Grenada superfund public meeting

ATLANTA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the former Rockwell International Wheel & Trim site in Grenada, Miss., to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). NPL is a list of sites that require further action to protect human health and the environment. EPA will host a public meeting Feb. 6 (from 6-8 p.m.) at the Lewis Johnson Senior Citizen Complex in Grenada to explain the NPL process. The public is also invited to comment on the proposal during a 60-day comment period. The Rockwell-Grenada site is a 40-acre facility located on Highway 332, and currently operated by Ice Industries, and other areas where site-related contaminants have migrated or disposed. Multiple firms operated a wheel cover manufacturing and chrome plating facility on the property from 1966 to the early 2000s. Past operations, spills and waste handling practices resulted in air, groundwater, surface water and soil contamination. The solvent trichloroethene (TCE) has been found in the air inside the building, groundwater at the site, Eastern Heights neighborhood, wetlands and Riverdale Creek. Public comments may be submitted through March 19. All comments must include the docket number EPA-HQ-OLEM-2017-0608. Comments may be submitted online at www.regulations.gov or mailed to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; EPA Superfund Docket Center; Mail Code 28221T; 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20460. (Source: U.S. Environment Protection Agency 01/30/18)

US: Russian jet intercept ‘unsafe’

WASHINGTON - A Russian Su-27 fighter jet performed an “unsafe” intercept of a U.S. Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft while flying Jan. 29 in international airspace over the Black Sea, multiple defense officials told CNN. Navy pilots reported that the Su-27 came within five feet of the aircraft, and crossed in front of the EP-3’s flight path causing the U.S. aircraft to “fly through the SU-27's jet wash," said U.S. Naval Forces Europe spokesman Capt. Pamela Kunze. The intercept lasted two hours and 40 minutes, the Navy said. "This interaction was determined to be unsafe,” Kunze continued. The American aircraft was “operating in accordance with international law and did not provoke this Russian activity," she claimed. The Russian Defense Ministry said its jet flew "strictly in accordance with international rules." CNN military analyst and retired Navy admiral John Kirby said the Russian jet's action was "inexcusable, provocative & potentially fatal." (Source: CNN 01/29/18) Gulf Coast Note: John Kirby is a former public affairs officer with the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. In later years with the Navy, he was public affairs spokesman for the Defense Department.

App details military movements

A heat map published on the Internet by fitness tracking company Strava may have been inadvertently giving away sensitive secrets. An Australian student used the service to reveal the locations and activities of soldiers at U.S. military bases around the world, including in Syria. (Source: Huffington Post 01/29/18) Security settings likely can disable personnel locations. In the last several hours, the U.S. military has responded to privacy concerns over the heat-map app which displays users' fitness activity - and has been shown to expose of global facilities - by saying it's reviewing the rules around usage of wireless devices and apps by personnel.

GC cities' Policom economies

For more than 20 years, POLICOM.com has assisted and advised communities on how to improve their local economies. Its 2018 Economic Strength Rankings for the Metropolitan and Micropolitan areas are now online. POLICOM analyzes local and state economies, determines if they are growing or declining, identifies what is causing this to happen, and offers ideas and solutions to improve the situation. In the Micropolitan section for smaller communities, POLICOM ranked the Top 550 communities. Among cities of Gulf Coast states, there were three from Mississippi that made the Top 56. Oxford (49, but down from 36 in 2017), Tupelo (53, up from 62nd); Columbus (56, down from 40); Starkville, Miss. (137); Meridian, Miss. (317); Brookhaven, Miss. (324); Laurel, Miss. (339, down from 177); Morgan City, La. (368) Corinth, Miss. (378); Natchitoches, La. (381); West Point, Miss. (401, up 18 places); Grenada, Miss. (456, up 27 spots); Bogalusa, La. (463); Cleveland, Miss. (489, down 40 spots); Picayune, Miss. (497); Natchez, Miss. (513); Greenville, Miss. (514); Greenwood, Miss. (523); McComb, Miss. (527, down 84 spots); Indianola, Miss. (545); and Clarksdale, Miss. (547). (Source: Policom.com media release and Policom.com 01/18)

