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☆ Why tornadoes are more destructive than ever in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Katie Koontz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One hundred sixty-one people were killed in the Joplin tornado. The May 2011 Joplin tornado left behind almost $3 billion in damage, making it the costliest U.S. tornado on record. "Tornadoes are a big problem in the United States," said Anne Cope, chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Based on estimated wind speeds and damage, tornadoes can range on a scale from EF0 to EF5. "The reality is, is that all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, receive tornadoes."

Persons: Troy Bolander, Ann Leach, Ann, Troy, Anne Cope, Cope, Joplin, Leach, Victor Gensini, Gensini Organizations: Joplin, Insurance Institute for Business & Home, of Commerce, Resilience Victoria, Department of, Northern Illinois University Locations: Joplin , Missouri, Kansas, Joplin, Troy, United States, U.S, Plains, Texas, Alaska, Hawaii, Midwest, Mississippi, Memphis, Indianapolis, Nashville

☆ The 10 states with the most single homeowners
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The largest number of single homeowners per capita are in the Deep South, a new report shows. These single homeowners are likely to live in the Deep South , according to new analysis of 2021 census data by home construction company All Star Homes. "There are states that are in the Deep South that are high on the list, and then there are states that you could consider more progressive that are in the middle." AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to All Star Homes, researchers at the company analyzed homeowner data from the 2021 American Housing Survey to figure out the per capita total of single homeowners in each state. Below, the 10 states with the most single homeowners per capita, along with median home price as of August, according to Redfin, and median per capita income, according to 2021 census data.

Persons: —, Jennifer Tracy, Manny Garcia, Zillow's Organizations: Service, Pew Research Center, Star, Star Homes, Survey, Rocket Mortgage Locations: Alabama , Mississippi, Louisiana

As the hot-pink stretch Hummer winds through the streets of Laurel, Miss., the tour guide inside points out notable homes. “Ben built a swing out of whiskey barrels” for this house, he says. “Ben jumped into the swimming pool” at this house. And “this house is where they found the recipe for Miss Dot’s poundcake.”

Persons: “ Ben, Dot’s, ” Locations: Laurel , Miss

☆ Beige flags: Why they can doom your dating profile
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Faye Chiu | Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That these traits are neither here nor there only makes beige flags all the more confusing. She first heard of beige flags on X (formerly known as Twitter) in the context of “fannish discussions about what BTS members’ beige flags are, and beige flags for other K-pop bands,” she said. Beige flags and your dating profileFor Blaine Anderson, who runs a coaching website for heterosexual men called Dating By Blaine, strategizing with clients to eliminate beige flags from their conversations and dating profiles is essential to help them stand out in an enormous pool of suitors, particularly online. One of the most common beige flags on anyone’s dating profile is the line “I love to travel,” she said. Dig beyond labeling it a beige flagA little grace surrounding beige flags can go a long way.

Persons: who’s, ”, Jennifer McGillan, “, Alyssa Mairanz, ” Mairanz, Mairanz, Blaine Anderson, Blaine, ” Anderson, “ It’s, Sharin Shafer, it’s, Clarissa Silva, Silva, ” Silva, Shafer, ” Shafer, Terry Ward Organizations: CNN, New, Adobe, The Agency Locations: TikTok, Starkville , Mississippi, New York City, Venice, London, Florida

The idea behind the Ryder Cup task force that was formed after the 2014 matches was to build some continuity among the U.S. teams. He had been an assistant four times in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. The key is to see whom Furyk, the 2018 Ryder Cup captain and now the Presidents Cup captain for 2024 in Montreal, selects as his assistants for next year. Former PGA champion David Toms was overlooked as a Ryder Cup captain, just like another PGA champion, Larry Nelson, was before him. DIVOTSRickie Fowler is one of four Americans to have been on a losing Ryder Cup team in Europe at least four times.

