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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Forecasters are warning about days of scorching, dangerous heat gripping a wide swath of the U.S. South and Midwest, where the heat index on Monday eclipsed 120 degrees (48.9 Celsius) in one town and climbed nearly that high in others.

“It feels like hell is what it feels like,” said Junae Brooks, who runs Junae’s Grocery in Holly Bluff, Mississippi. Around her, many of her customers kept cool with wet rags around their necks or by wearing straw hats.

Some of the most oppressive conditions were in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

The heat index soared to 121 degrees (49.4 Celsius) by late afternoon in Clarksdale, Mississippi; and to 119 degrees (48.3 Celsius) in West Memphis, Arkansas, the weather service reported. Similar readings were expected in eastern Oklahoma.

In Alabama, the temperature hit 100 degrees with a heat index of 106 degrees by mid-afternoon in Birmingham, the state’s largest city.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke were the leading threats.

“You are more likely to develop a heat illness quicker in this type of weather, when it’s really humid and hot,” said Gary Chatelain, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Shreveport, Louisiana, where a wet summer contributed to high humidity.

More of the same is in store for Tuesday, when heat and humidity will again make for dangerous heat indexes over a wide area. However, an approaching cool front should help ease the intense heat by Wednesday in some areas, Chatelain said.

“If you’re going out in the summer, prepare for the worst,” he said.

In the Mississippi Delta, farmers had no choice but to work in the fields Monday as they scrambled to clear debris and make repairs after floodwaters inundated the region in recent months, Brooks said. Farmers just now able to reach their land.

“The mosquitoes the gnats, the spiders, the snakes — all of them — have been way worse this year,” Brooks said.

In Alabama and Tennessee, high school football coaches were adjusting practice schedules Monday and Tuesday, with some moving the workouts indoors and others conducting training in the early morning or evening, The Tennessean reported .

Cooling stations were open in several cities, including Tulsa, Memphis, and Little Rock, Arkansas, officials said.

In northern Alabama, forecasters with the weather service’s Huntsville office said Monday they issued the first “excessive heat warning” for the area in more than seven years. Such a warning is more serious than a heat advisory.

The region hardest-hit by the heat wave could experience many more days each year when the heat index soars as the effects of climate change increase, scientists say.

Historically, cities such as Austin, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Tallahassee, Florida experience less than a week’s worth of days each year when the heat index is over 105 degrees (41 Celsius).

If no action is taken to stop climate change, the number of days when it’s that hot will soar in those cities and others, according to a recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, “Killer Heat in the United States .” By midcentury, Austin would see 59 days of such extreme heat in an average year. The number of days would increase to 57 in Baton Rouge; 52 in Jackson; and 50 in Tallahassee.

Southern states would feel the brunt of increasingly dangerous heat in coming years, said Astrid Caldas, one of the study’s authors.

“Texas and Florida stand out, but also of course Louisiana, and Mississippi and the whole area all the way up to North Carolina,” said Caldas, a climate scientist.

MORTON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on immigration raids at Mississippi food processing plants (all times local):

2:15 p.m.

U.S. immigration officials say raids at seven food processing plants in Mississippi resulted in 680 arrests.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Matthew Albence told The Associated Press that the arrest count from Wednesday’s raids may make it the largest workplace sting in more than a decade and probably the largest ever for a single state.

Authorities say about 600 agents fanned out across the plants, surrounding the perimeters to prevent workers from fleeing. They targeted several companies.

The raids happened in small towns near Jackson with a workforce made up largely of Latino immigrants. The towns hit include Bay Springs, Carthage, Canton, Morton, Pelahatchie and Sebastapol.

9:45 a.m.

U.S. immigration officials have launched raids at several Mississippi food processing plants.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said Wednesday that search warrants were executed at seven locations across the state targeting several companies. They include the Morton plant of poultry producer Koch Foods Inc., which has no relation to Charles and David Koch. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the operation were not intended for publication.

The official says owners as well as employees are targeted in a federal criminal investigation.

The AP witnessed dozens of agents ready to process the workers inside a military facility in Flowood, Miss., with seven lines, one for each location.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi health officials said the state, like others nationwide, is seeing an outbreak of contagious liver disease Hepatitis A and urging people to get vaccinated.

Twenty-three cases of the disease have been confirmed in Mississippi since April, State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said in a statement Wednesday. Over the nine previous years, Mississippi averaged about five cases a year.