MS unemployment lowest, but …

Mississippi's 4.6 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2017 is the lowest since the U.S. Labor Department began calculating state unemployment rates in 1976, according to data released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The jobless rate in the state is 0.9 percent lower than December 2016. However, its jobs recovery rate lags behind the national average for December (4.1 percent). Among the Golden Triangle counties, Oktibbeha had the lowest rate in July (4.1 percent), but is the only county in the GT to have seen unemployment rise from November (0.1 percent). (Source: Columbus Dispatch 01/26/18)

NOLA Marine nominated for BG

Marine Corps Reserve Colonel Timothy L. Adams has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Adams is currently serving as the assistant wing commander of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve in New Orleans. He assumed that assignment in October 2016. Additionally, Colonel Adams serves as the Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board. After completing the Officer Basic Course, he reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida and was designated a Naval Aviator in January 1995. (Source: DOD 01/24/18)

Court ends Army helo litigation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a 2016 decision that would have required the Army to hold an open competition or submit a new Justification and Acquisition (J&A) document for additional training helicopters. Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss., has built hundreds of UH-72A Lakota helicopters for Army Aviation helicopter training – primarily conducted at Fort Rucker, Ala. “We hope that the appellate court’s ruling today will finally end a two-year saga of one contractor (Leonardo) attempting to wrestle business from a customer by holding Army readiness hostage,” according to an Airbus statement. “This ruling also removes the threat that Leonardo has held over the heads of our American workers in Mississippi - more than 40 percent of whom are military veterans - as it has tied up Army procurement long enough to nearly shut down our American production line,” Airbus said. With this ruling, the Army can move forward with the procurement process and have the ability to select the EC-145, of which the Lakota is a variant. (Source: Rotor Wing International 01/23/18)

Spraggins appointed DMR exec

Joe Spraggins, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ (DMR) chief operations officer since 2013, has been appointed executive director by Gov. Phil Bryant. Spraggins served 34 years in the military and attained the rank of brigadier general. He retired from the Air Force in 2006. Prior to joining DMR, he served as commander of the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport; and chief of staff of the Joint Force Headquarters of the Tennessee National Guard. Jamie Miller, who had served as executive director of the DMR since 2013, has joined Mississippi Development Agency as deputy director for governmental affairs and chief innovation officer. He previously served as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, and as policy adviser to former Gov. Haley Barbour’s Office of Recovery and Renewal after Hurricane Katrina. Miller graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and has a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. (Source: Jackson Clarion-Ledger 01/23/18)

USM earns military friendly ‘gold’

The University of Southern Mississippi has earned a ‘Gold Award’ status as a Military Friendly School for 2018 by Victory Media. USM is one of only 10 research institutions in America to have received the distinction. Gold Award winners have programs that scored within 20 percent of the 10th-ranked institution within a given category. (Source: Southern Miss Now 01/22/18)

AF team to address UPEs

WASHINGTON – Brigadier General Bobbi Jo Doorenbos will lead an integration team to coordinate efforts to address aircrew Unexplained Physiologic Events (UPEs), the Air Force announced Jan. 22. Doorenbos will lead the UPE Integration Team, which will serve as AF headquarter’s focal point for identifying solutions to optimize human performance in tactical aviation and eliminate or minimize the impact of UPEs. PEs occur when aircrew experience symptoms that can result from a variety of factors, including hypoxia, hypocapnia, hypercapnia or disorientation. These symptoms can hinder their ability to fly safely and effectively. UPE rates have been historically low for the AF – “less than 1 percent per year,” she said. However, heightened awareness has increased aircrew reporting of in-flight physiologic symptoms that drives response actions from the AF and joint partners to address and implement recommendations to make operations safer. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 01/22/18) Gulf Coast Note: There have been reports of PEs for pilots in the F-22 Raptor for a number of years that have had congressional testimony and medical evaluations conducted to determine the cause(s). Tyndall AFB, Fla., has the largest contingent of F-22s in the AF inventory. The Navy has also had recent PEs reported in its T-45 Goshawk trainer at Naval Air Stations Pensacola, Fla., Meridian, Miss., and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Senate puts temp stop to closure

