AGP Executive Report

Water Quality Watch: MDEQ issued a water contact advisory for Trahon Creek in Jackson and Byram, citing an ongoing sewage bypass and urging people to avoid swimming, wading and fishing in the affected stretch to the Pearl River. Beach Updates: MDEQ lifted water contact advisories for Long Beach and Biloxi East Central Beach after bacteria levels hit acceptable ranges, leaving just one advisory still in effect along the coast. Local Conservation: A Mississippi couple helped release nearly 500 dusky gopher frogs into restored wetlands, part of a long-running effort to bring the species back after habitat loss and fire suppression. Jobs and Aviation: Liberty Alliance is expanding into Hancock County, leasing hangar space at Stennis International Airport and expected to add about 13–15 jobs tied to unmanned systems work. Air Pollution Fight (Region): A big crowd packed a Louisiana DEQ hearing on an air permit for the Hyundai Steel mill, with supporters citing jobs and opponents raising public health and environmental concerns. Ag Policy: Mississippi State’s Whitney Crow was appointed to an EPA advisory committee focused on farm, ranch and rural community issues. Noise and Data Centers (Region): A new lawsuit targets data-center noise impacts, adding to a growing wave of legal challenges tied to operations.

Industrial Pollution & Public Input: A large crowd packed a Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality hearing on an air permit tied to the Hyundai Steel project near Donaldsonville, with groups like the Sierra Club and Louisiana Bucket Brigade raising public health and community concerns alongside supporters citing jobs. Flood Resilience: Meridian City Council approved $75,000 for Willis Engineering to evaluate flood damage from April 2026, using photos and LiDAR to map creek and ditch blockages and recommend next steps. River Habitat Change: In Wisconsin, the Black River has begun rerouting through Tank Creek, exposing parts of the riverbed; wardens say it’s still active habitat and warn visitors against driving on the exposed waterway. Mississippi Wildlife & Hunting: A Mississippi woman landed a 770-pound, 13-foot alligator on her first-ever hunt after drawing a permit. Wetlands Science: LSU and URI won a $4 million NSF grant to improve coastal wetland restoration planning by linking Louisiana delta wetlands and Rhode Island salt marsh research. PFAS Cleanup Push: 374Water announced it will exhibit at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans, promoting supercritical water oxidation to destroy PFAS. Data Center Impacts: Reports highlight noise and power strain concerns as AI-driven data centers expand, including turbine shutdowns tied to a Southaven facility.

Mississippi Wildlife: The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks says the state’s black bear population is now estimated at about 400 to 500 bears, mostly in western Mississippi, with officials stressing that more sightings don’t automatically mean a hunting season is coming soon. Mississippi Hunting Rules: The state is considering a rule change for deer supplemental feeding that would remove “stationary” from the description of spin-cast feeders, potentially allowing broader use while also aiming to reduce unnatural wildlife concentrations around feeders. River & Water Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved forward on replacing New Orleans’ Industrial Canal lock after completing the environmental review, selecting a final plan meant to ease navigation bottlenecks. PFAS & Water Tech: 374Water announced it will attend WEFTEC in New Orleans to showcase supercritical water oxidation technology aimed at permanently destroying PFAS. Wetlands Research: LSU and URI received a $4 million NSF grant to advance coastal wetland science, linking Louisiana delta wetlands and Rhode Island salt marshes through shared tools and data. Lower Mississippi Habitat Funding: NFWF announced nearly $5 million in grants to restore forests and wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

Climate & Health: A new report warns climate change is helping yellow fever reappear in places that haven’t seen cases in years, as warmer conditions expand mosquito-friendly habitat. Air Pollution Fight: Mississippi and other Republican attorneys general are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse tighter federal soot pollution limits, arguing the rules were improperly changed outside the usual review process. Local Air & Noise: In Southaven, residents say an AI data center is driving noise and air pollution; SpaceXAI has cut power by shutting down 11 temporary turbines and says it’s working to reduce impacts while building a permanent power plant. Pipelines & Public Interest: The Southern Environmental Law Center says FERC rubber-stamped two new 500+ mile methane pipeline proposals across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi despite concerns about harm to river watersheds, air quality, and wildlife. Invasive Species: Work to block invasive carp from the Great Lakes has been halted as juvenile carp are found closer to Lake Michigan than ever. Mississippi Outdoors & Learning: A Warsaw Envirothon team competed at Mississippi State University, testing skills from aquatic ecology to nonpoint-source pollution.

