NATIONAL GUARD PROVIDES HELP AFTER TORNADO DAMAGE IN MISSISSIPPI

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

GUARDSMEN PROVIDE RELIEF TO MISSISSIPPI RESIDENTS AFTER TORNADOES

An aerial view shows tornado damage to houses in Tupelo, Miss., April 28, 2014. Mississippi National Guard photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jessica McCormick.

An aerial view shows tornado damage to a home in Louisville, Miss., April 29, 2014, where about 50 Mississippi Guardsmen responded to help. Mississippi National Guard photo by U.S. Army Maj. Andy Thaggard.

FEDS SEND MORE FUNDING TO AID IN SEVERE WEATHER RECOVERY EFFORTS IN MISSISSIPPI

FROM:  LABOR DEPARTMENT 

Additional funding awarded to Mississippi to assist ongoing cleanup 
and recovery efforts from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $833,835 National Emergency Grant incremental award to continue with the cleanup and recovery efforts resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi on Feb. 10, 2013. These funds are being awarded to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to create temporary jobs for eligible individuals to assist in cleanup efforts.

"The residents of Mississippi recovering from the devastating storms last February," said Eric M. Seleznow, acting assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "This funding will help create the jobs necessary to provide assistance to the communities impacted by this damaging weather system."
This grant was first approved on March 4, 2013, for up to $2,000,000, with $1,000,000 initially released, to assist in the aftermath of the Mississippi severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. This incremental award brings the total funds awarded for this project to $1,833,835, which is projected to create a total of 95 temporary jobs.

Following the Mississippi severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared Forrest, Lamar, Marion and Wayne counties as eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program. The state is targeting Forrest and Lamar counties for assistance under this grant.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines.

Editor's Note: Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Eric M. Seleznow's radio actuality on National Emergency Grants is available for public use.

U.S.- MISSISSIPPI ANNOUNCE CLEAN WATER ACT AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF JACKSON

Photo Credit:  Wikimedia.

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Justice, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced today a comprehensive Clean Water Act settlement with the city of Jackson, Miss. Jackson has agreed to make improvements to its sewer systems to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage and unauthorized bypasses of treatment at the Savanna Street Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), the city’s largest wastewater treatment facility. When wastewater systems overflow, they can release untreated sewage and other pollutants into local waterways, threatening water quality and contributing to beach closures and disease outbreaks.

"EPA is working with cities to protect the nation’s waters from raw sewage overflows that can have significant impacts on people’s health and the environment," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Today’s settlement will lead to improvements in the management of wastewater overflows, which will reduce water pollution and benefit the Jackson community for years to come."

"This agreement will bring lasting benefits to the people of Jackson by reducing the threats to public health posed by untreated sewage overflows," said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The settlement will bring the city into compliance with the nation’s Clean Water Act, requiring significant upgrades to the existing sewer system. Under the settlement, assistance will be provided to residents to repair sewer connections in lower-income areas that have suffered historically from overflows of untreated sewage"

The consent decree requires Jackson to implement specific programs designed to ensure proper management, operation and maintenance of its sewer systems. In order to address the problem of wet weather overflows of raw sewage from the sewer lines, Jackson will develop and implement a comprehensive sewer system assessment and rehabilitation program. The city will also develop and implement a comprehensive performance evaluation and composite correction program to reduce the bypasses of treatment at the Savanna Street WWTP.

The consent decree also requires Jackson to develop and implement numerous sewer system capacity, management, operations and maintenance programs, including a pump station operation and preventive maintenance program, a WWTP operation and maintenance program and a water quality monitoring program.

In addition to the control requirements, the consent decree requires Jackson to pay a civil penalty of $437,916. As part of the settlement, Jackson has also agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project valued at $875,000 that will provide additional environmental benefits to the local community. The project involves reducing the flow of water from entering the sewer system by eliminating illicit stormwater connections and repairing defective private lateral sewer lines from the low-income residential properties.