Persons: GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Luke Donald, Bernard Gallacher, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, LIV, Woods, Ben Hogan, Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, John Lindert, Don Rea, Seth Waugh, Steve Stricker, Davis Love, Fred Couples, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Marco Simone, Matt Kuchar, David Duval, David Toms, Larry Nelson, Toms, he's, Max Homa, Brooks Koepka, ” Jordan Spieth, “, ” Spieth, Si Woo Kim, Kim, Yubin Jang, Wooyoung Cho, “ I've, Danny Oh, Rory McIlroy, McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Arthur Blank, Steve Cohen, DIVOTS Rickie Fowler, Danny Willett, ”, LIV Golf, Louis Oosthuizen, Ludvig Aberg, Swede, ’, ___ Organizations: — Team, Bethpage, Bethpage Black, U.S, Ryder, PGA, FedEx, BMW PGA, South Korea, Asian Games, South, Games, Asian, Sports, SoFi Technologies, ESPN, Atlanta Falcons, New York Mets, SoFi, Ryder Cup, Dunhill, Sanderson, Texas Tech, PGA Tour University, Indiana, Italian Golf Federation Locations: Italy, Saudi, Adare Manor, Ireland, U.S, Montreal, Paris, Europe, England, France, Wentworth, South, China, Thailand, South Florida, Los Angeles, Atlanta , New York, Boston, Saudi Arabia, Mississippi

☆ Laphonza Butler makes history as first Black openly lesbian U.S. senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Laphonza Butler was sworn into the Senate Tuesday afternoon, making history as the first openly lesbian Black senator to serve in Congress, and the first openly LGBTQ senator to represent California. She will also be the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate. Butler was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to fill late California senator Dianne Feinstein's seat for the remainder of the term through 2024. NBC News reported that The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) had urged Newsom to appoint Barbara Lee, a Black woman and California Rep. of 25 years. She held the position from 2021 until this week, when she stepped down to accept the Senate seat.

Persons: Laphonza Butler, Butler, Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein's, Feinstein, Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, Adam B, Schiff, Governor Newsom, Porter, Nancy Pelosi, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Newsom, Steven Horsford, Kamala Harris, Harris, Uber, Butler's, Laphonza Organizations: NBC News, Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, Congressional, Caucus, Black, Democratic, SEIU, University of California, SEIU State Council, CNBC Locations: California, Mississippi, Maryland, Washington

☆ Veteran investor David Roche has a contrarian call on grain prices, says prices will soar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Grain prices have been in freefall of late as investors bet on a resurgence of supply from the U.S., Russia and Ukraine — but veteran strategist David Roche disagrees. Contrary to market consensus, Roche, president and global strategist at Independent Strategy, expects a 13-15% annual increase in wheat prices over the next two years. His comments come as wheat prices remain down around 29% year-to-date and at their lowest levels since September 2020, with short positions — bets that prices will fall — recently hitting a three-month high, according to a report from Independent Strategy. Corn prices are also trading around three-year lows while soybeans recently notched a four-year low. Meanwhile Russia, the world's largest grain exporter, has also produced large harvests which analysts expect to get through export blockades.

Persons: David Roche, Roche, CNBC's, we've Organizations: Independent, El Nino, U.S . Department of Agriculture Locations: Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Mississippi

GOP nominees in both states — Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and first-term Mississippi Gov. '”In 2020, then-President Donald Trump won 62% of the vote in Kentucky and 58% in Mississippi in his loss to Biden. In Mississippi, Reeves put aside anti-Biden rhetoric when he appeared with the president to survey tornado damage in March. “Well, I say a vote for him is a vote for the corrupt system in place,” Presley said of Reeves. A vote for Brandon Presley is a vote for Brandon Presley.”___Emily Wagster Pettus reported from Jackson, Mississippi.

Persons: Joe Biden, Daniel Cameron, Tate Reeves —, Carrie Archie Russell, Donald Trump, Biden, ” Russell, there's, Andy Beshear, He's, Steve Beshear, Matt Bevin, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley —, Reeves, ” Beshear, Beshear, Cameron, “, ” Cameron, Presley, you’ve, ” Reeves, “ You’ve, You’ve, Bennie, Brandon, ” Bennie, Bennie Thompson, —, Thompson, ” Presley, ”, Emily Wagster Pettus Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Vanderbilt University, Republican Party, Democrat, Biden, Trump, Beshear, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Democrats, Democratic U.S . Rep, U.S . Capitol, of Human Services Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky, Kentucky, Mississippi, it's, nationalize, In Mississippi, U.S, ” In Mississippi, Mississippi’s, America, Jackson , Mississippi

☆ The Mississippi River's flow is the weakest it's been in 35 years. Seawater overtaking the river could make New Orleans' drinking water too salty for months.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Saltwater will soon rush into the Mississippi River, which hit its lowest flow rate since 1988. AdvertisementAdvertisementFor the second year in a row, the Mississippi River water level is at an extreme low. AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's because a low flow rate could allow saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to push into the river and pollute the source of drinking water for thousands. AdvertisementAdvertisementUSACE officials beyond Louisiana are also working to mitigate the effects of low water levels and low flow rates. Ultimately, rain — and a lot of it — is what the Mississippi River will need to reach its average water level and flow rate again, Roe and Dell'Orco both agreed.

