Mississippi
WILLIAMS: Where the Smart Money Goes
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SUBMITTED BY KELLEY WILLIAMS WITH BIGGER PIE FORUM
“Capital goes the place it’s welcome and stays the place it’s appreciated,” Williams writes.
The legislature met in particular session final week and voted $247 million in state incentives (sweeteners) for Metal Dynamics’ new $2.5 billion recycled aluminum plant and different investments. The plant is to be in-built The Golden Triangle. (Starkville-Columbus-West Level space) in Northeast Mississippi. The justification for the incentives is jobs, associated investments, and different financial multiplier results.
We’ve heard this justification earlier than. Bear in mind Kemper’s $7 billion failed lignite to artificial pure fuel experiment, Kior’s $76 million pine bushes to diesel fantasy, Stion’s $75 million unworkable photo voltaic panels, Twin Creeks Applied sciences’ $24 million silicon panels chapter, the notorious Beef Plant hustle, and so on.
Nevertheless it seems we discovered one thing from these embarrassing fiascos. They left taxpayers on the hook whereas promoters and movie star administrators skated. (Bear in mind Condoleezza Rice with Kior inventory choices gushing about its imaginary know-how?)
This time there are strings hooked up to the incentives to forestall repeats. However they most likely received’t be wanted. This mission seems to be actual. Metal Dynamics is an actual firm with a profitable monitor report with actual merchandise, know-how, know-how, and pores and skin within the recreation. This seems to be just like the Toyota and Continental Tire initiatives.
The plant is to be positioned within the Golden Triangle Industrial Park the place Metal Dynamics already has a metal mill. The situation is critical. Why? The realm is a sophisticated manufacturing hub with $6 billion current investments and 6,000 jobs. It has a labor pool of 500,000 folks. Mississippi State graduates 600 engineers yearly. Group schools provide superior robotic coaching for firms within the space. It’s a producing cluster with important mass and flywheel development momentum.
It has good infrastructure: interstate freeway community, entry to the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway, regional airport, rail service to industrial parks, and electrical energy from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Dependable and reasonably priced electrical energy is important for recycling aluminum.
TVA is probably the most dependable and sure the most cost effective supply of electrical energy within the state for such initiatives. It has a various era fleet and a strong transmission system to straight serve massive prospects.
Coincidentally, it’s (flippantly) regulated by the Federal Vitality Regulatory Fee (FERC) – not by the Mississippi Public Service Fee which introduced us Mississippi Energy’s Kemper County Lignite Plant. And now brings us photo voltaic producing vegetation with increased value and fewer dependable electrical energy.
TVA is basically self-regulated. Not surprisingly, it appears to ship extra reasonably priced extra dependable electrical energy than different utilities within the state topic to oversight by the PSC (assisted by the Mississippi Public Utilities Workers).
There’s predictable opposition to the Governor’s particular session and incentives for the aluminum plant. Critics say it’s not proper to supply incentives to encourage financial improvement whereas ignoring urgent human wants issues. They cite Jackson’s perpetual water plant points, unused potential Medicaid funding, rural hospital closings, and so forth. Additionally they play the race card.
The truth is competitors drives incentives. Firm executives play the: “I can find my plant in Alabama or one other state” card. It’s true to a level. However there are fewer location choices if the plant requires a lot of reasonably priced dependable electrical energy. These choices are reducing as extra electrical utilities contaminate their grids with intermittent inexperienced vitality (photo voltaic and wind).
So the Governor holds some playing cards too. Different firms with vegetation requiring dependable electrical energy will doubtless discover the Golden Triangle enticing. Sadly, they’re much less prone to discover central and south Mississippi as enticing. That’s as a result of Entergy and Mississippi Energy have monopoly service areas there. Their electrical energy is turning into dearer. Entergy is including costly, intermittent, much less dependable solar energy to its grid. Mississippi Energy is shutting down older vegetation with low-cost electrical energy in favor of dearer electrical energy from PSC face-saving remnants of the Kemper debacle.
The Governor would maintain extra playing cards if these utilities have been extra aggressive. Mississippi is crossed by one of many nation’s largest concentrations of high-capacity pure fuel pipe traces. It has the potential so as to add virtually limitless dependable producing capability to draw different vitality intensive manufacturing vegetation. Many firms with such vegetation are fleeing Germany and different international locations the place mandated inexperienced vitality has destroyed their economies and impoverished their residents.
Mississippi might be a haven for these firms. Not simply within the Golden Triangle. The PSC may encourage and allow the utilities it regulates to grab this chance. Why doesn’t it? Why does it allow and encourage these utilities to do silly issues which can be good for his or her investor shareholders however unhealthy for patrons? And unhealthy for the state’s financial development.
Capital goes the place it’s welcome and stays the place it’s appreciated. The CEO of Metal Dynamics stated: “We’re wanting to increase our presence in Columbus, and we admire the nice and cozy welcome and assist that we’ve got obtained from Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi.”
As we speak, good cash goes the place there’s dependable reasonably priced electrical energy. Kudos for the Golden Triangle’s success and FERC / TVA’s contribution of low-cost dependable electrical energy. Rotten tomatoes for the PSC / Entergy / Mississippi Energy’s dearer much less dependable electrical energy in the remainder of the state.
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Submitted by Kelley Williams with Larger Pie Discussion board. Selling market-driven financial development for a much bigger and brighter Mississippi. Be taught extra about BPF right here.
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Mississippi
Ex-official in Mississippi is treated for gambling addiction amid embezzlement charge, lawyer says
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A former tax assessor and collector in north Mississippi checked into a residential treatment center for a gambling addiction after he called the state auditor’s office and confessed to misusing more than $300,000 in public money, his attorney said Tuesday.
Shannon Wilburn, 49, resigned in April from the elected office he had held in Benton County since 2016, and he began the 12-week addiction treatment in late July, his attorney Tony Farese told The Associated Press.
“I’ve known Shannon all of his life,” Farese said. “We are shocked that he finds himself in this situation.”
Mississippi Auditor Shad White announced Tuesday that Wilburn has been charged with one count of embezzlement. The announcement came days after Wilburn was indicted. Farese said Wilburn turned himself in to the sheriff’s office Friday, then posted bond and returned to the treatment program.
Wilburn is accused of taking $327,055 paid to the Benton County Tax Collector’s office and using the money for personal expenses, Farese said. He said Wilburn confessed to the auditor’s office before hiring legal representation and has continued to cooperate with investigators.
“He apologizes for disappointing the citizens of Benton County and the state of Mississippi,” Farese said.
If convicted, Wilburn would face up to $5,000 in fines and 20 years in prison.
White said Wilburn’s employment as a Benton County elected official was covered by $200,000 in surety bonds to protect taxpayers from losses from corruption. The county also has an insurance policy that covers theft.
“The dedicated team at the State Auditor’s Office will continue to work closely with prosecutors to get record results, one case at a time,” White said in a statement.
Mississippi
Vicksburg’s Raymond Elledge set to enter Mississippi Disc Golf Hall of Fame – The Vicksburg Post
![Vicksburg’s Raymond Elledge set to enter Mississippi Disc Golf Hall of Fame – The Vicksburg Post Vicksburg’s Raymond Elledge set to enter Mississippi Disc Golf Hall of Fame – The Vicksburg Post](https://www.vicksburgpost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2024/09/090424-Disc-Golf-Elledge-14-WEB.jpg)
Vicksburg’s Raymond Elledge set to enter Mississippi Disc Golf Hall of Fame
Published 4:30 pm Tuesday, September 3, 2024
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During two decades of playing disc golf, Raymond Elledge has only won one big tournament.
“I don’t even remember what year it was,” he said.
Nonetheless, Elledge is a legend in the sport in Mississippi. He’s worked tirelessly to maintain courses, been a member of several local and state players associations, and taught people young and old the joys of it. That level of dedication led to Elledge’s recent election to the Mississippi Disc Golf Hall of Fame. He’ll officially be inducted Oct. 12 in Starkville.
“When he first told me last year I was nominated, I told him, ‘Man, you’re making my heart hurt.’ You don’t realize the emotions you can get. Stuff can just tear you up, and it did because I was just so excited,” the 62-year-old Vicksburg resident said. “You go years and years, and you’re out here busting your butt trying to maintain the course and showing everybody what you can.”
Disc golf is played the same as traditional golf, except with plastic discs that resemble frisbees. Players take aim at a steel basket several hundred yards away, with the goal of getting it in there in as few throws as possible.
Elledge first played disc golf in 2002, on a private course built in the backyard of Vicksburg resident Herman Cochran. One of the people playing with Elledge made a hole-in-one, and the excitement over the feat hooked him instantly.
