MSDH investigating hepatitis A exposure at Horn Lake restaurant
For the third time since the start of 2020, the State Department of Health (MSDH) is investigating possible hepatitis A exposure at a Mississippi restaurant. The MSDH is reporting that an infected employee worked at the Papa John’s location on Goodman Road in Horn Lake between January 28th – February 11th and may have exposed customers to the virus. Health officials stated that vaccination can prevent hepatitis A only if given within 14 days of exposure. If you’re outside of the 14-day window, the MSDH says that you should watch for any possible symptoms of hepatitis A and see a doctor if you become ill. “The risk of transmission of hepatitis A in this situation is likely very low. However, as a precaution, we recommend that anyone who ate food from this restaurant between February 6th and February 11th should consider getting a hepatitis A vaccination if they have not done so already. And again, those who may have been exposed between January 28th and February 5th should watch for any possible symptoms of hepatitis A and see their doctor if they become ill,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. Symptoms of the contagious liver disease include fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), abdominal pain and dark-colored urine. Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool (feces) from an infected person. The MSDH is also currently investigating possible exposure at The Gumbo Pot in Vicksburg and a Huddle House in Laurel. Everyone can prevent the spread of hepatitis A by carefully washing their hands with soap and water, including under the fingernails, after using the bathroom or changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. The post MSDH investigating hepatitis A exposure at Horn Lake restaurant appeared first on News Mississippi.
Flooding Recovery and Response: What you need to know
Flooding has taken a toll on the state, and although the waters are receding, the work is just beginning. Here is some important information to help you in the days ahead. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOME IS FLOODED (Information provided by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency) If you know your home or business has flooded, it is crucial that you wait to re-enter until officials confirm there are no structural, electrical hazards or biohazards and it is safe to return. Even after your area is deemed safe, continue to use extreme caution and make sure the main electrical switch to your home is off before you enter the structure. Next, it’s important that you immediately contact your insurance company and take pictures to document the damage. If you experienced flooding, file an insurance claim as soon as possible. If you have an insurance-related question, call your agent or call the Mississippi Insurance Department at 1-800-562-2957 or email consumer@mid.ms.gov Once your claim is filed, it’s time to begin the cleanup stage. In the case of flooding, it’s particularly critical that cleanup occurs as soon as possible. Mildew and mold can develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. When cleaning, use protective equipment such as gloves and a mask. You’ll also want to make sure the working area is well ventilated by opening all doors and windows. If the damage to your home following a flood event is extensive, the cleanup process can easily become an overwhelming task, but these steps will help make the daunting task feel more achievable: Remove standing water from floors, carpets, and hard surfaces. Remove/discard all soaked items such as furniture, rugs, bedding, and curtains that can’t be cleaned, dried, or already contain mold — when in doubt, throw it out. Use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture. If mold has started to grow, DO NOT use a fan, because it will spread the mold. Clean walls, hard-surfaced floors, and other household surfaces with a mixture of soap and water then dry right away. Disinfect all surfaces with a water and bleach solution (1 cup bleach to 5 gallons of water) and DO NOT mix chemicals. Flooding can contaminate the water supply, so be sure to take heed of all boil water advisories. For more information, visit the Mississippi State Department of Health’s website. If you decide the cleanup job may be too difficult or dangerous for you then it may be best to get help from an experienced and qualified professional to inspect, repair and restore the damaged parts of your home. ELECTRICITY Entergy Mississippi says they are continuing to focus on maintaining safety for customers. Crews are inspecting equipment and meters impacted by the flood in hopes of restoring customers who can take service. Entergy predicts this will take several days to complete. If a house has taken on floodwaters, a city inspection may be required prior to re-establishing service. The City of Jackson is requiring a city inspection for homes with 18 inches or more water in the home before service can be restored. Homes with less than 18 inches will be restored if someone is home. If no one is home the meter or an outside breaker will be turned off and customers can turn the breaker on when returning home. Floodwaters are beginning to threaten other towns along the Pearl River, and we may have to begin disconnecting electrical service to homes and businesses as a public safety precaution and to comply with the National Electric Safety Code. While Entergy expects this to be limited to those areas that experience flooding, service disconnections could extend to more areas as water levels continue to rise