Mississippi

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

Published

2 years ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

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.

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.

Erin Hassanzadeh

Erin is back home in the Twin Cities after stops in South Korea and Omaha. The Jefferson High School grad (Go Jags!) is excited to get back to storytelling in the community that raised her.

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Mississippi

Former pro wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. acquitted in Mississippi welfare scandal

Published

4 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

JACKSON, Miss. — A former professional wrestler accused of misspending millions of welfare dollars in part of Mississippi’s largest public corruption scandal was found not guilty by a jury Friday.

Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr. was facing 13 charges related to conspiracy, wire fraud, theft and money laundering.

“It’s, I think, just a weight off his chest,” said Sidney Lampton, who represented DiBiase. “The jury got it right.”

A federal indictment had accused DiBiase of fraudulently obtaining millions of federal welfare dollars and using the money for his own personal gain, including the purchase of a vehicle, boat and home down payment.

“While I remain confident in our case, I respect the jury’s verdict,” U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger said. “I commend the prosecution team for their diligent efforts.”

DiBiase, a WWE wrestler in the 2000s and 2010s, is the only person charged in the scandal to face trial.

The welfare scandal came to light in 2020 when the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, John Davis, was indicted on fraud and embezzlement charges alongside several others, including DiBiase’s brother, former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase.

Federal indictments accused Davis of directing the federal dollars to two nonprofits, which then awarded “sham contracts” to various people and organizations, including several companies owned by DiBiase, for social services that were never provided.

DiBiase’s companies were awarded more than $2 million in contracts for services that included leadership outreach, an emergency food assistance assessment and a program for inner-city youth, according to the indictment.

Much of the money came from two federal safety-net programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and was intended to help some of the poorest people in the nation.

More than $77 million in TANF funds were misspent, according to the Mississippi state auditor.

Davis, multiple nonprofit executives and Brett DiBiase have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme.

The scandal also ensnared several high-profile individuals, including former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Both Bryant and Favre have denied wrongdoing and neither have been criminally charged.

Favre, the DiBiase brothers and their father, a former pro wrestler known as the “Million Dollar Man,” Ted DiBiase Sr., are among dozens of defendants in a lawsuit filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services in an attempt to recover more than $20 million in misspent money.

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Mississippi

What Mississippi State baseball bullpen is missing heading into Vanderbilt series

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

What Mississippi State baseball bullpen is missing heading into Vanderbilt series

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball was tied against Arkansas in the eighth inning or later in both of its losses in the SEC opening series.

The Bulldogs lost on a walk-off home run on March 13 and then 7-3 the next day in the second game of a doubleheader to ultimately lose the series.

No. 6 MSU (17-4, 1-2 SEC) doesn’t have many glaring weaknesses to start coach Brian O’Connor’s first season. All four of its losses before it hosts Vanderbilt (13-9, 2-1) at Dudy Noble Field March 20-22 are against teams ranked in the top 15. Texas A&M is the only other SEC team that hasn’t lost to an unranked opponent.

But if there’s one aspect where Mississippi State could get even better, it’s the bullpen.

“Our starting pitching has been really outstanding,” O’Connor said after MSU’s 17-1 win against Jackson State on March 17. “I’d like to see us be a little bit more consistent in the bullpen and have an understanding of what we’re going to get when we put somebody out there. That’s not a knock on anybody, it just hasn’t shown up yet. Typically, that happens with youth.”

Does Mississippi State baseball have a closer?

There isn’t a strict rule in baseball that a team needs one designated closer, but it’s often preferred. MSU doesn’t seem to have a closer that’s emerged so far.

Ben Davis was the preseason favorite for that role and leads MSU with two saves, but he hasn’t been super sharp. He allowed four runs to UCLA in 3⅓ innings on March 1. The right-handed senior surrendered two runs in two innings in his last appearance against Arkansas to raise his ERA to 5.25.

Three other pitchers have one save each: Maddox Webb, Tyler Pitzer and Brendan Sweeney.

The Bulldogs haven’t had many save opportunities, but more will come in SEC play. They are 15-0 after six innings when leading, but 0-2 when tied.

Mississippi State’s best, worst relief pitchers so far

One of Mississippi State’s best relievers has been a bit of a surprise in Jack Gleason.

After redshirting in 2025, there wasn’t much buzz about the right-hander. He has a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings in 2026. Gleason and Davis are tied for the most innings pitched out of the bullpen.

Left-hander Dane Burns hasn’t allowed a run in nine appearances, but only 5⅓ innings. He threw only one pitch in his last outing, hitting an Arkansas batter and then immediately getting pulled. Burns and Gleason are tied for first on MSU with a 0.75 WHIP.

Webb has a 2.35 ERA, Pitzer a 2.70 ERA and Sweeney at 5.73 ERA.

Mississippi State has eased freshman Parker Rhodes in, but after two no-hit innings against Jackson State, his ERA is down to 1.42 in 6⅓ innings. Rhodes leads the SEC with a .050 opponent batting average.

“He’s a young kid with a really good arm that I think can help us and help maybe solidify that bullpen a little bit,” O’Connor said. “We’ll see.”

Mississippi State has a few pitchers off to slow starts.

Charlie Foster began the season as the third weekend starter but is now in the bullpen. He walked the first three batters he faced in a relief appearance against Jackson State and holds a 5.06 ERA.

Maddox Miller has a 6.23 ERA in 8⅔ innings and one start; Chris Billingsley Jr. has a 6.75 ERA in 6⅔ innings; Jack Bauer, the freshman who can throw 103 mph, has a 22.50 ERA in only two innings and hasn’t pitched since Feb. 28.

How Mississippi State pitching matches up with Vanderbilt

From strictly a numbers standpoint, Vanderbilt will be a tougher challenge for MSU’s pitching than Arkansas was. Though there could be an advantage for MSU playing in front of its home crowd.

The Commodores are seventh in the SEC in runs scored, while Arkansas is 14th. Vanderbilt has crushed the second-most home runs in the conference at 52. The Commodores are also second in slugging percentage at .603, but have the second-most strikeouts in the SEC.

Braden Holcomb is tied for second in the SEC with 11 home runs.

Mississippi State is 10th in the SEC with a 3.69 ERA.

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

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Mississippi

Southern Living says MS gem one of ‘South’s Most Legendary Restaurants’

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Southern Living says MS gem one of ‘South’s Most Legendary Restaurants’

Southern Living released its 2026 list of the most legendary restaurants in the South. These places are longtime favorites that became community icons. They’re fan favorites from breakfast through date night.

“The South’s most legendary restaurants have shaped their cities, hosted generations of celebrations, and perfected the dishes that keep guests coming back,” Southern Living wrote. “From white-tablecloth dining rooms to beloved small-town cafés, these long-standing eateries with decades of history serve up more than just wonderful meals.”

Here’s what we know about the only Mississippi restaurant to make the list.

Southern Living says this Mississippi restaurant is ‘legendary’

City Grocery Restaurant is on the Square in Oxford, Mississippi.

Chef John Currence founded it in 1992 in a converted livery stable. The City Grocery was a 2025 Michelin Guide American South Recommended Restaurant.

“Grounded in a mix of culinary styles and featuring homegrown flavors that define Southern cooking, this spot catalyzed a new interest in North Mississippi restaurants that’s still going strong over three decades later,” Southern Living wrote.

People can grab a drink at the upstairs bar. Or you can experience fine dining downstairs.

Today, the James Beard award nominee runs four restaurants in Oxford: