Story
Flower Girl Panic
When Bebo, my younger brother, proposed to his girlfriend Anna, they asked my 4-year-old and my 2-year-old to be flower girls. The girls were as thrilled as I was terrified.
Story
City & County
Chamber Vision 2022: Health Care, Lake
The Jackson metropolitan area now has a 10-year plan in the fields of education, health care, economic development, infrastructure, public transportation, arts and culture and the aerospace industry.
Story
Officials Watching Damaged Dam
Lamar County officials are using pumps to drop water levels in an earthen dam at the southern end of the Lake Serene system that was damaged by the heavy rains …
Story
Development
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson Says 'One Lake' Violates Federal Laws
In a surprise move, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and a coalition of businesses, public-interest organizations and citizens are speaking out against a draft plan to dam the Pearl River and …
Story
Supes Debate Jails, Two Lakes
On Monday, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors held a contentious special meeting, discussing jail expansion, use of empty space at the Henley-Young Youth Detention Center, and the LeFleur Lakes …
Story
JFP Wins 3 First-Place Reporting Awards, Second for ‘Two Lakes' Work
At its 60th annual Green Eyeshade banquet near Atlanta, Ga., Saturday night, the Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Jackson Free Press three first-place reporting awards and second-place public service …
Story
National
Water is Buried Beneath Martian Landscape, Study Says
A huge lake of salty water appears to be buried deep in Mars, raising the possibility of finding life on the red planet.
Story
PEER to Levee Board: Move Faster!
The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District's navel-gazing on flood control along the Pearl River this month drew fire from he Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and …
Story
Urban Oasis
I never knew that 305 acres of state park with trails and a lake are right in the middle of Jackson. I knew where LeFleur's Bluff was, but I just …
Story
[Johnson] Charrette or Charade?
"(The LeFleur Lakes) plan is really unpopular with everyone but you, John. It is a different world when you are not in the room. There is no question that this …
Story
Lessons From Texas?
The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District can take a lesson from Fort Worth, Texas, Waggoner Engineering owner Joe Waggoner said at the Oct. 27 Levee Board meeting.
Entry
La. Parish Council Rejects 'One Lake'
By R.L. NaveThe chorus of opposition among environmental advocates and downriver residents against a flood-control lake project is growing louder.
Thursday night, the St. Tammany Parish, La., council passed a resolution opposing a plan proffered by groups with ties to petroleum businessman John McGowan. Known locally as "One Lake," the flood-control plan involves damming the Pearl River to keep flooding down in the capital city and would create water-front development opportunities.
St. Tammany Parish officials are concerned about the proposed lake's effects on water levels, salinity, wetlands and wildlife.
In statement, Andrew Whitehurst, director of water policy director with the Gulf Restoration Network, said: “Combined with existing effects to the Pearl from the Ross Barnett Reservoir, a new 1,500 acre lake in the Jackson area is inevitably going to impact the flow and amount of water that reaches downstream communities like Monticello, Columbia and Pearlington in Mississippi, and Pearl River in Louisiana.
Whitehurst added: "Oyster beds and coastal marshes in both states rely on the vital fresh water that the Pearl provides and this proposed dam is a direct threat to that resource.”
The Jackson Free Press emailed Dallas Quinn, spokesman for Pearl River Vision Foundation, which McGowan created in 2011 for the purposes of completing an environmental-impact assessment that will be used as part of a federal application to proceed with flood plan, and will update the story when Quinn responds.
PRVF and the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood Control and Drainage District (Levee Board) recently held a scoping meeting in Jackson to address concerns and questions from members of the public.
The meeting was well attended, but conservation-minded attendees were disappointed with the format. Several people who spoke to the Jackson Free Press believe the meeting was designed to suppress any perceived public opposition to the plan.
Keith Turner, the Levee Board's attorney, said he believed the format was better for soliciting feedback and addressing concerns that a traditional public meeting in which individuals speak from a microphone one after the other.
Story
Story
Development
A Waiting Game: What’s Next with ‘One Lake,’ Flood Control?
Despite multiple roadblocks and open questions, the controversial plan to create a large lake along the Pearl River for flood control and potential development in the Jackson area continues to …
Story
Biz Roundup
McB's, Cuticles and Allstate Entrepreneurs
Flowood restaurateur Tony Hancock expanded into Ridgeland two months ago when he purchased McB's Restaurant.
Story
Jennifer Lake Adelsheimer
When Jennifer Lake Adelsheimer switched her career path, she had no idea that decision would take her aboard cruise ships, to Disney World and ultimately land her a job as …
Story
Restoration Work About to Begin at Elvis' Circle G Ranch
As the faithful gather in Memphis for Monday evening's candlelight vigil and other Elvis Week events, work is about to heat up just to the south at Presley's former Circle …
Document
One Lake Comments DEIS
One Lake Comments DEIS
Story
Cost of Flood Study Could Jump
A study examining flood control along the Pearl River could cost taxpayers twice as much, due to post- Katrina requirements, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told the Levee Board …
Story
Environment
Beach Bacteria: DNA Tests Offer Quicker Results
Just in time for swimsuit season, federal researchers are touting a faster, more accurate water-quality test to keep beaches open and people healthy.