and approach customer homes, businesses and electrical equipment. As floodwaters rise and enter houses, we may have to disconnect service to customers. In some cases where accessibility is an issue with floodwaters, we may have to de-energize a line segment which may disconnect service to houses that are not flooded, as well as those that are flooded. Our intent is to take every reasonable step to avoid interrupting service to areas not affected by flooding. With assistance from state and local officials, Entergy Mississippi is closely monitoring the situation and will keep our customers informed of plans to disconnect service as conditions warrant. When floodwaters have receded and customers are able to return to their homes, Entergy urges you to take safety precautions and keep the following in mind: Stay away from downed power lines and flooded areas. Do not walk in standing water and do not venture into areas of debris, since energized and dangerous power lines may not be visible. Once floodwaters recede, we will work with customers to restore service. Customers should call 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) to request service reconnections. If your property has any water damage, turn off the electricity at either the main fuse box or circuit breaker and call a licensed electrician for advice and possible inspection of the property’s electric wiring. Customers should not step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker. Even if you do not have property damage, you should still be cautious. Look for electrical system damage after power is restored. If sparks, broken or frayed wires, or the smell of hot insulation is noticeable, turn off the electricity at either the main fuse box or circuit breaker. For customers’ safety, we suggest a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment inside of the facility or home, even if their city or county does not require inspection. If the breaker is turned on before such inspections, you may cause personal injury or property damage. Remember, dehumidifiers, fans or other equipment used to dry out your home can use a lot of electricity, so even if you’re not living in the home, your electric use could be high. And, if insulation or walls are removed during clean up, your home may not be protected from exterior temperatures, causing your heater to run more. Both of these can lead to high bills. EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AVAILABLE
Shooting at Baptist Hospital claims the lives of two people
Two people were killed following a shooting at Baptist Hospital in Jackson this morning. Jackson Police say the two victims, who have not been identified, were employees of Baptist Hospital. One of the victims was a male security guard and the other was a female nurse. The alleged gunman drove away in the nurse’s car following the shooting. Authorities believe the incident was the result of a domestic situation. Authorities also say a body found in Pearl may be related to the crime. This is a developing story. More details will follow. The post Shooting at Baptist Hospital claims the lives of two people appeared first on News Mississippi.
UPDATE: Victims of shooting at Baptist Hospital identified
Two people were killed following a shooting at Baptist Hospital in Jackson this morning (2/19/2020). Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart has identified the victims as 32-year-old Christina Deloris Davis, a female employee, and 64-year-old Browning Luckett Jr., a security guard. Authorities say it is believed that the suspect was the boyfriend of Davis and that the tragedy was domestic-related. The unnamed suspect allegedly confronted Davis as she arrived for work. Luckett tried to intervene in the altercation. Both he and Davis were shot and killed in the incident. The alleged gunman drove away in Davis’ car following the shooting. The car was later found in a cemetery in Pearl where witnesses reportedly say a man shot himself. In a Facebook post, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center released the following statement: The investigation is ongoing. The post UPDATE: Victims of shooting at Baptist Hospital identified appeared first on News Mississippi.
UPDATE: Scott County teen found and is safe
The Endangered/Missing Child Alert issued for 13-year-old Bryce Thompson of Scott County has been canceled. He has been located and is safe at home. On Tuesday, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered / Missing Child Alert for Thompson of Morton, Mississippi. He was reportedly last seen on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, in the early morning hours in the 1200 block of Irby Road in Scott County, walking east on Highway 80 West. No other details are available at this time. The post UPDATE: Scott County teen found and is safe appeared first on News Mississippi.
Woman Reported Missing From Bus Stop in Biloxi
According to WLOX, Amber Michelle Lunn, 30, was reportedly last seen on February 10, 2020, at the CTA bus stop on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Biloxi. She is described as being 5′2″ tall, 170 pounds, and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She also has a small tattoo of a skull and crossbones behind one of her ears and another tattoo of wings on her back. It’s unknown what clothing she was wearing when she was last seen. Anyone with information about Amber’s whereabouts is asked to contact Biloxi Police Department at 228-435-6112 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. The post Woman Reported Missing From Bus Stop in Biloxi appeared first on News Mississippi.