Persons: John Bel Edwards, —, We're, Matt Roe, Roe, Joe Biden, Edwards, Lou Dell'Orco, Louis District, Dell'Orco Organizations: Gov, Service, New, US Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, Louis Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, New Orleans, Gulf, Mexico, Algiers, Plaquemines Parish, Missouri

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former President Donald Trump heads to southeast Iowa Sunday in the middle of a fall campaign push aimed at locking in supporters with large organizing events. As he has with his other recent travels to the leadoff caucus state, Trump will campaign in an area that formerly supported Democrats but has embraced him. Trump was planning to headline an afternoon event in Ottumwa, where his campaign was expecting more than 1,000 potential supporters. The small city is a hub in eastern Iowa and the seat of Wapello County, one of 31 counties Trump carried in 2016 that Democrat Barack Obama had won four years earlier. Trump, the first Republican to capture the county since the Eisenhower administration, campaigned the week before in northeast Iowa.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Barack Obama, Eisenhower, Democrat Joe Biden, Trump’s, Obama, Jonathan J, Cooper Organizations: DES, Trump, Republican, Democratic, Democrat, sparred, Associated Press Locations: DES MOINES, Iowa, Ottumwa, Wapello County, Jackson County, Mississippi, Dubuque County, Wapello, U.S, Canada, Mexico, California, Orange County, Southern California, Michigan, Macomb County , Michigan, Detroit, Macomb County, Anaheim , California

(AP) — Jaxson Dart threw for four touchdowns, including a 13-yard, game-winner to Tre Harris with 39 seconds remaining as No. Daniels was 15 for 19 passing for 234 yards and three touchdowns, added 67 rushing yards and a QB rating of 234.5. 20 Rebels, the fourth highest ranked SEC team in the poll, are poised to move up, but no SEC team has moved up more than five slots in any single week. 13 LSU is certain to drop, but will the Tigers become this season’s first two-loss team to remain in the Top 25? 20 Rebels host Arkansas to complete a two-game home stand on Saturday.

Persons: Jaxson Dart, Tre Harris, Ole Miss, Jayden Daniels, Chris Hilton Jr, Dart, Brian Thomas Jr, Daniels, Harris, Ole, Lane Kiffin’s, Thomas, Logan Diggs Organizations: OXFORD, Miss, LSU, Rebels, Tigers, The Rebels, Alabama, Ole Miss, SEC, AP Locations: Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas

☆ US Army engineers are dredging the dwindling Mississippi River 24/7 and battling seawater creeping upstream toward New Orleans' drinking water
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Maiya Focht | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This threatens both the country's international supply chain and national drinking water access. AdvertisementAdvertisementA long stretch of drought in the Midwest has caused the Mississippi River to drop to abnormally low levels. Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty ImagesProblem two: Louisiana's drinking water is at stakeAn estimated 18 million people get their drinking water from the Mississippi. For example, it's contaminated the drinking water of roughly 23,515 residents in Plaquemines Parish where residents are advised to only drink bottled water. These aren't permanent solutions, but they buy local communities precious time to prepare to find alternate drinking water sources, Roe added.

Persons: Mother Nature, —, Colin Wellenkamp, Lou Dell'Orco, Louis District, Dell'Orco, they're, John Bel Edwards, Joe Biden, Kevin Dietsch, Biden, Edwards, Matthew Roe, it's, Sills, Roe, she's Organizations: Service, America, Getty, Towns Initiative, Associated Press, Shipping, AP, St . Louis District US Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, US Army Corps of Engineers, Louis, Louisiana's, Louisiana Gov, New Locations: Mississippi, Midwest, Louisiana, Cities, St.Louis, St, Louis, Gulf of Mexico, Plaquemines Parish, New Orleans

(AP) — Mississippi has seen a consistent rise in the number of families accepting public assistance for child care since lawmakers banned abortion in almost all circumstances, with the sharpest increase coming after a child support policy change in May, the state human services director said Friday. They also said that when parents couldn't find child care, it prevented them from getting back to work. Delbert Hosemann, also a Republican, disputed the idea that the abortion ban has had an impact on child care voucher enrollment. “It’s clear to me it’s not the Dobbs decision. It’s the fact that we made this policy decision that’s been approved by the governor and that you’re seeing thousands of people become eligible because of that,” Hosemann said.

