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Mississippi In Talks With Company To Run Jackson Water System, Mayor Says

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Mississippi In Talks With Company To Run Jackson Water System, Mayor Says


The State of Mississippi is now in talks with a personal firm about managing its capital metropolis’s struggling water system, Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba mentioned throughout a press convention Tuesday. The Metropolis of Jackson was additionally in discussions with the corporate earlier than the State took over, he added.

“We had been in dialogue with a company about taking up an operations and upkeep contract, however what I delayed telling you is that dialog stopped as a result of they picked it up with the State,” the mayor instructed reporters. “So we’ve been unable to achieve an settlement with them as a result of we’re not on the desk to speak about what that settlement would appear like.”

Lumumba didn’t identify the corporate. His remarks got here a day after Gov. Tate Reeves, at a separate Labor Day press convention, mentioned he was contemplating numerous long-term concepts for addressing Jackson’s water issues and that “privatization is on the desk.” 

The Mississippi Free Press requested the mayor’s workplace for the identify of the corporate with whom the Metropolis and State have had discussions, however Jackson Communications Director Melissa Religion Payne mentioned the Metropolis was not releasing its identify “attributable to ongoing negotiations.” The Metropolis offered no indication of a request-for-proposal course of.

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No ‘Mission Achieved Banner’

The Metropolis of Jackson has been beneath a boil-water discover since July 29, however the issues reached acute ranges early final week when residents misplaced water strain attributable to failures on the O.B. Curtis Water Therapy Plant. The disaster required the mobilization of state and federal sources to assist repair the quick challenge and provide residents with tens of millions of bottles of water within the meantime. 

Officers mentioned that they had restored water strain to the capital metropolis by Monday, however the boil-water discover stays in impact. Although Jacksonians once more have operating water, officers estimate it’ll take greater than $1 billion to restore the Metropolis’s aged water system to keep away from repeats.

Failures on the O.B. Curtis Water Therapy Plant led to water strain outages all through the Metropolis of Jackson after a month-long boil water discover. On Sept. 5, Gov. Tate Reeves introduced that officers had restored water strain to the Metropolis of Jackson despite the fact that a boil water discover stays in impact. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba cautioned towards declaring “mission completed” as a result of “the programs will fail once more if we don’t have everlasting repairs in place.” Photograph courtesy Metropolis of Jackson

“I believe it’s crucial that we don’t drop a ‘mission completed’ banner simply but as a result of it’s as we mentioned it’s—it’s not a matter of if the programs will fail once more however when the programs will fail once more if we don’t have everlasting repairs in place,” Mayor Lumumba mentioned Tuesday.

In the course of the press convention, the mayor expressed frustration that the State had taken over discussions with the unnamed firm, saying that “if there may be some unity in pondering that this firm is adequate so as to function the Metropolis of Jackson’s water remedy facility, then there needs to be no barrier between our potential to let the Metropolis do this as a result of we’re speaking about the identical firm.”

“The one distinction can be how the income are distributed into priorities for the town,” the mayor mentioned, including that his administration desires these funds to go to “numerous infrastructure challenges with the primary precedence being ingesting water.”

Regardless of his willingness to enter right into a contract with a personal firm on behalf of the Metropolis of Jackson, although, Lumumba mentioned he’s “towards privatization,” warning that handing all the system over to the non-public sector may result in “the pillaging of public sources.”

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“We have now to grasp the distinction between privatization and an operations and upkeep settlement,” Lumumba mentioned. “Privatization relies on an organization making an attempt to determine how they’ll revenue off of a metropolis. They’re not coming to be benevolent, they’re coming to make cash.”

Sometimes, corporations that enter into contracts with metropolis and state governments even have an curiosity in making a revenue. The Metropolis of Jackson has dealt for years with issues stemming from its 2010 water-billing and restore contract with Siemens Inc.

‘We’ve Had Many, Many Plans’

At a Monday press convention, Mississippi’s Republican governor criticized Jackson leaders, saying the State had “by no means obtained an actual plan from Jackson on the best way to enhance their water system so the state may contemplate the best way to fund it.”

“I personally imagine we are able to’t rely upon the Metropolis of Jackson to supply that and, due to this fact, we’re going to work with State and federal companions and with enter from the Metropolis to develop intermediate and long-term plans,” he mentioned.

photo of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves in front of MS Emergency Management Agency sign
“I personally imagine we are able to’t rely upon the Metropolis of Jackson to supply that, and due to this fact, we’re going to work with State and federal companions and with enter from the Metropolis to develop intermediate and long-term plans,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves mentioned on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. Screencap: Tate Reeves/Twitter

Reeves famous that U.S. Home Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat whose congressional district contains Jackson, has additionally claimed Jackson had failed to supply a plan and raised questions on whether or not the Metropolis ought to regain “authority to run it.”

During a press conference last week, Mayor Lumumba appeared to acknowledge the necessity for a plan, vowing to reporters and residents that “you will note earlier than you in brief order, probably as quickly as subsequent week, a full-scale committee of people which might be working towards the execution and manufacturing of that plan.”

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However on Tuesday, the Democratic mayor mentioned “we’ve had many, many plans.” He recited a listing of paperwork, together with a capital enchancment plan that he mentioned was commissioned in both 2018 and 2019; a listing of crucial repairs that the Environmental Safety Company beforehand recognized; and a Powerpoint presentation for the Hinds County state legislative delegation that he mentioned detailed $120 million in repairs for the O.B. Curtis Water Therapy Plant. (The Mississippi Free Press has requested copies of these paperwork). 

A WLBT evaluation discovered that the whole complete prices to restore Jackson’s water system might be as excessive as $1.7 billion.

The paperwork, Lumumba mentioned, present the Metropolis has already provided plans for addressing Jackson’s water points to State and federal officers on quite a few events. He additionally shared a March 3, 2020, letter addressed to Reeves, asking for “emergency funding from the State and federal authorities to make capital enhancements essential for the environment friendly operation of Jackson’s water remedy vegetation and distribution community.”

“These enhancements are crucial to our efforts to make sure that our residents and companies usually are not disadvantaged of unpolluted water once more,” the mayor wrote. “I’ve connected a listing of wanted enhancements for our vegetation and distribution traces with an estimated price of roughly $47,000,000. Your help in acquiring the funding to finish these initiatives shall be tremendously appreciated.”

The mayor mentioned he despatched copies of that letter to different leaders, together with Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Mississippi Home Speaker Philip Gunn, members of the Hinds County state legislative delegations and members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation, together with Thompson.

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“I need to be clear that we’ve got endeavored to speak,” Lumumba mentioned. “Now, if the trouble of communication that’s requested for isn’t adequate so as to meet these legislative requests, then we’re malleable.”

See the Mississippi Free Press’ full Jackson water-crisis protection, beginning in March 2021.





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MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

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MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota


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.

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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.

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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.

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A full report will be released in 2026.



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Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

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Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)


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.

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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.

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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.



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‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

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‘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.

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“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.

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“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.

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All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.

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