Data Center Air & Noise Fallout in Mississippi: SpaceXAI shut off 11 temporary turbines powering its Southaven data center and is starting the process to remove 69 turbines after reaching an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, while the company says air quality monitoring shows it meets EPA standards. Pollution Limits in Court: Mississippi AG Russell Coleman and other GOP attorneys general asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a decision upholding tighter Biden-era soot pollution limits, arguing the EPA exceeded its authority. Gulfport Jobs, Maritime Tech: Ocean Aero is expanding in Gulfport with a $4 million project expected to create 45 jobs, boosting manufacturing space for its autonomous TRITON systems. Heat, Health, and Cooling Tradeoffs: A new study highlights how air conditioning saves lives but also increases fossil-fuel emissions and worsens climate warming, raising the stakes for heat planning. Invasive Carp Threat: Work on the Great Lakes’ Brandon Road barrier system was halted after juvenile invasive carp were found closer to Lake Michigan than ever, prompting calls to resume the $1.15 billion project. Pollinator Census in Mississippi: Citizen scientists joined a Great Southeast Pollinator Census, including Mississippi, to track bees, butterflies, flies, and other pollinators. Mississippi Wildlife Update: The state’s black bear program says the population is likely 400 to 500 bears statewide, with hunting years away unless numbers can sustain.

Heat and storms: A busy weather week is building across the region, with the Mississippi-Louisiana Gulf Coast watching a tropical disturbance (50% chance over 7 days) while the Mississippi Valley and mid-Atlantic brace for dangerous heat and periodic thunderstorms that could bring flash flooding, hail, and damaging winds. Gulf science leadership: Mississippi State faculty and atmospheric sciences expert Jamie Dyer was named director of the NOAA-led Northern Gulf Institute, expanding research and outreach on climate, weather, coastal and marine ecosystems. Gulf water quality: Researchers measured the 2026 northern Gulf hypoxic “dead zone” at about 1,332 square miles—second-smallest on record—after storm conditions disrupted low-oxygen layering. Wildlife and outdoor life: Mississippi hunters reported a massive 13-foot, 7-inch alligator on opening night, and a Mississippi couple helped release nearly 500 critically endangered dusky gopher frogs back into restored habitat. Coastal habitat fight: Louisiana approved a major SpaceX Starbase plan on coastal wetlands tied to protected species, drawing renewed concern from wetlands experts. Local conservation wins: The Ridge Trail and boardwalk reopened at New Orleans’ Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, improving access to urban wildlife habitat.

Gulf Water Quality: A new NOAA-backed survey found the 2026 northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone measured about 1,332 square miles—its second-smallest “dead zone” on record—after Tropical Storm Bertha disrupted low-oxygen conditions. Mississippi Weather: A heat dome is set to drive hotter-than-normal days across the Mississippi Valley into the mid-Atlantic, with highs often 90s to near 100 and heat-safety warnings for Labor Day travel. Northern Gulf Institute: Mississippi State’s Jamie Dyer was named director of the Northern Gulf Institute, expanding NOAA-linked research and outreach on climate, weather, coastal and marine ecosystems. Invasive Species Watch: Researchers revisited how Illinois used rotenone in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to slow Asian carp—an effort tied to the Mississippi River basin’s connection to the Great Lakes. Wildlife & Outdoors: Mississippi hunters reported a 13-foot, 676-pound alligator on opening night, while a separate conservation story highlights nearly 500 critically endangered dusky gopher frogs released in a Mississippi backyard. Data Centers & Power: Coverage also points to growing pressure from data centers on air and energy rules, with some states exploring small modular nuclear reactors to meet demand.

Coastal & Storm Watch: Parts of the Southeast, including Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida, face a weekend flash-flood threat as a slow-moving front brings repeated rounds of heavy rain and damaging winds. Gulf Health: Researchers measured the 2026 northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone at about 1,332 square miles—its second-smallest “dead zone” since surveys began—after storm conditions disrupted low-oxygen layering. Mississippi Wildlife: Mississippi hunters landed a 13-foot, 7-inch, 676-pound alligator on opening night, while another report highlights a 12-foot gator caught in the Mississippi River. Public Safety (Freshwater Risk): A North Carolina teen is critically ill after a brain-eating amoeba infection, following a Louisiana death—prompting renewed reminders to avoid getting warm freshwater up your nose. Local Science Leadership: MSU’s Jamie Dyer was named director of the Northern Gulf Institute, expanding NOAA-linked research and outreach on coastal and marine ecosystems. Weekend Flood Threat: Heat and storms are expected to return next week, raising the stakes for vulnerable communities.