Mississippi Center for Public Policy: Bills would legalize mobile sports betting
(Story written by Steve Wilson, Investigative Editor for the Mississippi Center for Public Policy) Three bills in the Mississippi legislature could allow wagers to be made on sporting events on mobile devices outside a casino property. Right now, sports betting is only allowed in a licensed casino itself or with mobile devices on casino property. If one of these three bills —House Bills 172, 941 and 959 — became law, it would make Mississippi the sixth state to have full mobile betting. Right now, Mississippi is one of five states that allow partial mobile betting with some restrictions. The three bills differ only in language and little else. All three bills would have the state collect a fee of six percent of the gross revenue received through the mobile gaming platform and eight percent of all other gross revenues. A mobile gambling app operator would also have to receive a license from the state. HB 172 is sponsored by state Rep. Cedric Burnett (D-Tunica), who has also authored a bill that would allow casinos in Tunica to relocate inland to reduce their vulnerability. HB 941 is authored by state Rep. Jeffery Harness (D-Fayette), who has also sponsored a bill that would authorize collegiate student-athletes to receive compensation and have legal representation. HB 959 is sponsored by state Rep. Jay McKnight (R-Gulfport). Twenty states, plus the District of Columbia allow wagers on sports, with seven of those state legislatures have only recently authorized the practice. Passage of one of these bills could give Mississippi a competitive advantage in the Southeast. Among Mississippi’s neighbors, Arkansas has legalized sports betting, but only at casinos and not on mobile devices. Louisiana and Alabama have no legalized sports gambling, while a bill to authorize the practice in Tennessee became law in May 2019. Sports gambling has yet to start in the Volunteer State since regulations are only in draft form. The Tennessee Education Lottery’s board of directors is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to possibly approve regulations, which would have a $750,000 licensing fee for operators and a 20 percent tax on adjusted gross income. Tennessee will be an exception nationally since the new law only authorizes online betting since the state doesn’t have casinos. The legislature approved permanent legislation in 2017 that not only set guidelines for the Gaming Commission to regulate daily fantasy sports, but also struck language from a state law that prohibited betting on sports. The federal ban on sports gaming — except in Nevada — was struck down by a 2017 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. The post Mississippi Center for Public Policy: Bills would legalize mobile sports betting appeared first on News Mississippi.
Halter Marine expansion creating 100 new jobs in Pascagoula
Photo courtesy of MDA A ship maintenance and repair company is bringing new jobs to the Coast. ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore, Inc., a sister company of VT Halter Marine, is expanding in Pascagoula, and the $10 million corporate investment will create 100 jobs. “The shipbuilding and repair industry is a powerhouse on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, generating billions of dollars for the state’s economy and providing skilled jobs for thousands of Mississippians,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. “STEHMO’s growth builds upon that momentum and will continue to do so as the company’s growth opens doors for new contract opportunities.” According to the Mississippi Development Authority, the expansion will enable the company to perform new commercial repair work for larger ships and oil platforms that require greater size and lifting capacity. The company also is investing in machinery, equipment and building upgrades. “We would like to thank the Mississippi Development Authority, the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, Jackson County Board of Supervisors and Jackson County Port Authority for their support throughout this process,” said Nian Hua Lim, president of ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore. “It has been a pleasure working with all the stakeholders on the plan to upgrade STEHMO’s facility. With these developments, STEHMO will be in an excellent position to grow the marine and offshore business and create more employment opportunities for the Gulf Coast community.” The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance to offset the cost of dredging adjacent to the STEHMO site. MDA also has approved the company for the Advantage Jobs Rebate program, which provides a rebate to eligible businesses that create new jobs that exceed the average annual wage of the state or the county in which the company locates or expands. “Mississippians in Jackson County continue to reap the benefits of industry-leading shipbuilders and repair companies consistently realizing the benefits of doing business on our Gulf Coast,” said MDA Deputy Director Mike McGrevey. “The exciting careers being created in Pascagoula for this monumental project will positively impact the community and our great state for generations to come.” STEHMO plans to fill the new jobs by the end of 2021, increasing employment at the facility to 186. The post Halter Marine expansion creating 100 new jobs in Pascagoula appeared first on News Mississippi.
Endangered/Missing Child Alert for Scott County teen
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has issued an Endangered / Missing Child Alert for 13-year-old Bryce Thompson of Morton, Mississippi, in Scott County. Thompson is described as a white male, five feet and eight inches tall, weighing 120 pounds with short black hair and green eyes. He was last seen on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, in the early morning hours in the 1200 block of Irby Road in Scott County, walking east on Highway 80 West. Thompson was wearing a camouflage jacket, blue jeans, and grey shoes. Family members say he suffers from a medical condition that may impair his judgment. If anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of Bryce Thompson, contact Scott County Sheriff Department at 601-938-1769. The post Endangered/Missing Child Alert for Scott County teen appeared first on News Mississippi.
Flood damage self-reporting tool available
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) says, if you have experienced damage during the Pearl River flood event, you are now able to self-report the damage. Residents are encouraged to report damage and unmet needs to their local emergency management office. To find your county’s emergency management office’s contact information, visit MEMA’s website by clicking here. Residents can also report damage online by visiting the links below: Hinds County Residents: www.crisistrack.com/public/hindsMS/request.html Rankin County Residents: www.crisistrack.com/public/rankinMS/request.html Madison County Residents: www.crisistrack.com/public/madisonMS/request.html In response to recent storms and flooding, Governor Tate Reeves has declared a State of Emergency. The post Flood damage self-reporting tool available appeared first on News Mississippi.