The U.S. Senate has passed a deal to end the shutdown of the federal government, now in its third day. The Senate voted 81-18 Monday to invoke cloture to end a filibuster over a short-term funding bill to reopen the federal government, which had shut down at midnight Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). introduced the proposal, which would provide full funding through Feb. 8, saying “we need to move forward.” The proposal includes a commitment to take up immigration issues, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, policy before the new Feb. 8 deadline. (Source: The Associated Press 01/22/18)

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Guard, reserve training cancelled

Military training for more than 110,000 Guard and Reserve personnel was cancelled due to the partial government shutdown. In a phone call to the President over the weekend, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis gave “an update on about 90,000 National Guardsmen and 20,000 Army Reservists who have had their training cancelled,” said White House Office of Management Director Mick Mulvaney. Guard and Reserve personnel would “have to pick up their own pay and travel costs.” However, they would likely be reimbursed once Congress arrives at a budget deal or passes another Continuing Resolution to keep the government running at FY 2017 spending levels. In past government shutdowns, Congress has moved to continue paying the military, where annual salaries begin at less than $30,000. There has been no decision on that specifically, so far, after Day 2 of the shutdown. (Source: Military.com 01/21/18)

AF summit for businesses

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Some 400 contractors, military officials, contracting officers, and defense agencies will gather at the 2018 Air Force Contracting Summit at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa on Jan. 29 for a two-day summit on the defense budget. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a presentation by Nate Nelson, deputy director of military affairs for U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Gaetz serves on the Budget and Armed Services committees. The summit is designed to provide contracting opportunities; and discussions regarding AF contract priority procedures for small businesses, identify federal contracting resources, and to connect prime contractors with new subcontractors. For registration and information go to the www.defenseleadershipforum.org/airforcecontractingsummit website. (Source: NW Florida Daily News 01/21/18)

Civilian-military disconnect

WASHINGTON – Americans are less connected to the military than ever before and Defense Department leaders - facing a potential future recruitment crisis – are starting to take notice. From DOD internal data, a “civilian-military divide is expanding,” said Amber Smith, deputy assistant for outreach at DOD. “That ultimately is a threat to the viability and sustainability of the all-volunteer force.” In the decades since America ended the draft, following the Vietnam War in 1974, the all-volunteer force has grown into a professional military fed in part by families whose sons and daughters follow their parents into service. The U.S. is nearing completion of a second decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and the number of young adults with parents who served has dropped over those decades from 40 percent (1995) to 15 percent today, Smith said. The rest of America, she said, is only learning about the military via Hollywood and the news, leading to misperceptions about military service. In February, DOD will launch a year-long PR campaign (under the hashtag #KnowMyMil) aimed at utilizing social media, sports franchises, and military outreach to help Americans get to know the military, Smith said. The increased operational tempo since 9/11 have placed enormous strain on service members and families, prompting DOD to look for ways to alleviate some of the stresses. The military also needs to be more adaptable and find ways to respond to custom needs of service members and families while still answering the security needs of the nation, said David Chu, an expert from the Institute for Defense Analyses. “It can no longer remain ‘one size fits all’, he said. (Source: Stars and Stripes 01/18/18)

Exercise coming to GC bases

WASHINGTON - Navy installations within the United States will soon be conducting its annual two-part anti-terrorism force protection exercise called Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain between Jan. 29 and Feb. 9. Citadel Shield is a Field Training Exercise led by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) from Jan. 29 - Feb. 4. Solid Curtain is a Command Post Exercise portion co-led by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and CNIC from Feb. 5-9. This annual exercise is designed to enhance the readiness of Navy Security Forces, ensure interoperability among commands, other military services, and agency partners. They are regularly-scheduled exercises and not in response to any specific threat. CS-SC is vital to the Navy’s ability to execute its mission in support of homeland defense, and to protect people, equipment, and facilities in situations that pose significant and eminent threat. (Source: Navy Installations Command 01/18/18) Gulf Coast Note: Navy bases across the Gulf Coast have participated in this annual exercise, including Naval Air Stations Meridian, Miss., Pensacola, and Whiting Field, Fla., and New Orleans; Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss.; and Naval Support Activity Panama City, Fla. Measures will be taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders to minimize any inconveniences.

