State
Landfill bill dies in Senate
Madison County Journal
Emboldened by the death of a bill in the state Legislature that would have prohibited the development of a third solid waste landfill in Madison County, the developers behind the proposed dump are now asking the Board of Supervisors to take steps to make the new landfill a reality.
Entergy completes $200M investment in Grand Gulf during maintenance outage
Vicksburg Post
PORT GIBSON — Operators have safely returned Grand Gulf to the grid, concluding the nuclear power plant’s 22nd scheduled refueling and maintenance outage.
Cristobal latest hardship impacting least terns on Gulf Coast
WLOX
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - It has been a bad year for least terns in Mississippi. Because the closed beaches meant less trash for crows and seagulls, those birds have been eating more of the least tern’s eggs this season, and it seems Tropical Storm Cristobal finished them off.
SEAFOOD INDUSTRY HIT HARD BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC
WXXV
During the stay at home orders, commercial fishing was defined as an essential business, but that didn’t help many local fishermen sell their product.
City of Lumberton begins $2.5 million water infrastructure project
WDAM
LUMBERTON, Miss. (WDAM) - The City of Lumberton has started phase one of it’s $2.5 million water improvement project.
City of Jackson to receive $5.5M to purchase hybrid buses
WJTV
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – According to the Federal Transit Administration, the City of Jackson will receive $5.5M in Low-No funding to purchase hybrid buses to replace aging diesel buses that have reached their useful life, helping JTRAN advance its bus replacement project.
Report says gravel pit worth $1.7 million
The Panolian
The 34 acres of unmined land surrounding the gravel pit on Viney Creek Rd. the Panola County Board of Supervisors tentatively voted to purchase for $500,000 will generate $546,000 of desirable gravel over the next 37-40 years, according to an appraisal report prepared for the board by CWK Associates of Birmingham.
State Government
Mississippi extends safe return order; gets all government employees back to work
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Gov. Tate Reeves announced two new executive orders Wednesday as the state continues to combat the coronavirus.
Mississippi’s ‘Safe Return Order’ is being extended and amended
WLBT
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi will maintain some COVID-19 related restrictions till at least the end of the month.
Mississippi small businesses can start applying for help with COVID-19 costs. Here’s how.
Sun Herald
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday that small business owners can start applying this week for the Back to Business grant program.
Governor Reeves declares State of Emergency following Tropical Storm Cristobal
WJTV
PEARL, Miss. (WJTV)- Governor Tate Reeves has signed a State of Emergency in response to Tropical Storm Cristobal, which made landfall along the Louisiana coast Sunday evening.
What you post on social media puts you at risk for unemployment fraud claims
WLBT
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A 3 On Your Side investigation on fraudulent unemployment claims uncovers information that what you put on social media exposes you to these scams and identity theft.
Oil Spill
HEARTBEAT OF THE MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM UP AND RUNNING
WXXV
After more than a month since the originally scheduled opening date, the Mississippi Aquarium remains under construction. As they continue to move forward, officials haven’t missed a beat.
Regional
Gulf Coast fishing industry struggles to stay afloat during pandemic
CBS
The oldest continuously operating oyster company in the U.S., P & J Oyster Company, has been in the business of shucking oysters in New Orleans' French Quarter since 1876, and it has never experienced anything like COVID-19.
STATE SEEKS INPUT ON $20 MILLION VW SETTLEMENT FUNDS
WTVQ
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state is taking the next steps to administer the $20.3 million Volkswagen emissions settlement spending that will begin July 1.
National
EPA faces third lawsuit after suspending enforcement of pollution monitoring
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a third lawsuit over its policy to suspend penalties for companies that stop monitoring their pollution outputs during the coronavirus pandemic.
EPA issues a key order for farmers in dicamba case
Delta Farm Press
The first statement from EPA issued last week was a simple response noting disappointment in the court ruling, while farmers across the country with crops to spray wondered what they could do. Individual states issued their opinions of the ruling and groups ranging from the American Farm Bureau Federation to the National Corn Growers Association issued statements calling on EPA for more guidance.
Wisconsin Leads 22-State Coalition Supporting Federal Standards For PFAS In Drinking Water
WPR
Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Wednesday that Wisconsin is leading a coalition of 22 states in supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preliminary decision to regulate so-called "forever chemicals" known as PFAS in drinking water.
Press Releases
Governor Tate Reeves Announces Applications Live for Back To Business Mississippi Grant Program
JACKSON — Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced that applications for the Back to Business Mississippi grant program will be live tomorrow, Thursday, June 11 at noon and available on the website, backtobusinessms.org.
"We need to always remember: the pandemic was not just a public health emergency. It plunged our country into the greatest job loss since the Great Depression. The economic damage—and the human cost of it—has been incalculable. We need to do everything in our power to take care of our neighbors," said Governor Tate Reeves at today's press briefing.
“MDA’s top priority has been working diligently to put in motion the new Back to Business Mississippi grant program,” said John Rounsaville, interim director at MDA. “We are happy to announce that MDA began taking applications today to help businesses that suffered economic losses during COVID-19.”
Qualifying businesses with 50 employees or less could receive up to $25,000, depending on their expenses during the pandemic. Eligible expenses under the grant program include mortgage interest, rent, payroll, utilities, and other pandemic-related expenses. Under the CARES Act, the grant cannot cover lost revenue.
Small business owners can find a list of eligibility guidelines on the Back to Business Mississippi website, as well as rules, regulations, and a list of FAQs.
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Governor Reeves also announced two new executive orders to continue flattening the curve while reopening our state's economy—one extending the Safe Return order an additional two weeks, and one getting all government employees back to work.
"I also want to announce a few changes to our Safe Return order. As a reminder, these should not be taken as a signal that the risk is gone. COVID-19 is still here, still deadly, still contagious. It is purely a recognition of the costs of continued shutdowns and heavy regulation," said Governor Reeves.
Consulting with our state health experts on his measured and strategic response plan, the Governor has extended the Safe Return order until Monday, June 29, 2020 at 8:00 AM with a few new amendments. Under the executive order, the limitation on restaurants and bars that serve alcohol must close to the public by 10:00 PM is lifted.
Gyms and fitness centers are also allowed to increase the number of customers to 50% of maximum capacity, and outdoor and indoor arenas can open under social distancing restrictions such as limiting seating capacity to 25% and following guidelines for business operations under Executive Order No. 1492.
The other executive order sunsets administrative leave for state, local, and municipal government employees set under Executive Orders 1458 and 1460 to end on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Last month, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 1484 directing government employers to begin the process of safely returning all employees back to work.
Governor Reeves announced the grant program applications and latest executive orders at his daily press briefing today, which you can view live on our Facebook page here.
City of Jackson Alerts Customers to Sanitary Sewer Overflow/Bypass
June 10, 2020
(Jackson, Miss.) – On Monday, June 8, 2020, the City of Jackson issued an alert to customers in the Savanna Street Wastewater Treatment Plant area concerning a sanitary sewer overflow/bypass.
MDAC to Enforce Dicamba Requirements Using New EPA Guidance
JACKSON, Miss. – On June 3, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling that vacated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registrations for three dicamba herbicides used by farmers across the nation. The products impacted are Xtendimax, FeXapan and Engenia.
EPA Administrator Wheeler Announces FY 2019 Superfund Accomplishments Report at Strasburg Landfill
Highlights Key Trump Administration Accomplishments, Focuses on Future
06/10/2020
Newlin Township, Pa. (June 10, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler visited the Strasburg Superfund site in Newlin Township, PA, where he announced EPA’s annual Superfund Accomplishments Report documenting national achievements in the Superfund program during FY 2019.
