State
Barnett Reservoir board takes serious action to combat invasive giant salvinia
Clarion Ledger
It was something no one wanted to hear, but giant salvinia was recently found in Pelahatchie Bay at Barnett Reservoir and the Pearl River Water Supply District has declared the situation an emergency.
BP FUNDS TO BE USED FOR SEAWALL
Northside Sun
The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District was given $4 million from BP oil spill funds to complete the seawall reconstruction at Sunrise Pointe and Paradise Pointe.
South Mississippi shrimp shell processing plant first of its kind in the world
WLOX
VANCLEAVE, MS (WLOX) - They may be messy, but shrimp shells in South Mississippi may help change the world.
County has trash pickup concerns
Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — Adams County supervisors are letting residents know that garbage pickup might be spotty until a new contract is put into place on Dec. 1.
Second rare dolphin stranded on Gulf Coast and there’s likely reason why, vet says
Sun Herald
A second rare dolphin stranded on the Gulf Coast within a week is being treated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, which says the oddity could be caused by Hurricane Michael.
There’s a $10K reward for arsonist who set two large structures on fire at Coast shipyard.
Sun Herald
A fire that caused about $2.5 million in damages at a Moss Point shipyard is being investigated as an arson case, officials said as they announced a reward of up to $10,000.
Two large buildings at VT Halter Marine were set on fire in September at the shipyard off Elder Ferry Road. Who started it, and why, remain unknown.
DONNA YOWELL ON URBAN FOREST COUNCIL
Northside Sun
Donna Yowell, a Brookhaven native, now lives in Madison. She earned her bachelor’s degree in horticulture and forestry from Mississippi State University. Yowell now serves as the executive director for the Mississippi Urban Forest Council. She recently spoke with Sun reporter Nikki Rowell about the work the council does in communities across the state.
RIG CARRYING ASPHALT OVERTURNS
WCBI
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- A paving project comes to a stop after a truck carrying asphalt overturns.
State Government
Cato Institute Gives Phil Bryant a "B"
Delta Daily News
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant’s fiscal policy grade is a “B” according to the Cato Institute.
Oil Spill
Summit Provides Updates on RESTORE Progress in Alabama
Courier Journal
by David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conversation and Natural Resources
Although the inaugural Governor’s Restoration Summit had held a firm spot on Governor Kay Ivey’s schedule for months, Hurricane Michael required a change of plans for Governor Ivey as the devastation left in its wake called for her immediate attention.
Regional
Red tide is spreading in Florida. Hurricane Michael didn't stop it.
CNN
As the red tide continues to move northward along Florida's east coast, a new breakaway bloom is moving through the Keys.
BP starts expansion to Thunder Horse deep-water Gulf field
AP
Energy giant BP says it’s added the equivalent of 30,000 barrels of oil a day to production at its largest Gulf of Mexico platform, called Thunder Horse .
National
EPA taking UN climate report 'very seriously,' agency chief says
The Hill
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Thursday the agency is taking a recent United Nations report on the dire future of climate change "very seriously" while touting a number of new EPA rule changes that critics say will only worsen emissions.
White House Seeks to Slow Rollout of Rules for Cleaner Ship Fuels
WSJ
The Trump administration is pushing to ease the rollout of new international rules to power commercial ships with environmentally cleaner fuels, fearing the measures will drive up costs for consumers and businesses.
Federal court: Salmon must have protection from warm water
AP
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must come up with a plan to protect salmon from warm water temperatures, which can be fatal for the fish species. ‘
Opinion
TINY STATE AGENCY PLANS ON ISSUING $895 MILLION BOND
Northside Sun
When a Tiny backwater state agency published a public notice in the newspaper that it planned on issuing up to $895 million in state debt, it raised some eyebrows.
Press Releases
EPA Region 4 Administrator Meets with Ag Commissioner and Industry Stakeholders in Mississippi
10/18/2018
ATLANTA (October 18, 2018) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Trey Glenn participated in meetings with Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and other industry stakeholders to discuss critical issues impacting agriculture in Mississippi.
Trump Administration Launches “Winning on Reducing Food Waste” Initiative
10/18/2018
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the signing of a joint agency formal agreement under the Winning on Reducing Food Wasteinitiative.
Winter Outlook favors warmer temperatures for much of U.S.
Wet southern states to contrast drought in West
NOAA
A mild winter could be in store for much of the United States this winter according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. In the U.S. Winter Outlook for December through February, above-average temperatures are most likely across the northern and western U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.
