Mississippi
Climate and Environmental Injustice: Thousands without water in Jackson, Mississippi – American Rivers
![Climate and Environmental Injustice: Thousands without water in Jackson, Mississippi – American Rivers Climate and Environmental Injustice: Thousands without water in Jackson, Mississippi – American Rivers](https://www.americanrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2195586429-huge.jpg)
Residents of Jackson, Mississippi, are with out clear ingesting water after heavy rain brought about the Pearl River to crest slightly below the most important flood stage this week. A significant pump on the metropolis’s foremost water remedy facility was broken, however he metropolis’s mayor says the present water disaster is a results of years-long points.
The O.B. Curtis Water Therapy plant was pushed to failure after town skilled a excessive stage of flooding resulting from heavy rainfall during the last week — following practically 30 days of an ongoing ‘boil water’ advisory that has turn into frequent in Jackson. Its full failure has left town with out sufficient secure water for individuals to make use of.
The EPA defines Environmental Justice because the honest remedy and significant involvement of all individuals no matter race, colour, nationwide origin, or earnings, with respect to the event, implementation, and enforcement of environmental legal guidelines, laws, and insurance policies. In a Assertion on the Jackson, MS Water Disaster, NAACP President Derrick Johnson addressed the disparities positioned in sharp reduction by the Jackson, Mississippi water disaster, “Someway, within the yr 2022, equality and justice stay out of attain for Black communities throughout America. The disparities going through our neighborhood are stark – simply have a look at the disaster unfolding in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.” He went on to say, “Greater than 100 thousand individuals, the vast majority of whom are Black, are with out secure entry to ingesting water for the foreseeable future.” The State of Mississippi and town of Jackson should prioritize offering fundamental companies to the neighborhood. An absence of funding by the political management has created this disaster and highlights the racial injustice that’s related to the distribution of state and federal funds for clear water.
![](https://www.americanrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_2195176551-1024x682.jpg)
Billions of {dollars} have been made obtainable by the federal authorities during the last a number of years for investments in neighborhood water infrastructure, to avert crises just like the one in Jackson. This funding has not made it to the communities that want it most and have to be prioritized to these communities which can be experiencing racially pushed environmental injustice to make sure the supply of fresh water to everybody. The water disaster in Flint, MI launched the nation to what Black communities have recognized for years concerning the below funding in water infrastructure of their neighborhoods. However this phenomenon isn’t remoted to communities in sure components of the nation, it’s current in all places.
Some funding has been made obtainable, however it’s only a portion of what’s wanted to actually have high-functioning clear water provides for each neighborhood. Greater than a trillion {dollars} must be invested in infrastructure to make this occur by 2030.
It is a shared duty between the native, state, and federal governments and this funding should additionally enhance our water infrastructure’s resilience to the adjustments in climate because of the local weather disaster. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba mentioned it finest, “we’ve had hotter summers, colder winters and extra precipitation annually and it’s taking a toll on our infrastructure. And so we want the help to not solely create sustainability and fairness in our system, however to additionally weatherize our system.” We are able to not simply construct again to what it ought to have been, it have to be constructed to what’s wanted for these communities to be resilient when impacted by local weather change. American Rivers has referred to as on the Biden Administration to take emergency local weather actions in help of fresh water provides for wholesome rivers and communities. These actions should be initiated now. We can’t wait. Study extra.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Mississippi
MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota
![MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/09/02/0564de83-90fa-4d81-9619-84022c30819e/thumbnail/1200x630/e98078edb78f4dec2ccc9e494c22c33c/4p-pkg-river-testing-wcco61yp.jpg?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —It winds 650 miles, rushing past the cities, industries and landscapes that make up Minnesota.
However, the Mississippi River has never gotten this type of attention from water quality professionals.
For the first time ever, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is testing the entirety of the river, from Itasca to Iowa, in a single year.
The governor’s office wants the river to be swimmable and fishable, but right now, parts of the river are polluted.
The MPCA says the upper Mississippi is largely healthy up north, but quality drops south of St. Cloud where metro development and tributaries from agriculture muddy the waters. The National Park Service says stretches of the river exceed water quality standards for things like mercury, bacteria and sediment.
Think of the testing like a checkup for one of our state’s most valuable and powerful resources. Researchers will check temperature, transparency and levels of pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia.
Crews also check fish for those contaminants and collect insects to test in a lab to identify any concerning trends.
“If we find the fish community is suffering — maybe the water is too warm and maybe there’s a thermal pollution source upstream or maybe it’s too much runoff — that sort of stuff. Temperature is an important indicator especially for sensitive species,” Isaac Martin with the MPCA said.
Also for the first time, the agency is looking for PFAS contamination with money from an Environmental Protection Agency grant to identify and stop the forever chemicals from streaming into the Mississippi.
PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals for industry and consumer products that don’t break down in the environment. While research is ongoing, the EPA says exposure to the chemicals can cause human health issues. It’s why the federal agency just lowered the amount allowed in drinking water.
“They go to parts per trillion, which is incredibly sensitive. You get that low, you’re talking drops in an Olympic swimming pool,” Martin said. “Part of the reason why it was chosen is because it’s a primary drinking source or potentially could be a primary drinking source. We’re just finding them in places we never expected to find them. We’re finding them almost everywhere and being that it is new, there’s just a lot of ‘I don’t know’ that goes with it.”
It’s too early to know what this complete snapshot will reveal, but we know this powerful river is part of our community, economy and health.
“Maybe you don’t use the resource yourself, but maybe you know someone who does or future generations of your own will,” Martin said. “In Minnesota, we’re just trying to be the best stewards we can be.”
The data from this testing will be available early next year. Researchers will use that data and compare it to 10-year pollution averages to determine which parts of the river are improved or impaired.
A full report will be released in 2026.
Mississippi
Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)
![Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31) Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1280,h_720,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/high_school/01j5m63arexrvt6r9tmr.jpg)
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.
DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.
Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.
Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.
Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.
Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.
Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.
Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.
Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.
Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.
Mississippi
‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations
![‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations ‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations](https://gray-wlbt-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KMJQZPKGBHNRCT7NENQ3O72YY.png?auth=8e7e3183f489f41a63616389bdae4dd45efc187856d208138265c67183c736b4&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.
Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.
Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.
CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.
“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.
Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.
Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.
“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.
Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.
“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.
Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.
“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”
The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.
“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.
All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.
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