Keeping raw sewage and contaminated stormwater out of the waters of the United States is one of the EPA’s national enforcement initiatives for 2011 to 2013. The initiative focuses on reducing sewer overflows, which can present a significant threat to human health and the environment. These reductions are accomplished by obtaining cities’ commitments to implement timely, affordable solutions to these problems, including the increased use of green infrastructure and other innovative approaches.

The United States has reached similar agreements in the past with numerous municipal entities across the country including Mobile and Jefferson County (Birmingham), Ala.; Atlanta and Dekalb County, Ga.; Memphis, Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn.; Miami-Dade County, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Oh.; Northern Kentucky Sanitation District #1 and Louisville MSD, Ky.

The proposed consent decree with Jackson is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval before becoming effective.


　

USS MISSISSIPPI SUBMARINE VISITS MISSISSIPPI

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
Official U.S. Navy Photo
COMSUBGRU 2 Visits Mississippi, Praises State for Support of Submarine and Crew
y Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- Commander, Submarine Group 2 visited the Mississippi Gulf Coast May 16-18 in preparation of the commissioning of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Mississippi (SSN 782), the ninth Virginia-class submarine.

The future USS Mississippi will be commissioned in Pascagoula on June 2.

"This is going to be an incredible moment for the history of the state," said Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, who met with host-city officials, PCU Mississippi Commissioning Committee members and submarine veterans during his visit to the Magnolia State.

While meeting with submarine veterans from the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. (USSVI) Base, in Biloxi, Breckenridge thanked them for their contributions and support.

"The spirit and pride that you all have for the future USS Mississippi is eye-watering," said Breckenridge. "The hospitality, support and the response from the citizens of Mississippi for their ship has been phenomenal."

Breckenridge added that their namesake state will play a pivotal role in the history of the boat and forge a strong bond that will endure during its lifespan of 33 years.

"When the ship is brought to life and the crew is called to man their ship, that is when USS Mississippi will become part of the U.S. Navy," said Breckenridge, who added that the future USS Mississippi will be the fifth ship to bear the name of its namesake state.

Herbert Edmonds attended a submarine veterans meeting with the admiral and he praised the technological advancements of the Virginia-class program.

"The ship is all computerized, completely different from what I served aboard, but I'm so looking forward to see it," said Edmonds.

Edmonds is one of 50 members of the USSVI Tullibee Base of Mississippi, which was charted on Aug. 25, 2001. The oldest member of the USSVI Tullibee Base, retired Lt. Cmdr. Richard Halloran, 91, served 29 years in the Navy and volunteered for submarine service, ultimately serving aboard six submarines while on active duty.

Virginia-class submarines are built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News. Construction on the submarine began in February 2007 and will be commissioned June 2, 2012.

Once commissioned, Mississippi, like all Virginia-class submarines is designed to dominate both the littorals and deep oceans. It will serve as a valuable asset in supporting the core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence.

AG PEREZ SPEAKS ON MISSISSIPPI CONVICTIONS IN RACIALLY MOTIVATED MURDER CASE

The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:
Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Speaks at a Press Conference Regarding Guilty Pleas in Mississippi Jackson, Miss. ~ Thursday, March 22, 2012
As prepared for delivery
Today is an important day in the journey for justice for the family of James Craig Anderson, and other African American victims of senseless, racially motivated violence in Jackson.  Earlier today, the Department of Justice secured guilty pleas from three of the individuals responsible for the brutal, racially motivated murder of James Anderson.  This is the eighth case brought under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and the first involving the death of a victim.  The Shepard-Byrd Act was named in memory of James Byrd Jr., who died a horrific death in Jasper, Texas, after being dragged behind a pick-up truck on an asphalt road with his ankles bound by a chain.  Mr. Byrd’s death shocked the conscience of the nation.  Sadly, the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Anderson are a shocking reminder of how hate fueled violence manifests itself in unthinkable ways.

This is a case about a group of racist thugs who made a sport of targeting vulnerable African Americans in Jackson, and attacking them without provocation, simply because of the color of their skin.  On a number of occasions, they drove around Jackson looking for African Americans to assault.  Jackson is a venerable community.  However, for these defendants, Jackson was “Jafrica”; African Americans were subhuman, and their mission was to drive around Jackson looking for African Americans to attack.  They used many different weapons in carrying out their sport.  Beer bottles and fists were typical tools of their trade.  They took great pleasure one evening in watching one victim plead for his life after they had brutally assaulted him.