Salty water causes some freshwater harmful algae to release toxins
Release Date: OCTOBER 18, 2018
USGS study of Lake Okeechobee algae gives new insight on South Florida coastal blooms
A new U.S. Geological Survey laboratory study of two potentially toxic types of freshwater cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, found that exposure to salty water can damage the cyanobacteria cells’ walls, causing them to release their toxins into the water.
Gov. Phil Bryant Appoints Mississippi Lottery Corporation Board of Directors
(JACKSON) – Gov. Phil Bryant appointed five members today to the Mississippi Lottery Corporation Board of Directors. The members include Dr. Cass Pennington, Philip A. Chamblee, Dr. Mike McGrevey, Kimberly LaRosa, and Gerard Gibert.
The Mississippi Lottery Corporation was created during the Mississippi Legislature 2018 First Extraordinary Session upon passage of Senate Bill 2001. The affairs of the Corporation shall be administered by the Mississippi Lottery Corporation Board of Directors composed of five members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Mississippi Senate.
“I am grateful these five highly-qualified individuals have agreed to take on the responsibility of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation Board of Directors by accepting these appointments,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “This group has exceptional experience in diverse sectors of public and private business, and I know they will carry out the affairs of the board effectively.”
Gibert is currently the CEO of Venture Technologies, a Technology Solutions Provider headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss. Founded in 1986, Venture delivers a variety of IT infrastructure solutions to thousands of private and public sector customers across the United States.
Venture has completed four acquisitions since 2014, increasing annual revenues to $215 million with a staff of 276 across 11 states. Gibert worked as a senior consultant in the Management Information Consulting Division of Arthur Andersen & Co., the division that eventually became Accenture, prior to Venture Technologies.
He is currently Chairman of the Board of Empower Mississippi and an At-Large Board Member of the Madison County Economic Development Authority.
He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi and is married to the former Julie Gill of Biloxi, Miss. They have two children, and their family attends St. Francis of Assisi Church in Madison, MS.
Pennington is a retired educator and former superintendent of both the Indianola and West Tallahatchie School Districts. Prior to that he was the Indianola Junior High School principal, teacher, and coach.
Pennington served as Executive Director of Delta Health Alliance from 2004 to 2008 and currently sits on its board. He’s a former member of the Mississippi Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Instructional Management Task Force, and the South Sunflower County Hospital. He is a former president of the Delta Council. Additionally, Pennington has served on the Mississippi State Health Board and as Administrative Assistant to the President at Delta State University.
He and his wife, Carolyn, reside in Indianola and have one child.
LaRosa currently serves as the President/CEO of Renaissance Community Loan Fund and has been in the role since 2008. She is responsible for providing direction and leadership in the formation of a team and framework. She performs executive, supervisory, and management functions and duties as assigned by the chairman and board of directors and has general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation.
LaRosa’s experience includes the oversight of loan origination, servicing, funding, investing in real estate mortgage loans, commercial lending, overseeing the company’s majority share of a 118-unit independent senior living facility and meeting the demand for the organization’s capital needs.
In her role, she has overseen the management of $62.5 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for various programs and is proficient in Securities and Exchange Commission reports, and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to becoming President/CEO she was the Chief Financial Officer for Renaissance Community Loan Fund. Additionally, LaRosa was the Senior Director of Property Finance for Isle Of Capri Casinos, Inc. in Biloxi, Miss., for 12 years.
She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.
LaRosa holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from William Carey College and is also a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Graduate.
She lives in Pass Christian, Miss., with her husband, Carl, and they have two children.
McGrevey is currently the Deputy Director of Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). Prior to going to the MDA, he was the City of Meridian’s Chief Administrative Officer. There he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the city, including economic development and working to improve the city’s infrastructure.
McGrevey’s financial management background within the military, government and private sector is extensive. As a career military officer, he served as a financial officer at many stateside and overseas locations. At Mississippi State University he served as the Chief of Staff, Chief Financial Officer, and Vice President of Finance and Administration.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Ph.D. in Education from Mississippi State University. McGrevey and his wife, Ada, reside in Decatur, Miss. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Chamblee is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the Mississippi Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores Association and the Mississippi Propane Gas Association. He manages two large trade associations providing vital business services to the membership, while successfully working with numerous federal and state regulatory agencies and the Mississippi Legislature to improve the overall business environment for the member industries.
Chamblee has 28 years of experience in progressively challenging sales and management positions, expertise in public relations, business development, operations, purchasing, human resources and budgeting.
Prior to his current roles he was the Executive Director of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association from 2008-2010 and was Vice President of the Heritage Agency Insurance & Investments from 1994-2008.
Chamblee holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University and industry certification from University of Mississippi School of Banking. He lives in Madison, Miss.
The Commissioner of Revenue and the State Treasurer shall also serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation.
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