Mississippi

Cedar Rapids Floods

Coastal States Are Building in Flood Zones Faster Than Anywhere Else

Here's a trillion dollar real estate market on the coasts of the United States—and it's building itself into rising levels of risk.

August 5, 2019 - The New York Times

Toxic Algae Bloom

Algae Bloom Shutting Down Mississippi Beaches

The Gulf Coast is facing the environmental threat of algae blooms that cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

July 9, 2019 - The Houston Chronicle

California Wildflowers

Where, and Why, Allergies Are Worst

Your senses (or lack thereof) aren't deceiving you. Some cities really are worse for seasonal allergies than others, and some of the reasons are entirely preventable.

July 3, 2019 - The Guardian

Mississippi State Capitol

The Political Segregation of U.S. Cities

Not all urban dwellers are as liberal as conventional wisdom would have us believe.

May 21, 2019 - FiveThirtyEight

Volunteers

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays

Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.

April 5, 2018 - Bloomberg

Gas Pumps

Missouri Governor: Don't Show Me a Gas Tax Hike!

It is an understatement that Increasing fuel taxes is challenging. If there is an opportune time to do it, it's when gas prices are relatively low, when the state decides to cut other taxes, and when there's bipartisan support.

February 13, 2018 - St. Louis Public Radio

Gas

A Progressive Gas Tax?

One of the criticisms of gas taxes is that it is regressive, i.e., everyone pays the same per-gallon price. A Mississippi legislator has a solution: Eliminate the income tax on the lowest income bracket in exchange for hiking the gas tax 12-cents.

February 5, 2018 - Associated Press

tennessee

What is Appalachia, Really?

If you want to understand rural America, critics say, look beyond Hillbilly Elegy.

December 16, 2017 - Chitucky

Pumping Station 2

Hurricane Nate to Test New Orlean's Drainage System

Nate will make landfall southeast of New Orleans on Saturday night as possibly a category 2 hurricane after leaving at least 22 dead in Central America. It's not so much the levees but the pumps and generators that have city officials worried.

October 8, 2017 - The New York Times

Drinking Water

The Sorry State of U.S. Water Infrastructure

Water bills are going up because pipes put in shortly after World War II are in need of repair and replacement all over the country, and federal funding for water is shrinking.

May 17, 2017 - Vox

Civil Engineers Release U.S. Infrastructure Scorecard: D+

Every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers issues a report on the state of America's infrastructure, extensively cited by the media. This year's report, released March 9, shows no improvement over 2013's, but do check the subcategories

March 10, 2017 - American Society Of Civil Engineers

First 'Clean Coal' Facility in the U.S. Now Operational

The country's first "clean coal" facility has also been described as "the world's largest post-combustion carbon capture system."

January 16, 2017 - The Washington Post

Gas Pump

New Year's Day State Gas Tax Increases, Decreases, and What Lies Ahead

Pennsylvania, the state that had the highest gas tax last year, saw the highest gas tax increase of 7.9 cents per gallon, the final increment of a 2013 law. Michigan's 7.3 cents tax increase, signed into law in 2015, is the second largest increase.

January 11, 2017 - Tax Justice Blog

More Towns Mimicking New Orleans and Allowing Public Drinking

It used to be that only New Orleans and Las Vegas allowed people to carry a drink outdoors and imbibe in public. Now cities all over the country, mostly in traditionally conservative states, are loosening their laws.

November 9, 2016 - Stateline

Controversial Clean Coal Plant is Subject of Investigative Journalism

Things have gone terribly wrong at Mississippi's Kemper County energy facility, a federally supported, $6.7 billion carbon capture and storage coal power plant that is now two years behind schedule and $4 billion over budget.

July 8, 2016 - The New York Times

Protesting racism

$10.6 Million Fine Proves Some Banks Are Still Redlining

A Mississippi-based bank will pay $10.6 million for discriminatory lending practices.

July 8, 2016 - Next City

Road Projects Shut Down in New Jersey As Funds Run Out

A bill to replenish the state transportation trust fund by increasing the gas tax 23 cents per gallon stalled in the Senate because it would also cut $2 billion annually to the state's general fund.

July 5, 2016 - Planetizen

Clear-Sky Flood

Welcome to a Changed Climate: It Even Floods When it's Sunny

A new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration documents the increasing frequency of nuisance floods and "clear-sky flooding."

June 11, 2016 - USA Today

Uhaul Trucks

Op-Ed: More Domestic Migration Needed in the United States

An op-ed in the New York Times makes a cogent case for increasing movement between states for self-betterment, specifically from high unemployment states to states like New Hampshire and North Dakota, and what policy changes would encourage it.

June 1, 2016 - The New York Times

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