Mississippi Winter Outlook: The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a warmer-than-usual winter for Mississippi, with the Gulf Coast likely mild but wetter and snow chances stronger in the north—best bets for snow are early January and mid-February. Wildlife & Waterways: A 12-foot, 4-inch alligator was caught on the Mississippi River during the state’s short alligator hunting season, a reminder to keep distance from public waterways. Coastal Storms & Heat: Gulf Coast forecasts warn of weekend storms and coastal flooding risk, then a return of hotter weather next week with heat indices climbing above 100. Bird Migration Watch: NEXRAD radar picked up a massive southbound migration—about 225 million birds—across states along and east of the Mississippi River. Local Habitat Improvements: Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans East reopened its Ridge Trail and boardwalk after upgrades. Mississippi Jobs in Tech & Water: Ocean Aero plans a $4 million expansion in Gulfport to add manufacturing space and create 45 jobs, building more of its autonomous underwater vehicles.

Mississippi Politics & Accountability: In Senatobia, new town demands answers after reporting alleges Police Chief Harold “Hal” Vanderford used racial slurs in private texts, raising calls for an independent investigation and transparency. Public Health & Climate-Linked Risk: Illinois experts warn cases of alpha-gal syndrome—life-threatening meat allergy triggered by tick bites—are rising as ticks expand their reach, with a potentially worse tick season ahead. Water & Wildlife: Great Lakes advocates are urging the Trump administration to lift a stop-work order on a barrier project meant to halt invasive carp, after hundreds of juvenile carp were found about 80 miles from Lake Michigan. Mississippi Economy & Ocean Tech: Ocean Aero plans a $4 million expansion in Gulfport to add manufacturing capacity and 45 jobs, growing its TRITON autonomous vehicles for defense, research, and energy missions. Energy & Air Quality Policy: A South Dakota legislative research memo highlights how hyperscale data centers could strain power and water planning, underscoring the broader clean-air debate around rapid data center buildouts. Mississippi Community & Nature: A Mississippi family says Musk’s data-center build-out is forcing them off land farmed for generations, fueling local concerns about land and environmental impacts.

Public Health: A rare “brain-eating amoeba” case in North Carolina is renewing attention to Naegleria fowleri, which can infect people when contaminated warm freshwater enters the nose; CDC data show most U.S. cases have historically clustered in the South. Air & Water Quality: Great Lakes groups are urging the Trump administration to lift a stop work order on the Brandon Road barrier meant to block invasive carp, after hundreds of juvenile fish were found near Lake Michigan. Energy & Climate Resilience: A new report highlights how heat waves strain the power grid by cutting both demand and supply—drought and warm water can force power plants to throttle back. Mississippi Industry & Jobs: Raytheon says it completed a $50 million expansion in Forest, adding space for radar and electronic warfare production and targeting 100 high-skill jobs by 2028. Local Environment & Safety: Mississippi’s 152nd Civil Engineering Squadron firefighters trained for aircraft rescue and firefighting in Gulfport using live-fire scenarios to maintain readiness. Community & Outdoors: Mississippi’s best camping list from Hipcamp includes 11 award-winning sites statewide, with options ranging from primitive spots to RV-friendly amenities.

Data Center Power Relief: Entergy Mississippi says revenue from rapidly expanding data centers helped keep summer electric rates flat, avoiding a projected $4.87 monthly July increase for customers. Defense Industry Expansion: Raytheon completed a $50 million expansion in Forest, Mississippi, adding 17,000 square feet to boost radar and electronic warfare production and aiming to create 100 high-skill jobs by 2028. Great Lakes Wildlife Fight: Groups are urging the restart of the Brandon Road Interbasin project after juvenile invasive carp were found near Lake Michigan, warning the fish could damage the region’s $7 billion fishery. Mississippi Health & Access: Gov. Sarah Sanders announced rural health transformation grants tied to telehealth and care coordination, part of a broader push to expand services in underserved areas. Recycling in Action: Mississippi’s MPCA debuted “Reuse Rooms” at the State Fair, showcasing how secondhand materials can outfit an entire space. Air Quality & Screening Gap: A lung cancer screening story highlights how asbestos exposure risk for Mississippi workers and veterans often isn’t captured by current screening rules.

