Mississippi
Mississippi city to reactivate train station for Gulf Coast route
The coastal Mississippi metropolis of Bay St. Louis is internet hosting a groundbreaking on Monday to rejoice the “reactivation” of the town’s Amtrak prepare station that has been mothballed since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast practically 17 years in the past.
U.S. Division of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg will likely be readily available for a 2 p.m. occasion that features a groundbreaking for the development exercise that can happen to get the station ready for Amtrak’s return.
The one downside: Amtrak’s return stays unsure.
Associated content material:
The nation’s passenger rail operator is presently in mediation with two freight firms – CSX and Norfolk Southern – over the destiny of a twice-daily service connecting Cell to New Orleans. Bay St. Louis is certainly one of 4 coastal Mississippi stops alongside the route.
The mediation was ordered in Might by the U.S. Floor Transportation Board. The board, for the primary time in its 26-year historical past, is concerned in figuring out the management of a U.S. rail line pitting Amtrak towards freight operators.
The battle is excessive stakes at a time when Amtrak is angling to make substantial investments to its nationwide community after receiving $66 billion from the federal bipartisan infrastructure legislation final yr.
“Amtrak expects to have the ability to run the prepare,” mentioned Knox Ross, a Mississippi-based member on the Southern Rail Fee, who will likely be on the groundbreaking. “That’s the message being despatched.”
Ross mentioned Amtrak’s expectations are for a positive STB ruling to function the Gulf Coast service, regardless of intense opposition from CSX and NS and a bunch of Alabama-based officers headed up by the Alabama State Port Authority.
The STB, in June, ordered mediation in a case that started in March 2021, when Amtrak sought an order from the governmental company to permit inter-city passenger trains to function on the freight traces between Cell and New Orleans.
Marc Magliari, spokesman with Amtrak, mentioned the occasion in Bay St. Louis represents the start of a multi-phase mission to make the stops alongside the Gulf Coast route handicap accessible, or ADA compliant.
“We’ll do that to all the stations throughout Bay St. Louis to Cell,” mentioned Magliari. He estimates the tasks costing Amtrak round $2 million. The work in Cell will happen someday in August.
“We’re doing what we have to do and that’s taking each cheap step to arrange for service whether or not that’s hiring crews or making these stations ADA compliant,” he mentioned. “In some methods, this is step one towards reactivating these station areas and starting service.”
Magliari mentioned that Amtrak is receiving cooperation from CSX, who will provide a flagger to make sure development crews are alerted at any time when a freight prepare passes by “to ensure they accomplish that safely.”
NS and CSX each declined remark concerning the groundbreaking occasion in Bay St. Louis.
“CSX is targeted on the energetic litigation earlier than the Floor Transportation Board, the place the influence of our clients of Amtrak’s proposed new passenger service is beneath analysis,” mentioned Cindy Schild, spokeswoman with CSX.
Additionally declining remark was the Alabama State Port Authority, which is the one non-railroad entity concerned within the energetic mediation.
Ross mentioned Amtrak’s perception is that they may “have a superb final result from the STB.”
However he additionally admitted there was some threat to sinking cash right into a mission earlier than receiving the authority to go forward with restarting the passenger rail line.
“They’re prepared to take that threat as a result of they consider within the service and consider they may run it,” he mentioned.
This file picture reveals passengers boarding an Amtrak prepare heading to New Orleans from Atlanta on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. A federal board is listening to testimony on whether or not to let Amtrak resume passenger prepare service linking New Orleans and Cell, Alabama, over the objections of freight firms. The hearings are earlier than the U.S. Floor Transportation Board. (AP Photograph/David Goldman)AP
Amtrak, in latest days, submitted to the STB further evaluation exhibiting the Gulf Coast service will trigger “no unreasonable impairment” for the freight operators, and that no new infrastructure is required to accommodate the service.
The STB, in Might, requested further proof from Amtrak, CSX and NS on whether or not further passenger trains will disrupt freight service.
Freight operators, alongside the Alabama Port, argued in April that introducing a twice-daily Amtrak route between Cell and New Orleans – with none enhancements to the 120-mile rail line – will create “staggering” delays in Alabama.
Amtrak believes the freight operators are making unreasonable capital enchancment calls for, totaling greater than $400 million. A CSX legal professional, in April, argued that that infrastructure calls for are hefty close to the Port of Cell and that delays can be possible.
The Alabama port, together with most Alabama state officers, have lengthy been against Amtrak returning to the Gulf Coast if a rail-traffic management evaluation – carried out in collaboration with CSX, NS and Amtrak – will not be accomplished, and its suggestions adopted. A previous examine accomplished by CSX and NS, however disputed by Amtrak, estimated $405 million to $440 million in capital upgrades had been wanted earlier than the twice-daily service might be restored with out main impacts to the freight trains.
Amtrak, in early 2021, pulled out of negotiations with CSX and NS for the completion of a rail-traffic management examine out of frustration concerning the examine being stalled in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amtrak officers additionally famous that earlier research into the rail line had been carried out and that sufficient evaluation was ready to get the service restarted.
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
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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Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that killed seven and injured 36 people.
The deadly bus crash in Mississippi that killed seven people and injured dozens of others early Saturday occurred after the vehicle experienced a tire failure, causing it to run off the road and overturn, officials and authorities said.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that left seven people dead and another 36 people injured. The collision occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi, when the bus left the roadway and overturned.
The bus, which authorities described as a 2018 Volvo commercial passenger bus, traveled westbound when its left front tire failed, NTSB member Todd Inman said at a news conference Sunday. The bus then moved onto an embankment and rolled over on its left side.
Inman added that investigators will be at the scene for at least another week and are looking into several factors of the crash, including the vehicle’s mechanical condition, motor carrier safety, the condition and experience of the driver, and environmental factors.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, the bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos. Records show that in the 24 months before Saturday, the transit company’s vehicles were involved in one fatal crash, two injury collisions, and a crash requiring a tow truck.
The transit company has over 20 years of experience and provides trips between more than 100 destinations throughout Mexico and the United States, according to Autobuses Regiomontanos’ website.
“Everyone at the NTSB sends their expressions of sorrow for everything that the survivors and victims of this crash went through,” Inman said.
7 killed, 36 injured in bus crash
The bus carried a total of 41 passengers and two drivers, according to authorities. It was traveling from Atlanta to Dallas when the incident occurred.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to Master Sergeant Kervin K. Stewart with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and another person died later at a hospital, Stewart said.
Another 36 people were transported to area hospitals.
Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said two victims killed in the crash were identified by their mother as a 16-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, according to The New York Times. Authorities were working to identify the other victims.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
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