Connect with us

Mississippi

MPCA to test entirety of Mississippi River this year • Minnesota Reformer

Published

on

MPCA to test entirety of Mississippi River this year • Minnesota Reformer


The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will be testing water quality along the entirety of the Mississippi River within the state’s borders in 2024, the agency announced this week.

The MPCA typically only tests portions of the river in any given year, and this year’s effort to sample over 50 locations from Bemidji to the Iowa border represents a first for the agency in what could be read as increasing concern about emerging threats to water quality, including 3M-manufactured chemical compounds known as PFAS.  

Water quality within Minnesota’s stretch of the river has improved dramatically over the past four decades, according to a fact sheet from the Metropolitan Council. But levels of some contaminants — including nitrogen from excessive fertilizer use and chloride from road salt — are rising.

“By monitoring our lakes and rivers, we are supporting safe drinking water, enjoyable recreation, tourism, and Minnesota’s strong economy,” said MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler. “Our work protecting the mighty Mississippi from its headwaters here in Minnesota is critical to maintaining a healthy river downstream, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Advertisement

The data will include traditional water quality measurements like temperature, transparency and pollutant levels. Crews will also collect and measure samples of fish and invertebrate life from the river.

The MPCA will also be screening for PFAS contamination for the first time, following the imposition of strict federal limits on the compounds.

In the metropolitan area, Mississippi River water quality degrades downstream of the junction with the Minnesota River, which carries large amounts of agricultural runoff. But it improves downstream of the St. Croix River, which is surrounded by undeveloped areas.

Farm runoff from Minnesota and other Midwestern states contribute to a massive “dead zone” stretching of thousands miles around the Mississippi delta in the Gulf of Mexico. Chemicals in fertilizer fuel massive blooms of algae, which rapidly deplete oxygen levels, making the area unsuitable for many forms of marine life.

Closer to home, nearly the entirety of the river within Minnesota boundaries is on the state’s impaired waters list. Impairments include high levels of fecal bacteria, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish, PFAS, aluminum and sulfates.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Mississippi

Mississippi State baseball live score updates vs Alabama: Bulldogs face Crimson Tide in SEC

Published

on

Mississippi State baseball live score updates vs Alabama: Bulldogs face Crimson Tide in SEC


STARKVILLE — As the postseason nears, each weekend becomes more important for Mississippi State baseball in its pursuit of hosting NCAA Tournament games. The SEC series against Alabama, which begins Friday at Dudy Noble Field, is no exception.

MSU (30-15, 12-9 SEC) has won eight of its past nine games, capped by a Governor’s Cup victory against rival Ole Miss on Wednesday.

The stretch of success started after the Bulldogs dropped two of three in Oxford against the Rebels. Since then, MSU has picked up a three midweek wins while sweeping Auburn at home and taking two at Vanderbilt.

Advertisement

MORE: Watch Mississippi State baseball vs. Alabama with ESPN+ (subscribe now)

No. 21 Mississippi State enters the weekend in third place of the SEC West standings and fifth overall in the conference.

Alabama (28-16, 9-12) enters three games behind MSU. The Crimson Tide, under first-year coach Rob Vaughn, are coming off a series win at Ole Miss. Alabama has won four of its past five games.

What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs. Alabama on today?

Mississippi State vs. Alabama start time

  • May 3: 6 p.m.
  • May 4: 2 p.m.
  • May 5: 1 p.m.

Mississippi State vs. Alabama: Probable pitchers

  • Friday: RHP Khal Stephen (6-3, 2.77 ERA) vs. LHP Greg Farone (4-1, 3.10 ERA)
  • Saturday: BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (6-1, 3.79 ERA) vs. LHP Zane Adams (4-2, 4.43 ERA)
  • Sunday: RHP Brooks Auger (1-1, 3.08 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (3-4, 7.31 ERA)

Mississippi State baseball score update vs. Alabama

Mississippi State baseball 2024 schedule

Next five opponents for the Bulldogs:

Advertisement
  • May 3-5: vs. Alabama
  • May 10-12: at Arkansas
  • May 14: vs. North Alabama
  • May 16-19: vs. Missouri

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.



Source link

Continue Reading

Mississippi

Mississippi State Baseball hoping to keep momentum going against Alabama

Published

on

Mississippi State Baseball hoping to keep momentum going against Alabama


Mississippi State baseball hosts Alabama at Dudy Noble Field this weekend. Following their midweek Governor’s Cup victory over Ole Miss, the Diamond Dawgs (30-15, 12-9 SEC) have won eight of their last nine games.

Despite some of the frustrations of this season, which were amplified given the struggles of the last two years, State is not only in position to return to the postseason. They suddenly have a very good chance of hosting. A series win over #15 RPI Alabama would go a long way towards making that happen.