Their sport took a deadly turn on the early morning of June 26, 2011.  On that fateful morning, defendants Deryl Dedmon, Dylan Wade Butler and John Aaron Rice and others were driving around Jackson looking for African Americans to attack when they spotted James Craig Anderson, a 47-year-old African American who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.   Defendants Rice and Butler spotted Mr. Anderson and concluded that he was an inviting target, and they corralled him while Dedmon and others arrived.  After Mr. Anderson got back to his feet, defendant Dedmon and others got into what became the murder weapon, a Ford F-250 pickup truck, which weighs over a ton, and proceeded to deliberately run over Mr. Anderson.  As they drove away, one of the participants placed a call on a cell phone bragging about their accomplishment.    

Following the murder of James Byrd Jr., I travelled to Texas as part of the Justice Department’s investigation and, among other things, toured the crime scene with the case investigators.  I remember vividly reflecting on how it was possible that such a depraved act could have occurred.  I hoped that such a crime would never occur again.  Sadly, I was mistaken.  Yesterday, defendant Dedmon pleaded guilty to a state charge of depraved heart murder.  That description is a spot on characterization of this hate crime.

We would like to think that horrific crimes such as these are in the history books, not today’s headlines.  Sadly, hate crimes remain a persistent problem in our nation .  We must and will remain ever vigilant in our common humanity to root out hate and violence when it rears its ugly face.  Hate crimes such as this simply have no place in Jackson, in Mississippi or anywhere in America.  No one in our nation should live in fear being attacked because of the color of their skin, their ethnicity, the God they choose to worship or whom they love.

The Justice Department will use every tool at its disposal to root out hate crimes.  The Civil Rights Division, in conjunction with its partners in the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI, has aggressively focused on prosecuting hate crime cases, and our prosecutions are on the rise.  Last year, the department convicted the most defendants on hate crimes charges in over a decade.  And, over the past three fiscal years, the department has prosecuted 35 percent more hate crime cases than during the preceding three year period.  The Byrd-Shepard law is a critical new tool for combating hate crimes.  Already, 27 defendants have been charged in cases across the country.  There is an undeniable headwind of intolerance that rears its ugly head in different ways, whether it is today’s events or the arson of mosques, assaults on immigrants and brutal attacks of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered.

Our work is not finished, either here in Jackson or across America.  Let me be clear about this case.  Yesterday’s state court plea and today’s guilty pleas of the three defendants mark an important milestone in this investigation.  But our work is not finished, and our investigation continues, and I fully expect additional activity.  We will not rest until every responsible individual is brought to justice.

Last year, I had the privilege of traveling to Jackson to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders historic and courageous journey for justice.  It was a memorable day here in Jackson.   Mississippi and indeed America have come a long way in the journey for equal opportunity.  Today’s guilty pleas should not obscure the progress we have made in Jackson and communities across America in ensuring equal justice under law.  At the same time, today’s guilty pleas and the horrific facts of this hate crime are another reminder that civil rights remains the unfinished business of America.

I had an opportunity to meet with some of the victim’s family members.  You have shown enormous patience and fortitude in the face of this tragedy.  Days like today are invariably bittersweet for loved ones.  Nothing we can do will bring Mr. Anderson back.  I am hopeful that yesterday’s and today’s guilty pleas bring some sense of justice for Mr. Anderson’s loving friends and family.  Again, I assure you that our work is not done.

We are grateful to our partners in this investigation and prosecution.  I’d like to personally thank United States Attorney John Dowdy and his office for their partnership; Special Agent in Charge Dan McMullen and the FBI for dedicating tremendous resources and countless man hours in this investigation, including conducting more than 200 interviews; District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith and his office for their work and cooperation in reaching global dispositions on these three defendants; and Chief Rebecca Coleman and the Jackson Police Department for their participation in the investigation.