State
Kuhn Hospital demo to begin this week
Vicksburg Post
City officials will hold a 10 a.m. ceremony Wednesday to mark the start of the demolition of the Kuhn Memorial Hospital buildings, 1422 Martin Luther King Blvd.
...The $749,990 project cost is being paid through a combination of city funds and a $460,000 federal Brownfields grant provided through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
One of world’s worst weeds growing in reservoir
WAPT
Mississippi wildlife officials are trying to get control of a wild plant that threatens to choke off portions of the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
State Government
MDOT’s new website feature aims to improve transparency and accountability
WLBT
Ever wonder if you’re driving on the state’s roughest patch of highway?
Now you could find out how it compares to the rest by using MDOT’s new website feature. MDOT PATH is aimed at increasing transparency and accountability.
HOUSE BILL ALLOWS RETIRED TEACHERS TO TEACH AND RECEIVE PENSION
MPB
A House bill designed to encourage retired teachers to return to the classroom has one Mississippi lawmaker calling for careful scrutiny of the proposal. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
Oil Spill
Forum: Restoration projects are underway to help our Coast recover from Deepwater Horizon disaster
Sun Herald
BY GARY RIKARD MDEQ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It is hard to believe, but April of this year marks the ninth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon (a/k/a BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Those nine years have involved not only the unprecedented response efforts in the immediate aftermath of the spill, but also settlement negotiations, and the implementation of projects to help restore the natural resources and the economy of the Gulf of Mexico region.
Regional
Is Tampa sewage polluting the bay? No, says city. Yes, says environmental group
Tampa Bay Times
An environmental group is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to step in to correct what it says is the state’s failure to fix repeated violations at Tampa’s wastewater system.
National
The Energy 202: Senators from both parties press EPA to limit two toxic chemicals
Washington Post
One-fifth of the Senate is pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to do more to prevent two toxic chemicals from getting into Americans' drinking water — after a report last week indicating the agency is not going to restrict them under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Biofuels group Growth Energy sues U.S. EPA over small refinery exemptions
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Biofuels group Growth Energy filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday, challenging the agency’s renewable fuel mandate for 2019 as failing to address rising waived biofuel volumes.
U.S. judge lets most emissions claims against Daimler proceed
CNBC
WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - A federal judge allowed most claims against Daimler AG to move forward in a 2016 lawsuit by vehicle owners that claims the German automaker's Mercedes diesel vehicles used illegal software to emit excess emissions.
Trump to Nominate David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary
WSJ
WASHINGTON—President Trump plans to nominate former energy lobbyist David Bernhardt as secretary of the interior, prompting criticism from Democrats and environmental advocacy groups who warn he will serve industry interests at the expense of environmental stewardship.
Gov. Whitmer revamps & renames MDEQ, adds Mich to U.S. Climate Alliance
AP
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plans to restructure the state environmental agency that drew criticism for its handling of the Flint water crisis under former Gov. Rick Snyder, The Associated Press has learned.
Mississippi River Neighbors Battle Over Levee Heights
WSJ
Some landowners and environmental groups in Missouri are urging federal officials to force levees to be lowered along a stretch of the Mississippi River in Illinois, fearing that neighboring areas will be more vulnerable to flooding if nothing is done.
BP Profit Soars, Fueled by Higher Output
WSJ
BP PLC tripled its annual earnings and swung to a fourth-quarter profit on increased output and higher crude prices, in line with other major oil companies that registered boosts on their balance sheets last year.