Persons: JACKSON, Bob Anderson, Dobbs, ” Anderson, Roe, Wade, Tate Reeves, couldn't, Delbert Hosemann, “, it’s, that’s, ” Hosemann, they’re, Reeves, ”, Cory Custer, ” ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: —, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Jackson, Health Organization, U.S, Supreme, Gov, Republican, Child, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, — Mississippi, Mississippi, @mikergoldberg

☆ When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans? Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city.

Persons: Biden, Bernard, It’s, ”, Jeffrey Graschel, hydrologist, doesn’t, CONN, Matthew Roe, “ It’s, ” Mr, Graschel Organizations: New, Jefferson, Salvador Pointe à, Army Corps of Engineers, Copernicus, Midwest, U.S . Drought Monitor, National Weather Service, NEV, ALA, MISS, Oregon State University In, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, National Weather, Army Corps Locations: Orleans, Mississippi, New Orleans, Louisiana, Pontchartrain, Carrollton, Algiers, Salvador, la, Mexico Lake Pontchartrain, Salvador Pointe à la, Mexico, Gulf, Ohio, Slidell, La, Minnesota, MAINE, MINN, VT, N.H . IDAHO, S.D, N.Y, WIS, R.I, PA, IOWA, NEB . OHIO, UTAH, COLO . CALIF . VA, KAN . MO, KY, N.C, TENN, OKLA, ., MISS . TEXAS LA, FLA, NEV . UTAH, CONN, WYO, NEV . OHIO, Myrtle Grove, ”

An election official hands a ballot to a voter at a polling station in Ridgeland, Mississippi, U.S., November 27, 2018. A spokesperson for the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Circuit Judge Carolyn Dineen King in reversing a lower-court judge's ruling. Circuit Judge Edith Jones, an appointee of former Republican President Ronald Reagan, was also on the panel and had dissented. Twelve of the 16 currently active judges on the court were appointed by Republicans.

Persons: Jonathan Bachman, Jonathan Youngwood, Lynn Fitch, James Dennis, Dennis, Carolyn Dineen King, Edith Jones, Ronald Reagan, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Circuit, U.S ., Democratic, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Ridgeland , Mississippi, U.S, Mississippi's, Mississippi, U.S . Civil, New York

Jae Byun, 31, earns around $115,000 teaching math and coaching basketball at a high school in Orange County, California. Now seven years in, the 31-year-old earned $114,099 for the 2021-2022 academic year between teaching and coaching during the school year, teaching summer school and coaching over the summer in California's Fullerton school district. My parents taught me the value of money and that money doesn't grow on trees. Jae Byun"My parents taught me the value of money and that money doesn't grow on trees," Byun says. For the two summer months, he taught summer school and coached summer programs.

Persons: Jae Byun, didn't, Byun, Tristan Pelletier, Orange County Byun, I've, they've, weren't, Byun didn't, he's, Roth Organizations: CNBC, University of California, UC Irvine, California State University, Fullerton, Concordia University, U.S, National Education Association, Roth IRA Locations: Irvine, Orange County , California, California's Fullerton, Orange County, South Korea, Fullerton , California, U.S, California, Mississippi

☆ Help wanted: More female electricians to help America hit its climate goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US needs more electricians to install renewable energy and electric vehicle chargers. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. "Many contractors refused to work with me because I was a woman," Hicks told Insider. Hicks has spent her career trying to make the industry more inclusive for women of color. Only 2% of electricians are women, federal data shows , and nearly 80% are white.

