Mississippi Business Journal » federal

Investigators testing neighborhoods for pollutants

Associated Press — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:36:38 +0000

HATTIESBURG — State and federal agencies are testing neighborhoods around a former chemical plant in Hattiesburg for possible pollution. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency and Ashland Inc., Hercules’ parent company, have drilled test wells within a half-mile of the plant, the Hattiesburg American reported. The wells are drilled in the path [...]

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State lawmaker filing resolution on Sandy-recovery funding

Associated Press — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:43:31 +0000

JACKSON — A Democratic state lawmaker is filing a resolution that urges Mississippi’s entire congressional delegation to support federal spending for Hurricane Sandy recovery. The resolution by Rep. David Baria of Bay St. Louis isn’t expected to mention Republican U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo by name. But, it’s a rebuke of Palazzo’s vote last week against [...]

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Congressman to reintroduce bill on hunting rolled rice fields

Associated Press — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:20:45 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Congressional delegations from Mississippi and Arkansas have backed legislation to clarify that hunting over a rolled rice field is not illegal field baiting. The legislation promoted by U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, both R-Miss., died in the past Congress. U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., whose district is the largest rice [...]

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SBA offering loans to victims of Christmas Day storms

MBJ Staff — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:29:04 +0000

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI — Residents and businesses in Mississippi affected by severe storms and tornadoes on Dec. 25 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The declaration covers Pearl River County and the adjacent counties of Forrest, Hancock, Harrison, Lamar, Marion and Stone. The SBA is opening an outreach center in [...]

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Cochran selected as ranking member on ag committee

MBJ Staff — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:12:45 +0000

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has been selected as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry for the 113th Congress. “I will use the experiences I’ve gained in serving on the committee since 1979 to help quickly advance a new Farm Bill that will meet the needs of our [...]

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Shrimpers petition for relief from subsidized imports

Associated Press — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:25:45 +0000

GULF OF MEXICO — Shrimpers have filed petitions with the federal government seeking relief from subsidized shrimp imports. The move came several weeks after Gulf of Mexico shrimpers hailed a House bill that included a provision to increase U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s powers to combat illegal imports. The Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries filed [...]

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Ex-MDA employee pleads not guilty to steering contracts

Associated Press — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:47:02 +0000

GREENVILLE — A former state employee has waived an arraignment hearing and pleaded not guilty to charges of taking bribes for steering work to a Mound Bayou contractor. Former Mississippi Development Authority worker Connie Lewis, 52, of Jackson faces nine counts of bribery. She’s accused of accepting more than $250,000 from Jimmy Stokes to use [...]

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Presley: FCC’s data on cellphone, broadband availability inaccurate

MBJ Staff — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:55:12 +0000

JACKSON — The Public Service Commission has unanimously approved the first in a series of filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) aimed at expanding cellular telephone coverage and high-speed Internet service in Mississippi. The filings come in response to FCC requests for comments on coverage issues associated with its Mobility Fund and National Broadband [...]

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EPA refuses to change ruling on air quality rating

Associated Press — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:30:35 +0000

DESOTO COUNTY — The Environmental Protection Agency has rejected appeals from state officials over air quality listings. According to The Commercial Appeal, the decision means the counties remain classified as “non-attainment” areas because of ozone levels. Officials say the designation makes it more difficult to attract industry. The “non-attainment” counties in the Delta region are [...]

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Judge gives Justice more time to review school plan

Associated Press — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:19:16 +0000

CLEVELAND — A federal judge says he will rule after the first of the year on proposals to desegregate two schools in the Cleveland School District. The Bolivar Commercial reports U.S. District Judge Glenn H. Davidson told attorneys after a hearing in Oxford that he wanted to give the Department of Justice time to review [...]

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