“I seen this little old fella, he was 21 or 22 but he looked like he was 12, and he made an ace. I was hooked. I’ve got to do it,” Elledge said. “I don’t go anywhere on vacation without taking my disc golf bag. I just love the game.”
Elledge added that the simplicity of the sport is something he enjoys. A starter kit of three discs — a driver, mid-range disc and putter, all of which have different densities and flight characteristics — can be purchased for about $25.
The courses are easily found at many parks in Mississippi. There is an 18-hole course at Halls Ferry Park. Players of all ages and shapes can play it as long as they can walk the course. Elledge had quadruple bypass heart surgery eight years ago and playing disc golf helps him stay in shape.
“It’s something anybody can do,” he said. “I’ve trained kids from 5 to 50, and the oldest one I’ve helped train to play this game is 71 years old now. He still comes out and plays. This is a sport that any age can play.“
With his passion for disc golf comes a sense of responsibility. He’s helped clear brush around parts of the Halls Ferry Park course to keep it playable, and done the same while working with associations like the Vicksburg Disc Golf Association and Jackson Union of Disc Golf Enthusiasts.
He’s also eager to teach the game to newcomers.
“I’ve never quit teaching how to play the game,” he said. “They used to have something called the World’s Biggest Disc Golf Weekend and I won it three years in a row. What it is, is whoever takes the most players out to a certain disc golf course gets the T-shirt and a disc.”
His service to the sport led to a nomination for the Mississippi Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2023, but he didn’t make the final cut. This year he did, and he said it was better than winning any tournament.
“You play a lot of tournaments. You do a whole lot for the sport itself, such as numerous work days working on the course to maintain it. Teaching the kids and when we have tournaments helping move baskets around to new spots,” Elledge said. “Then somebody will nominate you and there’s a lot of votes from the clubs. If you get enough votes from everybody you’re in. You find out how much you’re appreciated by everybody for all that you’ve done.”
Mississippi
Arizona State vs Mississippi State picks, odds: Who wins Week 2 college football game?
Arizona State forces 3 turnovers in win over Wyoming to start 2024
All offseason, coach Kenny Dillingham preached getting turnovers. Forty seconds into the season’s first game, the defense produced its first one.
The Arizona State Sun Devils host the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a Week 2 non-conference college football game on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
Which team will win the game?
Check out these picks and predictions for the game, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. MST and can be seen on ESPN (stream with this free trial from FUBO).
Arizona State is coming off a 48-7 win against Wyoming. Mississippi State beat Eastern Kentucky in its season opener, 56-7.
ASU football is a 6.5-point favorite over Mississippi State in the game, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Sun Devils are -250 on the moneyline. The Bulldogs are +200.
The over/under for the game is set at 56.5 points.
This is the first meeting between the two college football programs.
Dimers.com: Arizona State 30, Mississippi State 24
It writes: “According to our analysis, Arizona State is more likely to beat Mississippi State in CFB action at Mountain America Stadium on Saturday.”
Sports Chat Place: Bet ASU football to cover vs Mississippi State
It writes: “I’m going with Arizona State. This should be a fun matchup though, and you could make a case either way. The Sun Devils posted 499 total yards (241 rushing), 7.0 yards per play, 27 first downs and no turnovers in their blowout win Saturday. Defensively they were great as well with 118 yards allowed (78 passing), eight first downs, three turnovers and a 3-of-13 rate on third downs.”
Arizona State football predictions: Game-by-game picks for Sun Devils in 2024 season
Picks and Parlays: Arizona State 35, Mississippi State 21
Cameron Ross writes: “Both teams come in a week two undefeated as each will look to continue to roll. Arizona State will have the edge however as they are on their home field and have a top tier defense. Look for the Sun Devils to keep it rolling as they pick up a win and cover at home against the SEC opponent.”
Clarion Ledger: Arizona State 27, Mississippi State 26
Sam Sklar writes: “This game kicks off at 9:30 p.m. CT against an Arizona State team that should be improved under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham. The Sun Devils offense averaged just 17.7 points per game in part due to injuries at quarterback and offensive line. Redshirt freshman transfer Sam Leavitt is ASU’s new quarterback.”
ASU football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels for Sun Devils’ 2024 season
ESPN: Sun Devils have a 56.5% chance to defeat Bulldogs in Week 2
The site’s matchup predictor gives Mississippi State a 43.5% chance to beat Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Saturday.
STREAM THE GAME: Watch ASU football vs Mississippi State live with FUBO (free trial)
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