Gov’t shutdown: New CR in sight?

WASHINGTON – Congressional aides are saying to expect another short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to deal with funding the government for a few more weeks and into mid-February, but cautions that another CR is no guarantee. Prospects for any deal were diminished because of a report of President Trump’s alleged comments in a meeting about the desire to stop immigration from “shithole countries.” The president’s latest “self-created outrage du jour makes it harder for (the GOP) to get Democrats on board for anything,” said Doug Heye, a former top Republican congressional aide. President Trump has denied those reports and blamed Democrats for backing away from an agreed upon deal and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) for having “totally misrepresented” what was said at the meeting. He Tweeted: “Deals can’t get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military.” GOP and Democrat leaders had engaged with the White House last week on a deal on federal spending, which would bring Democrat support to prevent a government shutdown, and include protections for (“Dreamers”) brought into the U.S. illegally. Without a spending bill, the federal government would shut non-emergency functions starting Saturday at 12:01 a.m. (EST). (Source: Wall Street Journal 01/16/18 UPDATE: U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government open through Feb. 16. If enacted, the CR (H.J.Res. 125) will replace the one that expires Jan. 19, becoming the fourth stopgap measure for FY 2018. The CRs are needed because Congress can't reach an agreement on an FY-18 budget, nearly four months after the start of the FY. Whether Congress will pass the CR and avert a shutdown is not clear because some lawmakers assert CRs hurt military readiness. Yet, if the government does shut down, it punishes military and government retirees, and social security recipients.

Flu intense in 3 of 4 GC states

Three of the four Gulf Coast states, plus 36 other U.S. states, are currently experiencing outbreaks of the flu. Florida is the only GC state not yet experiencing a heavy volume of influenza cases. The flu season in the GC region - Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi - generally peaks from January to March. Mississippi is seeing the impact of high levels of influenza with more than 100 reported flu outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care settings, according to MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. Additionally, the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) has reports from hospitals across the state that are experiencing increased ICU admissions and Emergency Room visits. “Hospitals are operating at full capacity,” he said. Alabama has already declared its flu outbreaks a crisis. Felicia York and her Alabama family found out how serious it was after her 38-year-old husband became sick in December. The kids already had the flu. They tried to treat husband Adam’s symptoms without a visit. When that didn’t work, they went to Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham thinking he would get a prescription and go home. But they “ended up keeping him because his oxygen level was too low," said Felicia. Within 24 hours of admission, "he went from sitting up … to two tubes down his throat, sedated and on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine to circulate his blood and oxygen instead of using his lungs," she explained. He tested positive for flu strains A and B. It progressed to something worse. Adam’s been in the hospital since early January. He’s stable, but sedated and “basically in a medically induced coma." This flu season really opened Felicia’s eyes as to just how serious the virus can be. (Source: WBRC 01/14/18) According to Dr. Frank Welch of the Louisiana Department of Health, the flu is “unprecedented … (and like a) freight train." He fears up to 700 people may die this year in Louisiana from flu-related symptoms or conditions exacerbated by the flu. Those seeking treatment for symptoms is about 10 percent of the state’s population, nearly doubled the percentage during last year's peak season in February.

NASA seeking innovators

NASA is looking to small businesses and research institutions for innovative technologies that could have significant potential for successful transition into its mission programs and other commercial markets. This year, through NASA’s Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I solicitation, proposals for research, development and technology demonstrations can be submitted until March 9, 2018, 4 p.m. CST. Phase I awards are valued at about $125,000 for up to six months for SBIR and 13 months for STTR to establish the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed innovation in fulfillment of NASA needs. (Source: NASA, 01/11/18)