Persons: Tonya Hicks, Hicks, Qmerit, Biden, Tom Bowen, we're, Bowen, they're Organizations: Service, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Power Solutions, of Labor Statistics Locations: Mississippi, Atlanta, California

☆ Mississippi River forecast: Grim outlook for rain and water levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Water levels on the Mississippi River are nearing historic lows for the second consecutive year, triggering a drinking water emergency in Louisiana as ocean water flows upstream, unimpeded by the river’s uncharacteristically weak flow. Lower Mississippi River water levels are forecast to continue to drop through at least mid-to-late October, according to Dedeaux. A confluence of extremesWater levels on the Mississippi River began to plummet in early September, well ahead of the October drop last year. This outlook from the Climate Prediction Center shows how drought is expected to improve in many areas along the Mississippi River which desperately need rain. Sixty percent of the water that flows into the lower Mississippi River comes from the Ohio River, while the other 40 percent comes from the upper Mississippi River, Dedeaux told CNN.

Persons: Katie Dedeaux, “ We’re, Dedeaux, It’s, Cullen Jones, Gerald Herbert, Alexis Highman Organizations: CNN, NOAA, Geological Survey, National Weather Service, Army Corps, New, Louisiana, US Drought Monitor, Forecast Center, Center Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Jackson , Mississippi, Memphis, Missouri, Lower Mississippi, New Orleans, Mississippi , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Nebraska , Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota , Wisconsin , Iowa , Mississippi, El, Midwest

☆ Chattanooga is the 'all-around best city' to retire in the South
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Southern Living and Investopedia named the best cities in the South to retire. The best all-around city to retire in the South: Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee is the best overall city for retirees in the South. Southern Living and Investopedia named Chattanooga, Tennessee the best all-around city to retire. Margaretw | Istock | Getty ImagesBeaufort, North Carolina, was named the best town for healthy living. Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was named the best city in the South for home buying.

Persons: Investopedia, Lorraine Boogich, Nicholas Sparks Organizations: Southern, ., Southern Living, Getty Images Tennessee, Census Bureau, North Carolina, Enthusiasts, , North Carolina Best, Greenville , South Carolina Best, Lexington , Kentucky Best, Arts and Culture, Istock, Getty Locations: Florida, . Southern, Investopedia, South, Chattanooga , Tennessee Chattanooga , Tennessee, Nashville, Atlanta , Georgia, Birmingham , Alabama, Smoky, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Chattanooga, Livability, Beaufort, North, Abingdon, Virginia, Springs , Mississippi, , North, Greenville , South, St, Augustine , Florida, Eureka Springs , Arkansas, Lexington , Kentucky, Savannah, Georgia, Huntsville, Alabama, Fort Worth , Texas Beaufort, North Carolina, Southern, Savannah , Georgia, Charleston , South Carolina, Ocean Springs , Mississippi

The latest hurdle comes from a slow-moving threat — a mass influx of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico that is creeping up the drought-stricken Mississippi River. The issue is forcing farmers to brainstorm other ways to irrigate their crops with fresh water — including storing the little rain water they’ve gotten this summer, hauling in fresh water and establishing makeshift salination treatment facilities. Typically, the mighty flow of the Mississippi is enough to keep mass amounts of salt water from reaching too far inland. While officials believe adult citrus trees will be okay, seedlings are much more sensitive to salt water. Over the years some citrus farmers have focused on seedlings — shipping them to garden centers across the country and as far north as Canada.

Persons: They’re, ”, Joey Breaux, John Bel Edwards, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Belle Chasse, satsumas, Anna Timmerman, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Timmerman, “, ” Timmerman, Kim Dillon, Ben, Ben Becnel Organizations: Army Corps of Engineers, Orange Festival, Louisiana State University, Inc Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Belle, Plaquemines Parish, Florida, California, Belle Chasse, Canada

☆ New Orleans residents brace for salt water intrusion as Biden declares national emergency
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

An aerial view of New Orleans can be seen from a drone above the Mississippi River on April 1, 2023 in New Orleans, La. Ricky Carioti | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden on Wednesday declared a federal emergency for a saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River, which is threatening New Orleans' water infrastructure. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects that two New Orleans water treatment plants will be affected by the end of October: the Algiers Water Treatment Plant on Oct. 22 and the Carrollton Water Treatment Plant on Oct. 28. Solutions under considerationAt a New Orleans City Council meeting on Wednesday, councilmembers, officials from the SWBNO and from the Department of Homeland Security discussed possible response strategies. Some New Orleanians are wondering why the city is always playing defense, despite the warning signs of saltwater intrusion in years past.