Hepatitis A spreads through food or drink contaminated with feces of an infected person, personal and sexual contact with an infected person, and sharing objects with someone who is infected. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting; yellowing of the skin and eyes; and stomach pain, low appetite and fever.

The state Health Department has investigated all cases to identify others who have been in contact and vaccinate them, Byers said.

People most at risk include recreational drug users, current or recent jail inmates, men who have sex with men, and people who are homeless, according to Byers.

Vaccines are available for people without insurance at county health departments. They’re also available at medical offices and pharmacies. Spread of the disease can also be prevented by keeping clean, including thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom.

Cases have been reported in 14 counties statewide, with 61% of those infected hospitalized.

Mississippi has entered this summer’s West Nile virus (WNV) season with three human cases across the state since July.

West Nile virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and usually causes only mild symptoms. In some cases, though, it can cause flu-like symptoms resulting in weakness or fatigue that can last for weeks or months. In a few cases – especially for those who are older or in poor health – infection can cause serious illness, long-lasting neurological damage, or death.

Staying Protected

Avoid areas where mosquitoes are prevalent. These include damp, shaded areas outdoors, high grass or bushes, and areas with standing water. Mosquitoes are usually most active in the early morning and evenings.
Wear clothing that covers the arms and legs. This is one of the simplest ways to prevent mosquito bites, especially in areas where mosquitoes are highly active.
Apply a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient whenever you may be exposed to mosquitoes. Many formulations of repellent are available, with a wide range of effectiveness. Choose one that’s suitable for the degree of mosquito exposure you expect.
Make sure that window screens in your home are in good repair.
Empty outdoor containers where rainwater can accumulate, including small containers such as flowerpot saucers and yard debris. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon of water.
If there are areas in your yard or near your house where standing water collects, fill them in or otherwise keep them as dry as possible to prevent mosquito breeding.
More about West Nile virus and staying protected »

Choosing an effective mosquito repellent »

Health Briefs
Plant-Based Diet to Help Prevent Diabetes
Smart eating and being active daily are proven methods for reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, a major chronic disease in Mississippi. A new survey of research by the Harvard School of Public Health finds that a plant-based diet is a great way to get started on diabetes prevention. Evaluating the results of past studies on more than 300,000 adults revealed that simply adopting a diet that emphasized vegetables, whole grains and legumes (beans) lowered the risk of developing diabetes by 23 percent. That’s good news if you have pre-diabetes, too, since adding lower-sugar food choices to a plant-based diet can often effectively control pre-diabetes.

 

Explore on HealthyMS.com: Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Mediterranean Diet and Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women have good news from a new British study. Women who ate a Mediterranean-style diet had a 35 percent lower risk for developing diabetes in pregnancy, and gained almost three pounds less extra weight while they were expecting. Diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) can lead to problems with weight, delivery and health for a pregnant women’s child. A Mediterranean-style diet is centered around vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and adds nuts, olive oil and fish while reducing red meat and dairy.

 

Explore on HealthyMS.com: Having a Healthy Pregnancy
Related: Healthy eating every day
More…
Staying Heart-Healthy Means 16 More Years of Life

Regulatory Report
Food Facility Inspections
“C” inspection scores for the past seven days
Mississippi food facilities are graded A, B or C, reflecting whether critical violations were found during inspections and how quickly they were corrected. The facilities below received a grade of C for a critical violation not corrected at the time of inspection, or a critical violation repeated from a previous inspection.

Understanding food facility inspection grades »
Dragon Concourse
579 Goodman Rd, Southaven
Stateline Market
8960 Airways Blvd, Southaven
Paul’s Grocery
111 Hayden St, Belzoni
Hampton Inn
1815 Hwy 82 West, Greenwood
Knight’s Drive-In
1203 Victory Temple Dr, Amory
Hickory Pit
1491 Canton Mart, Jackson
Circle K No. 2723750
3326 Clay St, Vicksburg
Dairy Queen
1003 Brookway Blvd, Brookhaven
New Panda Palace Buffet
3920 Promenade Pkwy, D’Iberville
Schaffer’s Grocery
7180 Lakeshore Rd, Bay St. Louis

Boil-Water Notices
Precautions and alerts recently listed by MSDH
Romola Water Association
Claiborne County (Precautionary)
City of Mound Bayou
Bolivar County (Precautionary)

Child Care Facility Violations
Significant violations recently reported from Mississippi child care facility inspections
The Mississippi State Department of Health conducts regular inspections of licensed child care facilities to ensure compliance with state regulations.

