Friday, June 25, 2021

News Clippings June 25, 2021

State

State public water supply official feared Jackson's water plants were on verge of failure
Clarion Ledger

A top official at the Mississippi State Department of Health had deep concerns that Jackson's water system was on the brink of failure months before a February winter storm system shut it down, leaving thousands of residents with no water for drinking, bathing or flushing toilets for weeks. 

SUPERVISORS MULL TIRE DISPOSAL PLAN
Winona Times

WINONA – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors are looking at options in handling used tires brought to the county barn for disposal by residents and business owners.

Prestige Oysters can operate a marina in Hancock County, state Supreme Court says
WXXV

The Mississippi state Supreme Court on Thursday agreed with a lower court that Prestige Oysters was wrongly denied an application to use land zoned C-4 as a marina.

They're venomous? Yes, but these little snakes are harmless to people
Clarion Ledger

Ask someone familiar with Mississippi's outdoors how many species of venomous snakes are in the state and you'll likely be told six: copperheads, cottonmouths, three species of rattlesnakes, and coral snakes. Each of those are capable of delivering nasty bites that can lead to a hospital visit if not treated with respect.


Regional

Environmentalists sue over Florida wastewater reservoir leak
AP

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Efforts to clean up a leaky reservoir that dumped tens of millions of gallons of potentially hazardous gypsum wastewater into Tampa Bay must be overseen by a federal judge to guard against continued mismanagement, environmental groups claimed in a lawsuit filed Thursday.

After Senate rejection, Cooper picks new environment leader
AP

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper named on Thursday a longtime legislative lobbyist and environmental policy adviser as his next secretary for the environment, after the state Senate did not confirm his previous choice.


National

Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Omits Big Climate Measures
NY Times

WASHINGTON — A deal reached Thursday between President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators for $579 billion in new spending to repair the nation’s roads, rails and bridges does relatively little to fight climate change, an issue that the president has called an “existential threat.”

EPA orders cleanup after tons of sand washes into Sandhills stream
Omaha World-Herald

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered a Sandhills rancher and Cherry County to take "immediate steps" to halt and repair damage to a remote Nebraska stream inundated by a deluge of sand and sediment.

Car racing community aims to pass bill keeping EPA from enforcing car-modification rules
WKRC

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Thousands of people are racing to pass a bill that would block the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing one of its own rules.

Maine’s ban of polystyrene foam takes effect on July 1
AP

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine environmental officials said the state’s ban on polystyrene foam disposable food containers will take effect on July 1.


Press releases

Governor Reeves Announces Staff Updates
JACKSON, Miss. — Governor Reeves today announced changes to his senior staff. 

USDA to Invest $10 Million to Support Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry through Voluntary Conservation

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $10 million to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 targeted states.

History Is Lunch: Deanne Stephens, "A History of the Mississippi Seafood Industry"
MDAH
 
At noon on Wednesday, June 30, Deanne Stephens will present “A History of the Mississippi Seafood Industry” as part of the History Is Lunch series.