Persons: Ricky Carioti, Joe Biden, John Bel Edwards, Biden, Jesse Keenan, Mia Miller, Miller, Joseph Giarrusso, SWBNO, Councilmember Lesli Harris, Councilmember, there's, We're, Bywater, Stephen Murphy, bode, Murphy Organizations: Washington Post, Getty, Wednesday, Louisiana Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Biden's, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Board, New, New Orleans City Council, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers New, Water Board, Tulane University, New Orleans City, Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, Tulane University's Disaster Management Locations: New Orleans, Mississippi, La, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans, Algiers, Carrollton, Bywater, councilmembers

Tipton, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump, blocked the Biden administration from enforcing the $15 minimum wage in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, states that last year filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order. The minimum wage under federal law is $7.25 an hour, though many states set higher minimums. Four states and several cities have a minimum wage of at least $15. Only Congress can set minimum wages and adopt other employment policies unless it specifically grants those powers to federal agencies, Tipton wrote. In January, a federal judge in Arizona dismissed a similar challenge to Biden's executive order by five other Republican-led states.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Drew Tipton, Donald Trump, Biden, Tipton, Lynn Fitch, Daniel Wiessner, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Moffett Federal, REUTERS, District, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, Texas, Victoria, Tipton, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona, Albany , New York

☆ New Orleans braces for drinking water emergency from drought-stricken Mississippi River
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Denise Chow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an emergency declaration Friday in response to concerns that salt water encroaching upriver could affect the availability of safe drinking water in the coming weeks. Treasure hunters comb the shoreline of the Mississippi River after it was exposed by low water levels on October 18, 2022 near Portageville, Missouri. Around 2,000 residents in Plaquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, were already relying on bottled water this summer after salt water infiltrated the area's water systems. The mouth of the Mississippi River sits substantially below sea level, which means some salt water from the Gulf of Mexico naturally creeps inland. Salt water is denser than fresh water, so it flows like a wedge along the riverbed underneath the fresh water of the Mississippi.

Persons: Stephen Murphy, LaToya Cantrell, Murphy, we've, John Bel Edwards, Nature, Col, Cullen Jones, We've Organizations: Tulane University's School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine, Louisiana Gov, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Corps, Corps, New, New Orleans District Locations: Mississippi, Tiptonville, Tenn, New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulf, Mexico, Portageville , Missouri, Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Lower Mississippi

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Monday that it has awarded more than $1.4 billion to projects that improve railway safety and boost capacity, with much of the money coming from the 2021 infrastructure law. The projects include track upgrades and bridge repairs, in addition to improving the connectivity among railways and making routes less vulnerable to extreme weather. “We’ve been fighting to return passenger trains to the Gulf Coast since it was knocked offline by Hurricane Katrina. A project in Kentucky will receive $29.5 million to make improvements to 280 miles of track and other infrastructure along the Paducah and Louisville Railway. And in Tennessee, $23.7 million will go to helping upgrade about 42 bridges on 10 different short-line railroads.

Persons: —, Pete Buttigieg, Hurricane Katrina, Katrina, ” Sen, Roger Wicker, “ We’ve, Jim Mathews Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, Hurricane, Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, ” Rail Passengers Association, Railroad, Paducah and Louisville Railway, & $ Locations: Alabama , Louisiana, Mississippi, of Mexico, Gulf, Gulf Coast, Coulee, Washington, Kentucky, Paducah, Tennessee

☆ An El Niño winter is coming: What could that mean for the US?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

El Niño is one of three phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which tracks water temperature changes in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that can have rippling effects on weather patterns around the globe. A wetter southern tier and a drier northern tier in an outlook for this winter from the Climate Prediction Center have all the fingerprints of an El Niño winter. El Niño winter patterns are less regular in California, the Southwest and the Northeast. The Northeast doesn’t have a well-defined set of expectations during an El Niño winter. A very strong El Niño during the 2015-2016 winter contributed to the warmest winter on record for the US mainland, according to NOAA.

Persons: it’s, Niño, El Niño, Niña, Harry Lynch Organizations: CNN, El, West, NOAA, Rockies, snowpack, ., Raleigh News, Observer, Tribune, Service, Carolinas Locations: El, Southern, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, South, Pacific Northwest, Plains, Midwest, Pacific, California, Raleigh , North Carolina, Texas, East Coast

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