Advancing adaptive flight study

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Student researchers from Air Command and Staff College at the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., conducted an Adaptive Flight Training Study from Jan. 9-12 to aid in the AF’s advancement in training and education through virtual reality (VR). The study was to find out if VR would rates of currently learning, how the brain works and reacts in conjunction with other parts of the body during the learning process. Three test groups flew a T-6 Texan II simulator. None of them had flying experience in T-6. The three test groups flew four simulations: First to simulate a baseline for data that could be compared to the other three. “The data we are gathering can hopefully help us start to determine the key factors of what makes individuals succeed or perform better,” said Maj. Matt Elmore of the Air Command and Staff College. The study “won’t be an end all, but it’s good to be on the leading edge of this and start the conversation.” Because there is a lot of data being gathered, there are multiple groups attached to the project. Only a handful of individuals came to CAFB to set up, and conduct, the study. (Source: 14th Flying Training Wing 01/11/18)

NJROTC manager retires

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The director of the Navy's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program was recognized for his 17 years of leadership during a retirement ceremony here Jan. 5 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Dr. J. D. Smith was presented with the Distinguished Civilian Service Award by the commander of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi. "It's been wonderful being able to assist in the development of the nation's youth through the JROTC program," said Smith who retired after 44 years of federal service. Smith began his federal civil service employment at the flag-command HQ of the Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola in 1973. In 2002, Dr. Smith was selected to become the NJROTC program manager. Navy JROTC was founded in 1964 as a citizenship development program for high school students and in U. S. secondary educational institutions. The program is currently under the direction of NSTC, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., and includes 573 units worldwide. NSTC command oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. (Source: NSTC 01/11/18) Among some of the Mississippi JROTC units are at Gautier High School, Moss Point, Pascagoula, Northeast Lauderdale in Meridian, and Warren Central Senior in Vicksburg. Dr. Smith is also a former Pensacola City Council representative.

UA-MSU team up for deaf, blind

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. The University of Alabama has been awarded a grant of $251,850 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to study how tornado warnings could be improved for members of the deaf-and-blind communities. The project is collaboration between UA’s departments of geography and communication studies and Mississippi State University’s department of geosciences and National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. The grant will enable the team to build and test a system whereby deaf people can view a local weather broadcast in a split-screen format. Half of the screen will show a meteorologist, and the other half an American Sign Language interpreter. The team will conduct interviews with members of the blind community in Mississippi, and the deaf-and-blind communities in Talladega, Ala. (Source: University of Alabama 01/09/18)

XO provides MH services to vets

WASHINGTON - Transitioning military service members and veterans can receive up to one year of mental health care from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department after discharge from the service, according to an Executive Order (XO) signed Jan 10 by President Trump. The XO, "Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition From Uniformed Service to Civilian Life," directs Defense, VA, and Homeland Security departments to develop a joint plan to ensure that 60 percent of new veterans that don't qualify for enrollment in health care - because of a lack of verified service connected medical-related issues - will receive treatment and access to mental health services for 12 months following their separation from service. (Source: DOD 01/10/18)

AFS’ Orion: $48M AF contract

WEST POINT, Miss. – The record-breaking unmanned aircraft Orion that is made at Aurora Flight Sciences’ facility in Lowndes County south of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport has a new $48M Air Force contract. The company is banking on Orion, a long-flying, high-altitude UAV, to fly for more than 100 hours without landing. AFS was bought in October by Boeing. Orion has already flown more than 80 hours non-stop, and tests indicate it can go up to 120 hours, and carry 1,000 pounds of cargo. The AF, and other agencies, is hoping to use the UAV for long-term aerial surveillance. The Coast Guard is expected to do test flights, according to industry publications. Work on Orion, which has a long wing span that requires a specially-built addition to Aurora's Lowndes County's facility, began in 2006. The project could peak in 2019. AFS employs about 100 workers at its three-building facility south of Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus. Operations began in 2003 from the Raspet Flight Science Laboratory at Mississippi State University. (Source: Daily Times Leader 01/09/18)

Top 13: Beaches of NW Fla., Ala.

The travel website Tripping.com has listed Destin, Fla., as the No. 1 beach destination for 2017. Gulf Shores, Ala., was No. 3 followed by Panama City Beach. Orange Beach, Ala., ranked ninth; and Pensacola, Fla., Beach was No. 13. The website saw an increase in searches for urban markets such as NYC, but beaches were the most popular destination, according to the report. The three NW Florida beaches were among the overall Top 25 destinations: Destin was No. 2 followed by NYC; Panama City Beach was No. 5, and Pensacola Beach No. 20. Looking ahead to 2018, Tripping.com predicts lake destinations will rise, but southern beaches will continue to gain popularity. (Source: News Herald 01/04/18) The average rental price for Destin Beach was $267; Panama City $195; and $229 for Pensacola Beach, according to the website.

