Author: Josh

Two rollovers in Adams County; Mississippi River bonfires set for Christmas Eve; Powerball climbs to an estimated $1.6B; HUT‑8 data center breaks ground in West Feliciana with Anthropic as first tenant; river 11.94 ft and rising.

Natchez Soup Pot is collecting potato salad, dinner rolls and desserts through Dec. 23 to provide Christmas meals; Louisiana now targets statewide high‑speed internet access by 2028; Mississippi blood banks have issued an urgent appeal—especially for O and B donors—ahead of the holiday, while a PSC energy rule change raises affordability concerns.

Natchez secures a $24.57M BUILD grant to launch the Transforming the Forks to Freedom corridor project; a federal judge has struck down Louisiana’s social‑media age‑verification law. Also: new state grants for trafficking survivors, rising childhood nearsightedness concerns, and the Mississippi River at Natchez–Vidalia at 13.06 ft.

Natchez–Adams County tax notices are delayed due to a change in processing contractors; payments remain due Feb. 1 and can be made online or at the courthouse. LSU has approved a new School of Construction to expand its construction management program, and U.S. Border Patrol reports more than 300 detentions in Operation Catahoula Crunch.

Local headlines: a donation drive is set Dec. 27 for Terra Apartment fire survivors; State Farm seeks higher home but lower auto rates in Louisiana; the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Terry Pittsford’s appeal; LA reports strong dual‑enrollment graduation gains.

Governor Tate Reeves awarded Adams County $1.7 million to clear and level 106 acres of the former Natchez International Paper mill site — part of more than $100 million in statewide economic development funds to ready the 478‑acre property for new industry.

Natchez’s mayor cast the tie‑breaking vote to appoint Adonna Sessions to the six‑member Convention Promotion Commission, replacing Barbara Bruce — a move the mayor called qualified but that drew criticism for reducing Black representation on the tourism board.

Mayor Dan Gibson broke a tie to appoint Adonna Sessions to the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission. Also: a star‑studded 2026 Jazz Fest lineup, lingering La Niña outlook, and concerns over Operation Catahoula Crunch’s local impacts.

Merit Health Natchez says no closure is planned amid financial pressures; Louisiana farmers will get $12B in federal aid, and Mississippi leads the nation in FAFSA completion, boosting college enrollment.

Merritt Health Natchez says its 179‑bed hospital will remain open amid financial pressures as officials outline upgrades and physician recruiting. Also in today’s roundup: $12B federal farm aid for Louisiana, Mississippi tops FAFSA completion, and new NIL oversight proposals.