Mississippi River health and reuse: The Mississippi River gets a spotlight at Minnesota’s State Fair, where the MPCA debuts “Reuse Rooms” built entirely from rescued materials—and pairs it with a display marking 100 years since an early river survey found just three living fish between Minneapolis and Hastings, while today the river supports 120+ species. Rural support with a climate-adjacent angle: U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith highlighted her Rural Mothers and Fathers Choice Act, pitching federal grants for rural and tribal “resource hubs” covering childcare, education, workforce, and health access—aimed at strengthening communities like rural Mississippi. Conservation leadership in Mississippi: Mississippi State associate professor John Ramirez-Avila won two national Soil and Water Conservation Society awards for soil and water work, including Mississippi watershed research and nutrient-reduction efforts in the Delta. Deer pressure on Mississippi farms: MSU’s Deer Lab says deer numbers have surged to about 1.75 million, with hunters harvesting far fewer than before—pushing deer to row crops and driving millions in economic damage. Data centers and local impacts: Georgia Tech experts fielded questions in Effingham County, Georgia, about OpenAI’s proposed data center, focusing on electricity, water use, cooling, and noise—issues that echo concerns Mississippi families have raised about major data-center builds.

Mississippi land & air concerns: A Mississippi family says Elon Musk’s data-center build-out in Southaven is pushing them off ancestral land, citing nonstop noise and worries about air quality from a nearby power plant serving the projects. Louisiana coast risk: A liquefied natural gas terminal near New Orleans is seeking a major expansion using expedited “emergency” permitting, raising alarms that faster reviews could mean less scrutiny of dredging and wetland impacts in a rapidly shrinking coastal area. Pollution rules under pressure: A hard-won federal rule aimed at cutting chemical plant pollution is being unraveled, threatening tighter limits on toxic emissions from petrochemical facilities. Water quality funding: EPA selected 24 Gulf Watershed projects to improve water quality and support local economies, with grants aimed at reducing nutrient runoff and harmful algal blooms. Wildlife & habitat: A proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule drew criticism for potentially opening protected forest areas to more road-building and logging. Local fire response: A woods fire in Gautier burned about 15 acres and was fully contained after crews from multiple agencies responded. Mississippi Gulf science leadership: MSU named Jamie Dyer director of the Northern Gulf Institute, expanding NOAA-linked research and outreach on climate, weather, and coastal ecosystems. Storm recovery help: After weekend outages, Mid-South nonprofits delivered food and temporary power, including generator support, to people still without electricity.

Gulf Water Quality Funding: The EPA picked 24 projects across the Gulf of America watershed for water-quality work and local economic benefits, with grants ranging from $500,000 to $1 million over 3 to 5 years. Coastal Habitat Under Pressure: Wildlife groups are urging the FAA not to waive environmental review rules tied to SpaceX’s proposed $100 billion Starbase Louisiana on Pecan Island, warning coastal wetlands and migratory species could be harmed. Big Space Expansion: SpaceX says construction on Starbase Louisiana would start next year, with a first Starship launch targeted for 2029, aiming for a “self-sustaining” spaceport that includes fuel, power, shipping, and possibly an airport. Mississippi River Safety Planning: Little Falls is holding a Sept. 17 open house on Highway 27 bridge alternatives, including separating the road from an at-grade railroad crossing to improve safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Climate Tech Reality Check: A new study questions how much carbon removal “enhanced weathering” from basalt can actually deliver in the real world. Mississippi Science Leadership: MSU’s Jamie Dyer was named director of the Northern Gulf Institute, NOAA’s Gulf-focused research and outreach consortium. Severe Weather Watch: Forecasters flagged a risk of damaging storms across parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, including Mississippi.

SpaceX Starbase Louisiana: SpaceX unveiled a $100 billion, 125,000-acre Starship launch complex on Pecan Island near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, with construction starting next year and the first launches targeted for 2029—plans that would reshape coastal wetlands and could affect hurricane protection and wildlife habitat. Local Pushback: Three wildlife groups are urging the FAA not to waive environmental review requirements tied to the project, warning the changes could harm species that live in or migrate through the area. Mississippi Tick Alert: Mississippi State University researchers say the Asian longhorned tick has been confirmed in nearby states but not yet in Mississippi, and they’re asking residents to help detect it early because of the tick’s rapid spread and livestock risk. Severe Weather Watch: Forecasters warn Wednesday storms could bring damaging winds up to 60 mph and large hail across Arkansas and parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, including areas near Mississippi. B-52 Radar Upgrade: The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a $603 million contract for new AN/APQ-188 radar for B-52s, replacing older equipment and improving all-weather targeting and navigation.