration is moving ahead with plans to allow public access to a wildlife refuge in Colorado that surrounds one of the country's most contaminated former nuclear sites.
Washington and 16 other states pledge to use $1.4B in VW settlement money to cut vehicle emissions
Seattle Times
OLYMPIA — Washington and 16 other states intend to spend a total of $1.4 billion from the Volkswagen diesel-vehicle settlement on boosting zero-emission vehicles to fight climate change.
Press Releases
C Spire helping Mississippi Delta farmers introduce smart agriculture solutions
Sep. 14, 2018
TCHULA, Miss., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- C Spire, on a mission to move Mississippi forward through technology, is teaming up with farmers and smart equipment manufacturers to test new automated irrigation techniques that promise to boost crop yields and conserve declining ground water levels in the Mississippi Delta.
Mississippi Trustees Release Notice Canceling Three Components of the Restoring Living Shorelines Early Restoration Project
The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group released a Notice of Project Change, canceling three components of the Phase IV Early Restoration Project, Restoring Living Shorelines and Reefs in Mississippi Estuaries approved by the Trustees in 2015.
USDA/NRCS is Now Accepting Applications for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Jackson, Miss - The United States Department of Agricultural Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The deadline is October 26, 2018.
This program consists of two components: the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) option and the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) option. The ALE assists conservation organizations to prevent the conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses and maximize protection of land devoted to food production. The WRE option restores, protects, and enhances enrolled wetlands and improves wildlife habitat. Eligible WRE lands include farmed or prior-converted wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored.
"This is an exciting new opportunity for even more people to get involved in the long-term conservation of our natural resources," said Assistant State Conservationist for Easements, Jason Keenan. "We invite any interested applicant to visit with us at one of three scheduled easement application seminars to learn more about the easement programs USDA-NRCS can offer.”
Tuesday, October 2 – Clarksdale – 11:00-2:00 – Coahoma County MSU Extension Office, 503 E 2nd St, Clarksdale, MS 38614
Wednesday, October 3 – Belzoni – 11:00-2:00 – Humphreys County Multi-Purpose Building, 417 Silver City Road, Belzoni, MS 39038
Thursday, October 4 – Jackson – 12:00-2:30 – Mississippi Ag Museum Ethnic Heritage Building, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216
USDA-NRCS and Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership welcome any interested landowners to attend. Lunch will be served at each of these meetings. Anyone planning to attend a meeting should register online at https://lowerdelta.org/workshops/ or call 662-873-6261.
If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership at 66.873.6261.
The application deadline for consideration is October 26, 2018.
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