MDA targets growth industries

The Mississippi Development Authority has identified eight target-growth industries to focus on Mississippi’s assets, human and natural resources, and business climate. Those eight include: Aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, automotive, forestry, energy, healthcare, shipbuilding, and tourism and film. Mississippi public universities support these eight industries in many ways. (Source: Hattiesburg American opinion (01/07/18)

Army notice for more UH-72s

The Army has taken another step via a “sources sought” notice published Jan. 4 to begin the process of awarding a contract for up to 35 additional UH-72 Lakota helicopters. Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss., has assembled more than 400 UH-72s under contracts dating to 2006. The notice checks off a requirement to investigate whether there are competitive options. Parent company Airbus owns all technical data on the UH-72 that means a potential competitor would have to buy the data from the Airbus to build the helicopter. In 2014, the Army selected the UH-72A for its helicopter trainer, which is conducted primarily at Fort Rucker, Ala. The Army’s approved budget for FY 2017 contains funds for 23 Lakotas – meaning 12 could be purchased under future budgets. A new order from the Army may be necessary to keep the Columbus facility open, according to Airbus. (Source: Flight Global 01/04/18)

MS: Top 4 less-taxing for retirees

Mississippi was named the No. 4 most-friendly tax state for retirees by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in the release of its 2017 Retire Tax Map, which looks at most and least tax-friendly states for retirees. Sandra Block, senior editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, said one reason Mississippi scores high is because the state exempts all qualified retirement income from state taxes. “For that reason, it compares favorably with states that have no income tax,” she concluded. Florida, which has no state income tax, was rated No. 5 on Kiplinger’s map. The Top 3 most tax-friendly states are Wyoming, Alaska, and South Dakota. Valencia Williamson, executive VP of the Area Development Partnership in Hattiesburg - one of Mississippi’s cities involved in the Hometown Retirement City program – says the value of retirees goes beyond economics. “Retirees get involved.” In Hattiesburg, retirees (age 55-plus) make up 24 percent of the population. Among the Top 10 least tax-friendly states are Minnesota, Connecticut, Kansas, Vermont, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Maryland, Indiana, and Wisconsin. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 01/04/18)

New Orbital ATK, AF agreement

DULLES, Va. - Orbital ATK, a global aerospace and defense technologies company, has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC). The agreement provides the framework and plan for data exchanges needed to certify Orbital ATK’s Next Generation Launch (NGL) system to carry National Security Space missions. “Under this CRADA, Orbital ATK is better able to support SMC in being the guardians of assured access to space,” said Scott Lehr, president of Orbital ATK’s Flight Systems Group. Orbital ATK is in early production of development hardware for NGL. To date, the firm, along with the Air Force, has invested more than $200M toward development of the NGL rocket family. (Source: Orbital ATK 01/04/18) Central Mississippi Note: Orbital ATK’s Iuka, Miss., facility produces large composite structures for United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles. The company announced plans to begin production on the new composite launch vehicle structures and aerospace components in the third quarter of 2017.

DESI competition for unique solutions

The Defense Department has announced an award competition for the Defense Enterprise Science Initiative (DESI), a new pilot program that supports university-industry collaboration on use-inspired basic research. DESI incentivizes use-inspired basic research or scientific study directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in the context of end-use applications. Funded projects will bring university and industry teams together with the aim of discovering unique solutions to challenging defense/national security problems. DESI aims to accelerate the impact of basic research results on defense capabilities, inform existing or future acquisition programs, and support sustainable collaboration between the nation’s universities and the private sector. The theme of this year’s competition centers on technologies to enable a new generation of sensing, mobility, and autonomy. Research topics include power beaming, highly‐maneuverable autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle, soft active composites, and meta-material based antennas. For more info see the Broad Agency Announcement (FA9550-18-S-B001) at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=299112. (Source: Defense Department 01/03/18)

