Mississippi

Mississippi poultry plant settles with OSHA after teen’s 2023 death

Published

5 months ago

August 16, 2024

Mississippi poultry plant settles with OSHA after teen’s 2023 death

A Mississippi poultry processing plant has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor that requires it to pay $164,814 in fines and put in place enhanced safety measures following the death of a 16-year-old boy at the facility

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A Mississippi poultry processing plant has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor that requires it to pay $164,814 in fines and put in place enhanced safety measures following the death of a 16-year-old boy at the facility.

The agreement, announced Friday in a news release, comes after an investigation of Mar-Jac Poultry by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration into the death of an underaged worker who was pulled into a machine as they cleaned it July 14, 2023.

“Tragically, a teenage boy died needlessly before Mar-Jac Poultry took required steps to protect its workers,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer in Atlanta. “This settlement demands the company commit to a safer workplace environment and take tangible actions to protect their employees from well-known hazards. Enhanced supervision and increased training can go a long way toward minimizing risks faced by workers in meat processing facilities.”

“Mar-Jac was aware of these safety problems for years and had been warned and fined by OSHA, yet did nothing. Hopefully, Mar-Jac will follow through this time so that no other worker is killed in such a senseless manner,” Jim Reeves, an attorney for the victim’s family, told WHLT-TV.

The victim’s family sued Mar-Jac Poultry MS, LLC, and Onin Staffing earlier this year. The lawsuit alleges that Perez was killed due to Mar-Jac ignoring safety regulations and not turning off machinery during sanitation. The suit also claims Onin Staffing was negligent in illegally assigning the 16-year-old to work at the plant.

Headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, Mar-Jac Poultry has raised live birds for poultry production since 1954 at facilities in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for food service customers in the U.S and abroad, the DOL’s news release said.

A telephone call Friday to the company seeking comment about the settlement was not answered.

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Mississippi

Former Mississippi Medicaid director may soon lead the federal program

Published

2 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Former Mississippi Medicaid director may soon lead the federal program

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Mississippian could soon take a top health-related spot in the Trump administration.

Drew Snyder left his post as Director of Mississippi’s Division of Medicaid at the end of October. Now, a Politico report indicates he may be waiting in the wings to assume the role of leading the federal program.

The news comes just as lawmakers are starting the new legislative session which leaders have said will include another attempt at extending Medicaid coverage to more Mississippians. Senator Brice Wiggins praised Snyder’s work at the state level.

“If he does get that position, I think it would be a boon for Mississippi,” noted Wiggins.

It’s been no secret that the next steps on Medicaid legislation this session are hinging on what the feds say under the new administration.

“All bets are off until we see which direction they want to go,” said Speaker Jason White ahead of the session.

The Governor and Speaker are praising Snyder but not going into any detail on whether they knew about the potential appointment. But leaders have all referenced in the last month that they’re starting conversations.

“I’m having the same conversations with people that will be in those positions to make sure that whatever we decide on will be approved at the national level,” said Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann in December. “And we’re getting some guidance on those.”

Wiggins was a conferee on last year’s bill that didn’t make it across the finish line. We asked how a Mississippian at the top of the federal program could impact this year’s efforts.

“I certainly think the amount of phone calls and the amount of persuasion would be lessened because he’s heard all of our arguments in the first place,” explained Wiggins. “He knows all the legislators. Knows all the statewide officials. I think none of that would come new to him. So, if we in the legislature can make that happen, you know that I would think that it would have some certainly smoother sailing.”

Snyder did not have a comment when we reached out Wednesday.

We received the following statements about the potential position for Snyder.

“Drew Snyder is sharp and, having served as Mississippi’s Director of Medicaid for nearly seven years, certainly understands the subject matter well. I am always proud of talented Mississippians who are earning opportunities on the federal or national level making our state look good.” – Speaker Jason White

“Drew Snyder is a professional. In my conversations with the incoming administration…I’ll just tell you that I don’t know what the President is going to do. The President will make this decision and certainly his picks to lead HHS. But they couldn’t find a more intellectual, smart, conservative leader of any agency including Medicaid and CMS than Drew Snyder.” – Governor Tate Reeves

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Mississippi

Stone Blanton, Mississippi State football starting linebacker, declares for 2025 NFL draft

Published

10 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Stone Blanton, Mississippi State football starting linebacker, declares for 2025 NFL draft

STARKVILLE — One of Mississippi State football’s top tacklers won’t return for the 2025 season.

Stone Blanton, the Bulldogs starting linebacker, declared for the NFL draft on Wednesday. He made the announcement with a post on social media.

“After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I am humbled and excited to declare for the 2025 NFL draft,” he wrote. “This journey has been filled with unforgettable moments, lessons and blessings.”

Blanton was second on the team and tied for 10th nationally with 124 tackles this season. The junior had one year of eligibility remaining.

It’s the second significant roster move of the day for MSU after Georgia wide receiver Anthony Evans III announced his commitment in the transfer portal.

What Stone Blanton declaring for NFL draft means for Mississippi State football

Blanton, a Jackson native, transferred to MSU after two seasons at South Carolina. Although MSU struggled defensively, he was one of the few bright spots. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

His departure leaves a hole in Mississippi State’s defense that doesn’t have an obvious replacement. Fellow linebacker Nic Mitchell is returning and so is sophomore Zakari Tillman, who showed flashes as a playmaker. Five linebackers have transferred out of MSU, but most of them were depth pieces. Two have transferred in, headlined by Tennessee’s Jalen Smith, an All-SEC freshman.

The Bulldogs signed four-star Winona linebacker Tyler Lockhart in the 2025 recruiting class.

Safety Isaac Smith, MSU’s leading tackler, is returning next season.

Feb. 7 is the deadline for players to opt out of the draft and return to college.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Brutal low temps are coming to Mississippi. How cold will it get around the state?

Published

18 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Brutal low temps are coming to Mississippi. How cold will it get around the state?

‘Some of this air is actually coming from all the way back to Siberia. You’re definitely going to get some very cold temperatures.’

A blast of cold air is moving into the U.S. and is forecast to reach down into Mississippi. All of the state will be affected and some areas will see temperatures plummet into the mid-teens.

“This is going to be a significant cold air outbreak,” said Eric Carpenter, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. “It’s coming out of the Arctic regions.

“Some of this air is actually coming from all the way back to Siberia. You’re definitely going to get some very cold temperatures.”

The cause of it is a shift in the Arctic jet stream.

“The jet stream is allowing it to drop down into the U.S.,” Carpenter said. “The Arctic jet stream is a lot farther South than usual.”

Temperatures in much of the state are predicted to drop into the teens and even the Gulf Coast is expected to see below-freezing temperatures. And as cold as that seems, it may get colder than the current forecast.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the forecast trended colder as we get closer,” Carpenter said. “So, I would continue to monitor the weather.”

Here are the expected temperatures across the state from Saturday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Jan. 24, according to AccuWeather as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15.