Author: Imported Author 1980807

Adams County officials on Monday reviewed damage from a Sunday night storm that brought down trees and caused widespread power outages. Nearly 1,000 utility customers in the county remained without power as of late Monday afternoon, according to poweroutage.com. About 600 of those customers are served by Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association, and nearly 400 are connected to Entergy.

Fallen trees blocked several county roads, including Greenfield, Montgomery, and Steam Plant roads, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. A truck struck a fallen tree on Steam Plant Road, sending two passengers to the hospital. A tree also fell on a residence on Mullin Road, but no serious injuries were reported.

In Louisiana, Democratic legislators said they remain confident in their agenda as the state’s legislative session enters its second week. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Kyle Green said the caucus is focused on addressing the financial strain caused by rising prices for groceries, gas, housing, and utilities. Green said there are no discussions within the caucus about lowering the state sales tax rate, noting that broader conversations are underway about potentially phasing out the state income tax.

Authorities in Claiborne County have opened an investigation after human remains were found in a decomposed state. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case. Officials have not released the cause of death or the specific location where the remains were discovered.

A proposal in the Louisiana House that would have allowed law enforcement to issue $25 fines to pedestrians looking at their phones while using crosswalks was unanimously rejected by the House Transportation Committee. The bill’s author, Representative Mike Beahamed of Chalmette, said the measure was intended to improve pedestrian safety. Some committee members expressed concern about government overreach, including Representative Joy Walters of Shreveport.

The Mississippi River at Natchez-Vidalia measured 37.30 feet and is rising.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is urging drivers to use seatbelts and child car seats properly following a crash on Davis Court. A child in the vehicle was not injured when the car struck a tree. The driver was transported to a hospital for a medical evaluation.

A court watchdog organization is voicing opposition to a proposed Louisiana constitutional amendment that would allow the state Senate to remove judges and district attorneys at the governor’s recommendation. The interim director of Court Watch NOLA says Senate Bill 123, sponsored by Senator Jay Morris, would override the choices of voters who elect those officials. The organization notes that the Louisiana Judiciary Commission already exists to investigate concerns about judicial or prosecutorial conduct.

Mississippi lawmakers are considering legislation that would create a review panel to examine causes of infant and fetal deaths. The panel, operating under the Mississippi State Department of Health, would study deaths of infants within their first year of life as well as stillbirths. Medical professionals and public health experts would serve on the panel.

Election security is a focus of the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office for the 2026 legislative session. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the legislative package includes a bill that would prohibit taking photos of voter registration information in precinct registers to protect personal data. Another bill would compare the state’s voter rolls with the federal SAVE program to identify potential non-citizens. A third measure would establish specific forms of identification permitted at polling locations.

The Mississippi River at Natchez-Vidalia is at 33.95 feet and rising.

Adams County Supervisor Kevin Wilson thanked residents for their support as he pledged to continue his campaign for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District. Wilson trails Ron Eller in the Republican primary by 442 votes. The primary winner will face Democrat Bennie Thompson, who has held the seat since 1993.

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain reported that crawfish processors are facing a severe shortage of labor due to a halt in H-2B visa application processing by the Department of Homeland Security. Farmers have been unable to bring in guest workers to peel crawfish, and 15 of the state’s 20 major processors have not received any workers. Strain said the job is one that Americans will not perform, even at wages above $18 per hour, and that guest workers can only be requested when no American applicants are available. He estimated the shortage is costing crawfish farmers more than $120 million and the broader economy more than $300 million.

Severe storms caused one death and three injuries in Lawrence County. According to the county coroner, a man died at the scene on Highway 27 south of Monticello after a vehicle struck a tree. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported storm damage in six counties: Amite, Lawrence, Lincoln, Smith, Pike, and Walthall.

The National Weather Service reported that up to six tornadoes moved through southeast Louisiana on Wednesday night, affecting St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, and St. Tammany parishes. In Tangipahoa Parish, a suspected tornado brought down trees and power lines in areas around Roseland, Folsom, and Kentwood. Parish President Robbie Miller said there were no major property damages, deaths, or injuries, though numerous trees and some outbuildings were affected.

The storms left thousands without power across Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Mississippi River at Natchez-Vidalia is at 29.32 feet and rising.

American Cruise Lines is moving forward with plans to construct its Natchez dock along the Mississippi River this year and will provide the city with $500,000 to support improvements to Natchez Under the Hill. During a meeting with the Natchez Board of Aldermen, Mayor Dan Gibson said the company is investing more than $4 million in the long-planned docking facility. The additional $500,000 could be combined with other funding sources to enhance the riverfront area along Silver Street. ACL currently leases a city‑owned riverboat landing at the end of Silver Street and has brought its riverboats to Natchez since 2012.

Louisiana small business owners are monitoring developments in Baton Rouge as the legislative session gets underway. Leah Long, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said business owners want lawmakers to further reduce the personal income tax rate and maintain fiscal responsibility. Long also said the state’s complex sales tax system continues to create challenges for small businesses, and she is advocating for a centralized sales tax collection process.

A bill that would increase pay for Mississippi teachers is advancing at the state capitol. Under the proposal, starting salaries for K‑12 teachers would rise to more than $47,000, with the increase phased in over three years. Special education teachers would receive a $9,000 raise, and assistant teachers could see a $2,000 increase. The bill now returns to the state House for additional debate.

In Louisiana, a proposal from Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow would allow voters to decide on raising the minimum wage. The bill would set the minimum wage at $10.25 per hour, followed by annual increases tied to the consumer price index. Barrow noted that the state’s minimum wage has remained at the federal level of $7.25 per hour for more than 17 years. Business groups argue that increasing the minimum wage could contribute to higher consumer prices and job losses.

The Mississippi River at Natchez is at 26.36 feet and rising.