Listed below are violations found during recent inspections that resulted in a monetary penalty for the facility. These violations have the potential to endanger children in these facilities, and include failure to maintain the minimum staff to child ratio, leaving children unattended, failure to conduct a background check, and lack of CPR/first aid training.

Mother Goose Learning Center 1, Cleveland 6/17/2019
Failure to maintain minimum staff to child ratio
Explorers, Inc., Pearl 6/5/2019
Children left unattended
Boys and Girls Club-Walker Unit Day Care, Jackson 7/9/2019
Failure to maintain minimum staff to child ratio
Kingdom Vision International Church, Columbus 7/9/2019
Children left unattended
Bright Start Learning Academy, Tunica 7/9/2019
Failure to maintain minimum staff to child ratio
Lack of recent CPR/First aid certification
Liberty Preschool Academy, Wiggins 6/3/2019
Children left unattended
Kinderlearn, Biloxi 6/26/2019
Failure to maintain minimum staff to child ratio
WBF Rainbow Learning Center, Jackson 7/3/2019
Failure to maintain minimum staff to child ratio
A Fresh Start and Time to Learn Center, Pearl 6/26/2019
Failure to maintain minimum staff to child ratio
Failure to conduct staff background check
Perkins Lil Treasures, Starkville 5/30/2019
Online database of child care facilities: Find general information, inspection records and penalties for any registered child care facility with our online database.

 

For a detailed report on any facility, please make a request in writing using our public records request process. Find out more »

Reportable Disease Statistics
Mississippi’s reportable disease statistics provide monthly figures and yearly totals of selected diseases of public health interest reported to MSDH by hospitals and other health care providers. Current and past months’ statistics, with details by public health district, can be viewed online.

Latest reportable disease statistics »
Disease and health statistics online »
Mississippi vital statistics online »
More health statistics sources »
Health Notes
Smoking and the Risk of Birth Defects

When mothers-to-be smoke during pregnancy, they increase the chance that their baby will be born with one or more birth defects, especially cleft palate or cleft lip. Quitting smoking as soon as you can — before pregnancy, if possible — is the best way to protect your child. Tobacco use by others matters, too. Secondhand smoke can be a health risk to a developing child as well as to children of all ages.

What We Do: Health Facilities Licensure
A sample of services and programs from the Mississippi State Department of Health

Hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities responsible for the care of Mississippians need to meet the highest standards to ensure the quality of their services. Our Health Facilities Licensure and Certification division regulates all licensed hospitals in the state to make sure they provide a safe and healthy environment for their patients, and that they operate according to standards of professional care. Regulation isn’t restricted to just hospitals. This division also oversees the operation of adult foster care homes, birthing centers, home health agencies, hospices, nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals and other institutions that care for the residents of the state.

OXFORD, MISS. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who represented Mississippi in Congress for more than 45 years, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning in Oxford.  Services are pending.

 Cochran, a Navy veteran who eventually served as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee, resigned from the Senate in April 2018 due to health concerns.

 Cochran’s family extends its gratitude for the support shown to the Senator by Mississippians over the years.

BIOGRAPHY

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, R-Mississippi

Thad Cochran was born December 7, 1937, in Pontotoc, Mississippi. He is the son of William Holmes Cochran and Emma Grace Cochran, who were educators in Pontotoc, Tippah, and Hinds counties. Cochran was strongly influenced by his parents’ careers in education. He and his brother, Nielson, were immersed in academic environments even at young ages. They spent summers at the University of Mississippi as their parents earned Master’s Degrees, and also lived at Blue Mountain College where their parents were members of the faculty. In 1946, the Cochran family moved to the Byram, a community of Hinds County near Jackson. There was much time devoted to sports, music, the Boy Scouts, and church activities. Thad became an Eagle Scout and helped establish a new scout troop at Spring Ridge Methodist Church. He served as its first Junior Assistant Scout Master. At Byram High School, Cochran earned varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis. He gave a piano and voice recital his senior year, and was class valedictorian. He was also a member of the 4-H Club and Daniel Memorial Baptist Church. As a high school junior and senior, Cochran worked in a variety of after school and weekend jobs. His first regular job was at Gunn’s Dairy Bar where he was a “car hop.” He clerked at Nicholson’s Grocery store, cleared right-of-way for Deviney Construction Company, and helped his father and brother on the family’s cattle farm near Utica. College Education & U.S. Navy Service In 1955, Cochran enrolled in the school of liberal arts at the University of Mississippi. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology and a minor in political science. He was elected president of his social fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, was a company commander in the Navy ROTC, student body vice president, and was selected for membership

JACKSON – The Mississippi Lottery Corporation announced today that it has hired Thomas N. Shaheen to serve as the first president of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation. Shaheen served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Education Lottery from 2005 until 2010, shepherding the lottery through its start-up phase and through multiple years of steady growth.