The Crimson Tide are 28-16 on the season and 9-12 in the SEC. First year HC Rob Vaughn has done a fantastic job with the Tide thus far. His squad has impressive series wins over Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas. They have struggled on the road, however, getting swept at both Georgia and Kentucky.

Bama is one of the better hitting teams in the SEC. They’re third in the conference in batting average (.311) and fourth in both slugging (.538) and runs scored (351). They don’t walk or strikeout frequently nor do they play small-ball. This is a team that tries to hit it hard, and they do it well.

Advertisement

Third-baseman Gage Miller is having an outstanding year, leading the team in average (.386), RBI (47), and home runs (18). Five other members of the Tide lineup are hitting .300 and three others have double-digit home runs.

State’s pitching staff has done a good job against some of the better lineups they’ve faced this year. They’ll be tested again with Alabama.

Pitching has not been a strong suit for Alabama this year. In SEC games, the Tide have a team ERA of 6.71 and a batting average allowed of .271, both of which put them towards the bottom of the conference.

Friday night Ace Gage Farone has been solid with a 3.68 SEC ERA. Saturday starter Zane Adams (5.06) has been at bit more up-and-down, and Sunday starter Ben Hess (10.21) has struggled mightily. Their bullpen has struggled as well. Alton Davis (5.14) has been their most consistent reliever, but beyond him they don’t have much.

Ironically, Mississippi State’s lineup has seemingly struggled the most this season when facing weaker pitching staffs. Ideally they can reverse that trend this weekend.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Mississippi

Mississippi city councilman pleads guilty to selling fake CBD products in stores

Published

on

Mississippi city councilman pleads guilty to selling fake CBD products in stores


play

A Mississippi city councilman agreed to forfeit a monster truck and nearly $2 million after a federal investigation revealed he sold illicit drugs advertised as CBD, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Robert Leon Deming, III, who serves on the Biloxi City Council, sold over $2 million in illegal synthetic cannabinoids as vape additives that he labeled as CBD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said following a yearslong probe by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA received complaints in 2022 that customers became ill after using some of Deming’s products, and his employees discussed in group chats how the additives were too strong and could hurt customers, according to prosecutors.

Advertisement

“A public official’s side job should not be running a business that distributes millions of dollars in illegal controlled substances and endangers the health and safety of its customers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “We appreciate the hard work of investigators with the DEA, FDA, and MBN to put a stop to the distribution of these dangerous vape additives.”

Feds launched probe into Deming’s business one year after it opened

According to court documents, Deming founded the Candy Shop LLC in 2019 and opened stores in Mississippi and North Carolina. In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and DEA launched an investigation into his business and found some of the vape products contained illicit additives.

In May 2022, federal prosecutors said Deming gave someone $2,200 to buy about two pounds of a synthetic cannabinoid product known as 5F-AB-PINACA to use in the shop’s vape additives. Investigators also found that Deming’s gross sales of vape additive products containing illegal drugs totaled over $2 million. He was arrested in September and released days later on bond, according to court records.

Deming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $1 million penalty. As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit a yellow monster truck with oversized tires, a lift kit, and nearly $2 million.

Advertisement

“Mr. Deming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in what amounted to a very complicated case hinging upon his knowledge of the existence of synthetic cannabinoids in vape products he sold along with other allegations by the Government,” attorney W. F. Hornsby III told USA TODAY on Thursday. “Mr. Deming’s decision to plead guilty was made after taking into consideration his family, friends, employees, and the totality of the circumstances.”

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Synthetic cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids, such as the one Deming was caught using as vape additives, are a class of lab-made drugs that have similar chemicals to the cannabis plant, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The drug can be cheaper to make and is more likely to go undetected in urine drug screenings, the institute said, but it can cause starkly different reactions compared to natural cannabis products.

Some synthetic cannabinoids are classified under the Controlled Substances Act as Schedule I drug, alongside marijuana, heroin, and LSD. The act categorizes drugs based on their potential for abuse, addiction, and medical use.

Advertisement

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical extracted from cannabis plants. It can be found in both hemp and marijuana plants — both are technically cannabis but hemp must have less than 0.3% THC present. CBD is non-psychoactive and shouldn’t contain THC, the chemical that produces the “high” feeling in marijuana.  

The usual CBD formulation is oil, but it is also sold as an extract, vaporized liquid, and oil-based capsule, according to the Mayo Clinic. Food, drinks, and beauty products are among the many CBD-infused products available online, including lip balms, gummies, and creams.

Side effects of CBD may include dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, and fatigue, the Mayo Clinic warned. The chemical can also interact with other medications. If you have a heart condition or take blood thinners, some doctors recommend staying away from CBD. 

Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending