MCC to observe POW-MIA event

Meridian (Miss.) Community College will hold a ceremony in observance of POW-MIA Recognition Day to commemorate the nation's service members who were prisoners of war and those who served and never returned home.

The event - traditionally on the third Friday in September - will be at 9 a.m. on Sept. 15 at the flag plaza in front of Ivy-Scaggs Hall. 

Congress proclaimed National POW/MIA Recognition Day, one of six national observances when the POW/MIA Flag can be flown.

This year's ceremony will mark the MCC's fifth observation where the campus and community pause to remember these servicemen and women. 

Shaquita Hopson Alfonso, MCC associate director of veterans and military services and C2C coach, is the event's coordinator. She noted it's important to remember the American prisoners of war, those missing in action, and their families. (Meridian Star 09/11/23)

AC sheet metal mechanic

Aircraft Sheet Metal Mechanics @ Airbus in Columbus, Miss. (Chegg Internships 09/10/23) Airbus - Aircraft Sheet Metal Mechanics - Columbus, MS | Chegg Internships

Sept. 10 history: First DUI

 Sept. 10 in history

In 1897, a 25-year-old London taxi driver named George Smith becomes the first person ever arrested for drunk driving after slamming his cab into a building. Smith later pleaded guilty and was fined 25 shillings. In the U.S., the first laws against operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol went into effect in New York in 1910. 

1608: John Smith elected to lead Jamestown

1776:  Nathan Hale volunteers to spy behind British lines

1977: 

The guillotine falls silent in France. 1833: Andrew Jackson shuts down Second Bank of the U.S. 1813 (War of 1812):

1813, (War of 1812) The Battle of Lake Erie 1919: NYC parade honors World War I veterans 1940 (WWII):  British War Cabinet reacts to the Blitz in kind

Alphabet: 'A' is for ... Astronaut

CALEDONIA, Miss. - Learning your ABCs starts with that first letter ... and at Caledonia Middle School, 'A' was for Astronaut (Bob Hines) who came to address students about space exploration and pumping up STEM teaching across Mississippi. 

Hines served 23+ years in the Air Force as instructor, fighter and test pilots. He also served as a pilot on NASA’s SpaceX Crew 4. 

His message: “The future is bright” basing it on the state public education system's reaching new heights with a focus on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics). 

“Look at the way things have changed and the way technology is available to help them learn," Hines told WCBI, "and the things that they can do at such a young age; their programming capabilities and their knowledge of computer systems work are beyond anything I had experienced when I was growing up.” 

Hines logged 170 days in space. He oversaw crew and cargo and maintained the space station all while conducting science experiments. 

He was the pilot on a recent mission to the international space station. 

Keep reaching for the stars, he advised students. 

“It’s obtainable. It is something everyone can do; it’s needed," said Principal Jeanni Jargins, "and it is exciting.” (WCBI 09/08/23) Astronaut teaches Caledonia Middle School students about exploration (wcbi.com)

Region hospitals earn champ award

Three regional hospitals - of a total of 18 nationwide - were recognized with the Price Transparency Champion Award from PatientRightsAdvocate.org. 

Those regional hospitals include Baton Rouge General, St. Tammany Parish Hospital of Covington and Grandview Medical Center of Birmingham, Ala. 

The award recognizes U.S. hospitals and hospital systems for their commitment to fully complying with federal price transparency requirements. 

The award is dedicated to ushering in systemwide transparency through advocacy, testimony, media, legal research and grassroots campaigns. 

Reade is La. entrepreneur of year

Christopher Reade has been named the 2023 Marshall Klein Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Louisiana chapter of Entrepreneur’s Organization. 

Reade’s company, Carrollton Group, has 150+ employees, split up into sister-companies. His work with Carrollton Enterprise Services focuses on disaster recovery work, finance, insurance and healthcare operations in Louisiana and nationally. He moved his business to New Orleans in 2000. 

BR Diversity Star awards

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber recently presented its annual Diversity Star Award to DNA Workshop and Cox Communications. 

DNA Workshop, an architecture firm, was honored in the small business category. It was selected for its dedication to recruiting, hiring and developing a diverse group of individuals. Specific practices include percentage of diverse employees and commitment to addressing affordable housing. which disproportionately affects minority populations.

Cox Communications was honored in the large business category. Cox was selected for exceptional diversity, equity and inclusion practices within the company. Specific practices include its executive inclusion, diversity and aims to improve representation of people of color at the associate VP level by 5% and the representation of women at the director level by 2%. 

New VP for LSU facility, property oversight

Anzilla Gilmore is the new associate vice president for facility and property oversight at LSU. 

Gilmore comes to BR from Rice University, where she served as the interim associate VP of facilities, engineering and planning, and Fair Employment Practices (FEP) diversity and inclusion program director.

She has more than 23 years of experience in architecture, facilities planning and project management, and is a registered architect in Texas. 

Gilmore earned a bachelor's in architecture from Prairie View A&M; a master's in architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington; a graduate certificate in equality, diversity and inclusion from Boston College; and is a doctoral student in leadership and learning in organizations at Vanderbilt University. (NOLA.com 09/10/23)

Guv proclaims 9/11 as 'Patriot Day'

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed an executive order proclaiming Sept. 11 as “Patriot Day - A Day of Prayer and Remembrance.” 

The order directs the American and state flags be flown at half-staff. 

It also calls for Mississippians to participate in a moment of silence beginning at 7:46 a.m. to honor the victims who perished as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon. (Clarion Ledger 09/10/23) 

North MS fire depts 'climb' for 9/11 

The Tupelo firefighters' Ladies Auxiliary hosted the seventh annual 9-11 stair climb on Sept. 9. Firefighters, law enforcement and civilians climbed 110 floors in honor of first responders of 9/11 in NYC. 

Those who participated walked around the Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo three times, which is the equivalent of 110 floors - the height of each World Trade Center building. 

The stair climb remembers the 343 members of the New York fire department that lost their lives on that day. Each climber wore a memorial badge for the first responder he or she represented. 

About 25 fire departments from North Mississippi participated this year, according to organizer Melinda Monts. 

Two Mississippians were among those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks at the Pentagon. Lt. Col. Jerry Don Dickerson Jr., 41, was inside the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into it. Joe Ferguson, 39, who grew up with Dickerson in Durant, was aboard the plane.

Louisiana to remember 5 lost on 9/11

Louisiana will be remembering five state residents who were killed in the 9/11 attacks in 2001. 

Three died serving at the Pentagon. Two were at the World Trade Centers in NYC. 

Here are the state natives killed on 9/11: 

* Navy Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, 31, from Baton Rouge.

* Louis Calvin Williams III, 53, VP and investment management consultant with the Finnish import company was from Mandeville.

* Navy Petty Officer Kevin Wayne Yokum, 27, an information systems technician second class was from Lake Charles.

* Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Farmer, 62, a New Orleans native, who in her youth sang on Bourbon Street with Al Hirt and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. She was an executive assistant at Cantor Fitzgerald in the WTC.

* Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Joseph Hymel, 55, of New Orleans.  He was a former B-52 pilot who served in the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon after retiring from service in 1993. (WWL 09/10/23)

AFJROTC flight academy soaring

The face of aviation is beginning to look a lot like high school students. 

It’s been five years since the first group of AFJROTC cadets buckled up in cockpits in pursuit of an Air Force-sponsored private pilot certificate through the AFJROTC Flight Academy program.

Since the summer 2018, 1,089 AFJROTC cadets have pursued their dream of becoming a pilot - 861 succeeded. 

A big achievement considering that outside of the program, the dropout rate for learner pilots is around 80%. 

Headquarters AFJROTC first started taking Flight Academy scholarship applications in the fall of 2017. The first aviation classes starting the following summer at six partnering universities. That number has since grown to 24 universities today. 

The program was first launched as part of the Air Force Aircrew Crisis Task Force with the goals of restoring the luster of aviation to high school students by increasing the pool of pilots for both the military and civilian aviation, each facing severe pilot shortages and diversity inclusion in the cockpit. 

The AF fully funds the 8-week program without any requirement for graduates to pursue a military commitment. 

ir Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Paris Thompson pilots an aircraft during a flight over Iowa on July 20, 2023. Thompson, a student at Hamilton High School, Chandler, Ariz., was one of the cadets taking part in the Air Force JROTC Flight Academy private pilot certificate program at Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Iowa, over the summer. (Courtesy photo)

PHOTO DETAILS / DOWNLOAD HI-RE“ALL CADETS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR FLIGHT ACADEMY AND TO CONSIDER AVIATION AS A PROFESSION,” SAID BEN CARO, HEADQUARTERS AFJROTC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT DIVISION CHIEF. “IT’S FANTASTIC TO SEE THE DIVERSITY OF THE CADETS INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM.”“THE FLIGHT ACADEMY HAS GENERATED TREMENDOUS INTEREST AMONG OUR AFJROTC CADET CORPS WITH OVER 9,000 APPLICANTS EXPRESSING THEIR DESIRE TO FLY,” SAID COL. JOHNNY MCGONIGAL, HEADQUARTERS AFJROTC DIRECTOR. “WE BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM MEETS THE AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF’S DESIRE TO INCREASE INTEREST IN AVIATION. IT ALSO PROVIDES AN ENDURING SOLUTION FOR PILOT PRODUCTION, WHILE ALSO IMPACTING THE DIVERSITY CHALLENGE FACING BOTH THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AVIATION COMMUNITIES.”

However, it has inspired many cadets to take the next step toward becoming a military pilot. 

The Flight Academy accepted the challenge, and the program has grown significantly.

The inaugural year some 120 cadets attended six universities. The AF has expanded the program by partnering with 24 universities in 2023 to host more than 300 cadets.

Current partnering universities are:

•  Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

•  Charleston Southern University, North Charleston, SC

•  Delaware State University, Dover, DE

•  Delta State University, Cleveland, MS

•  East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

•  Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC

•  Embry Riddle AU – Daytona, Daytona, FL

•  Embry Riddle AU – Prescott, Prescott, AZ

•  Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV

•  Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL

•  Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

•  Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, IA 

•  Kansas State University – Salina, Salina, KS

•  Minnesota State University – Mankato, Mankato, MN 

•  Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

•  Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL

•  Spartan College of Aeronautics & Tech, Tulsa, OK

•  Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

•  Troy University, Troy, AL

•  Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL

•  University of Nebraska – Kearney, Kearney, NE

•  University of North Dakota – Arizona, Mesa, AZ

•  University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

•  Walla Walla University, College Place, WA 

BR firm part of $98M Navy pact

 Acacia7,* Diamond Bar, California (N62473-23-D-1812); ACS Habitat Management Inc.,* Oceanside, California (N62473-23-D-1813); Gulf South Research Corp.,* Baton Rouge, Louisiana (N62473-23-D-1814); Sierra JV,* Yuma, Arizona (N62473-23-D-1815); and Tierra Data Inc.,* Escondido, California (N62473-23-D-1816), are awarded a $98,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award service contract for habitat and invasive species services. Work will be performed in California (85%); Arizona (5%); Nevada (5%); Colorado (less than 1%); New Mexico (less than 1%), and Utah (less than 1%). Work may also occur outside of the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest area of responsibility, including locations in Oregon (less than 1%); and Washington (less than 1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2025. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $5,000 will be obligated to each award as a minimum guaranteed task order amount and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the SAM.gov with nine proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. (DoD 09/08/23)

9/11 ceremony slated for Monday

The Defense Department will honor the memories of those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa. Sept. 11 at 6:50 am CT.

Austin, Milley Participate in 9/11 Ceremony

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speak at a ceremony honoring the 184 lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The event is being held at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.

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Drones used in fighting MS fires

FOREST, Miss. - The U.S. Forest Service is using drones to help fight wildfires in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission confirms there have been 517 wildfires since August 1, most in the coastal area. More than 9,000 acres of land have been burned. Forty counties are under a fire burn ban. 

The Forest Service said drones have been used in about a dozen of those fires. 

Once on scene of a fire, drones are launched to "provide eyes in the sky" for resources on the ground, said Jacob Schuler, drone unit leader to basically see what the fire is doing at all times. 

Two of the drones are equipped with infrared cameras - to see through the smoke and operate at night - to detect wind direction and to let crews know which areas around the fire are safe. 

The Forest Service also uses drones when making controlled burns throughout the state. (WAPT 09/07/23)

IRS to turn up heat on wealthy

WASHINGTON - The IRS announced Sept. 8 it is launching an effort in October to pursue 1,600 millionaires that owe at least $250,000 each in back taxes and 75 large business partnerships that have assets of roughly $10B on average.

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said that with a boost of $80B in federal funding and AI intelligence tools, the agency has new means of targeting wealthy people who have “cut corners” on taxes. 

The infusion of funds comes via President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022. Republicans in Congress will be looking to grab back some of that money. 

In July, the IRS had already collected $38M in delinquent taxes. 

In 2021, a team of economists and researchers found the top 1% of U.S. income earners fail to report more than 20% of their earnings to the IRS. 

“It’s going to be a very busy fall for us,” Werfel said. 

Grover Norquist, who heads Americans for Tax Reform, said the IRS’ plan to pursue high-end wealth individuals does not preclude the IRS eventually pursuing middle-income Americans for audits down the road. 

This power and these resources allow them to "go after anyone they want,” he said. “The next step is to go after anyone they wish to target for political purposes.” (The AP 09/08/23) The IRS plans to crack down on 1,600 millionaires to collect millions of dollars in back taxes | AP News

MS Amtrak service in '24

BILOXI, Miss. - Amtrak announced at the Southern Rail Commission’s quarterly meeting in Point Clear, Ala., on Sept. 8 that service on the Mississippi Gulf Coast would begin in 2024. 

SRC Chairman Knox Ross confirms to WLOX the project is in its last stage of implementation. Knox says the project could wrap up after about six months of rail work, meaning service may begin as early as spring 2024. Work is still underway in Mobile, Ala., including finishing the rail line and platforms. 

An exact start date for the passenger service has not been released. (WLOX 09/08/23) 

Energy prices unlikely to budge

Whether at home or the pump, Mississippians are feeling strain on their wallets due to rising energy costs. The recent U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) short-term energy outlook shows oil prices up from June. 

Third quarter 2023 had gas prices averaging at $3.69 a gallon with an average season price of $3.63.

Industry leaders say the increase has been impacted by extended cuts from Saudi Arabia on their crude oil production.

On Sept. 7, the Biden Administration canceled all remaining O&G leases, issued under the Trump Administration, in the Arctic Refuge in Alaska to protect more than 13M acres in the western Arctic, according to the White House.

Factors will continue to reduce global oil inventory and put pressure to raise oil prices in the coming months. 

James Heidelberg, vice chair of the Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board, says the expectation for the state is that energy and gasoline costs will not be moderating anytime soon. He pinpoints bad federal government policy in an attempt to force “green energy” initiatives. 

Heidelberg emphasized a need in the market to invest in an array of energy, instead of a singular focus. 

Heidelberg said increased federal regulations on oil production in the U.S. has forced the country to rely more heavily on foreign markets that are limiting their supply causing prices to increase.

Global production is expected to increase by 1.4M barrels a day in 2023 and by 1.7M in 2024. That includes an increase by 1.2M for 2023 by non-OPEC countries, which includes the United States.

While solar and wind energy initiatives are moving forward, Heidelberg said it's unlikely there will be a current generation that sees the removal of petroleum-based energy in their lifetime. 

There are some "smart people" working on alternative energy production, he said. "It sounds great, but it’s just not efficient enough" right now. The need is for more energy in the U.S. "at a fair cost.”

Heidelberg believes that the free market will correct itself if given the chance. 