“Tom brings a wealth of industry expertise and experience running both established and start-up lotteries,” said MLC Chairman Mike McGrevey. “His history in the leadership of lotteries will help Mississippi establish our lottery quickly and successfully,” said MLC Vice-Chairman Gerard Gibert.

Before starting up the North Carolina lottery, Shaheen served as Chief Executive Officer of the New Mexico Lottery, where he helped increase sales and lottery profits dramatically. Shaheen served as an executive during the startup of the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and worked for both the Texas and Florida lotteries during their start ups.

Shaheen is a recognized leader in the lottery field, having served as president of the National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. He previously served as president of the Multi-State Lottery Association, the organization that runs Powerball. He received the Public Gaming Research Institute (PGRI) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and was inducted into the PGRI Lottery Hall of Fame in 2015.

A graduate of Wayne State University, Shaheen most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of Linq3, a lottery technology company. As president, he will make a base salary of $225,000 and be eligible for performance incentives.

As required by the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law, the Governor reviewed and approved the selection of Shaheen after a meeting yesterday.

MIAMI (AP) – A Florida company has issued a voluntary recall of Marketside brand green beans and butternut squash because of a possible Listeria contamination.

Southern Specialties Inc. of Pompano Beach, Florida, announced the recall Monday, warning that the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Even healthy adults can suffer symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

The company says it shipped the recalled product to one retail distribution center. Most of the product was retrieved, but some product shipped earlier this month might have reached stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi press release

There are over 36,000 Mississippians living with epilepsy, The Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi is the only non-profit in the state dedicated to those living with the condition. They are challenging others to show their support by attending a benefit gala on Saturday, February 9.

The Purple Chic Hollywood Gala enables the Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi to raise awareness, continue outreach and education, maintain support groups, and enables local and national advocacy. The Alvin P. Flannes Summer Camp, Kids Crew, and Mississippi’s Information and Referral System also directly benefit from the gala.

The event, happening at Jackson Country Club, 7-11 p.m., will be a night of dining, entertainment and inspirational speakers, and will honor those who have made a positive impact on Mississippians living with epilepsy. This year’s honorees are Dr. Marcus Lee, Dr Angela Chandler, Dr. Mecheri Sundaram and the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois.

The foundation selected guest speakers and Mississippians Dr. John B. Ingram, Elizabeth and Trudie Thompson, and Paul Robinson of the Jenna Robinson Charities. The keynote speakers will share stories of how epilepsy has affected their lives and how they responded by helping others and raising awareness. WAPT’s Sports Director Josh Jackson and Meteorologist Brooke Laizer will be the gala’s masters of ceremony.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reminds all Mississippi residents to take proper precautions as winter weather moves across the state tonight and tomorrow.
If the power goes out unexpectedly, there are several food and water safety tips to follow to ensure what you eat and drink is safe for consumption:
• If power is out for less than two hours, food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to eat. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold longer.
• After two hours, a freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours.
• After two hours, pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
• Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Watch for specific boil water alerts in your area.
• Boiling water, when practical, is the preferred way to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. Bringing water to a rolling boil for 1 minute will kill most organisms.
Also, cold weather brings people indoors seeking warmth. Any heater that burns fuel, such as your furnace, generator, gas water heater or a portable butane or gas heater, produces carbon monoxide that can leak into the air. Mild exposure to carbon monoxide can cause nausea, dizziness or headaches. Severe poisoning can result in brain or heart damage, or even death.
To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, take the following precautions:
• Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented properly.
• Never heat your house with a gas oven.
• Never run a generator indoors, in an enclosed space such as a basement, or near a window.
• Do not warm your car up in a closed garage.
• If your garage is attached to your house, close the door to the house while you warm up the car.
For more information on winter weather safety, visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/winter.