TS is AF nominee for GEICO award

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - Technical Sgt. Edward Mauss of the 96th Security Forces Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., was among the four Air Force finalists for the 2017 GEICO Military Service Awards. The awards recognize enlisted service members from all branches of the military for contributions to the military or civilian communities. Mauss earned the award in the drug and alcohol abuse prevention category. He led a five-member team in investigating and deterring drug use and distribution affecting the Defense Department’s largest military installation. The team also initiated 20 investigations that resulted in the seizure of 727 grams of Schedule 1 controlled substances. Through partnership with local police, Mauss’ drug suppression efforts eradicated a marijuana growing field, removed 222 pounds of prescription medication, and identified drug houses in the community. (Source: Air Force Personnel Center 01/04/18) GEICO will select recipients in each category from nominees from all of the military services. Those recipients will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Nominees are authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon.

Military kids’ scholarships

Military children taking college classes could get financial aid through a scholarship offered by the Fisher House Foundation, a national non-profit organization that has provided free housing for military families while a service member undergoes medical treatment. The merit-based scholarship applicants must be children of active duty, reserve units or retired service members with at least a 3.0 GPA and enrolled full-time at a college or university. Each scholarship is $2,000 and for students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Applications can be downloaded from the website militaryscholar.org and dropped off or mailed to the nearest commissary. The deadline to apply is Feb. 16. The program has been around since the 2001. Fisher House has provided about 10,000 scholarships since the inception. (Source: Panama City News Herald 01/03/18)

Blues leave GC for winter training

The Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team left its home base at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., on Jan. 3; and arrived at Naval Air Station El Centro, Calif., to begin winter training for the 2018 air show season. The maintenance and support team and six FA/18 jets make up most of team. The team will perform in El Centro on March 10 and March 17-18 at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona before returning to the NW Florida base to continue its 2018 show season. (Sources: Pensacola News Journal, 10NewsKGTV, 01/03/18) Naval Air Station El Centro is located between San Diego and Yuma, Ariz. The Blues will be flying July 14 at Pensacola Beach and July 21-22 at the Biloxi (Miss.) Gulf Coast Air Show.

‘One Lake’ EIS in peer review stage

The head of Louisiana’s Lower Pearl River Basin Task Force, which studies the health and management of the basin, hopes to meet with the state’s congressional delegation this month in Washington, D.C., to discuss the “One Lake” proposed flood control project near Jackson, Miss. The project proposes to create a 1,500-acre lake by damming the river. An environmental impact study (EIS) on the proposed project could be released around Feb. 1. Louisiana Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell) has environmental concerns that the One Lake project could mean for the lower Pearl. "Anything that happens upstream definitely has an impact downstream,'' she said, including the flow of water and salinity. Hewitt chairs the Lower Pearl River Basin Task Force. She fears the EIS won't adequately address the impact on the lower Pearl River. The unfunded, but authorized project would use a low-head dam below Interstate 20 to create the lake. The proposal stems from efforts to reduce the chances of another flood that swamped Jackson, Miss., in 1979 that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. South Louisiana and south Mississippi officials worry the dam will slow the flow of water into the basin causing environmental problems. The St. Tammany Parish (La.) Council objected to the project, and questioned its impact on threatened wildlife species, as far back as 2013. Keith Turner, an attorney for the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood Control District, which is spearheading the proposed $300M project, said Dec. 29 that the EIS is in the peer review process. The Army Corps of Engineers has advised the district not to publicly release the study until the peer review is completed. (Source: NOLA.com 01/03/18)

Fuel contracts for 4 GC states

Petroleum Traders Corp. (SPE605-18-D-8506; $14,770,197) and Tayrona Investments LLC. both of Fort Wayne, Ind. (SPE605-18-D-8504; $7,333,851) have both been awarded a fixed-price, with an economic-price-adjustment contract under solicitation SPE600-17-R-0218 for various types of fuel. These are three-year contracts with no option years. Locations of performance are for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, Defense Logistics Agency Energy and federal civilian agencies in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina and South Carolina. Performance completion date is Oct. 31, 2020. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy of Fort Belvoir, Va. (Source: DoD 01/02/18)