While increased costs have impacted consumers, the state of Mississippi is rising to meet the demand. The increased cost of oil has allowed the state to produce more by utilizing more wells that were previously not utilized because it was not financially sound when gas prices were lower.

Mississippi is ranked #12 in the U.S.-based on Barrels of Equivalent (BOE) produced through April 2023. The state has a total of 34,807 wells which is up from last year, with 2,663 producing. In those, 1.2 million BBL of oil have been produced in the state as of April 2023. 

In comparison, the leader of oil production in the U.S. is Texas at 126.8M barrels this year. (Magnolia Tribune 09/07/23) High energy prices unlikely to budge as policies stifle production - Magnolia Tribune

Sept 8 history: Nixon pardon

In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon covering his entire term in office. 

In 1504, Michelangelo’s towering marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy.

In 1565, a Spanish expedition established the first permanent European settlement in North America at present-day St. Augustine, Fla. (The first settlement was at Pensacola, but a hurricane eliminated the colony.)

In 1664, the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam to the British, who renamed it New York.

In 1900, Galveston, Texas, was struck by a hurricane that killed an estimated 8,000 people.

In 1941, the 900-day Siege of Leningrad by German forces began during WWII.

In 1943, during WWII, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower announced Italy’s surrender; Nazi Germany denounced Italy’s decision as cowardly.

In 1964, public schools in Prince Edward County, Va., reopened after being closed for five years by officials attempting to prevent court-ordered racial desegregation.

In 1966, Nichelle Nichols became one of the first Black women to play a lead role on TV, portraying Lt. Uhura on “Star Trek.”

In 1985, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tied Ty Cobb’s career record for hits, singling for hit number 4,191 during a game against the Cubs in Chicago.

In 2016, California and federal regulators fined Wells Fargo $185M, alleging the bank’s employees illegally opened millions of unauthorized accounts for their customers in order to meet aggressive sales goals.

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, who spent more than seven decades on the British throne, died at age 96; her 73-year-old son became King Charles III. 

(The AP 09/08/23)

Robo CR act introduced by Dems

New legislation, called the "End Shutdowns Act," has been introduced by Virginia Democrats Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Don Beyer, to prevent federal government shutdowns. The bill proposes an automatic funding mechanism to kick in if full-year appropriations are not enacted by Oct. 1, essentially acting as if a continuing resolution (CR) had been passed. (Nextgov (0907/23) 

Whitaker to head FAA agency

The White House is bringing back former senior Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official Michael Whitaker to take the lead at the agency.

Whitaker has been serving as COO of Supernal, a Hyundai Motor company that is designing an electric advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. He served as deputy FAA administrator from 2013-16. 

Whitaker also has a long background in airline operations, spending 15 years in leadership roles at United Airlines and three decades with Trans World Airlines. 

Before his most recent position at Supernal, he was group CEO of InterGlobe Enterprises, which operates IndiGo.

He is being nominated to an FAA post that has remained open on a permanent basis since Steve Dickson left halfway through his five-year term in March 2022. (AINonline 09/07/23) White House Selects Michael Whitaker To Lead FAA as Administrator | Aviation International News (ainonline.com)

Potential $3B Army draft solicitation

The U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Ala., released a draft solicitation for a potential 10-year, $3B multiple-award task order contract to provide energy and water conservation services at federal facilities. 

The fourth iteration of the Energy Savings Performance Contract will cover services to help federal agencies reduce energy or water consumption, enhance the resiliency of energy and water systems and modernize infrastructure, according to a notice posted Sept. 6 on SAM.gov. 

Selected contractors will install energy and water conservation and renewable energy projects and provide operation and maintenance, repair and replacement and measurement and verification services. 

ESPC IV will support federally owned and non-government owned facilities in multiple locations within and outside the U.S., including foreign jurisdictions such as Australia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Philippines and South Korea. 

A portion of the contract will be reserved for small businesses. Responses to the draft solicitation are due Oct. 5. (GovWire.com 09/07/23)