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JSU delays student move-in due to low water pressure

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JSU delays student move-in due to low Jackson water pressure

Jackson State University announced it has postponed move-in dates this fall as the capital city’s โ€œunprecedented water pressure issuesโ€ are affecting water flow on the upper floors of student housing.ย 

JSU’s campus is just of downtown Jackson, an area contending with low pressure after the city pulled some water pumps offline earlier this week due to mechanical issues at the OB Curtis Water Treatment Plant. This comes as the city remains under a boil water notice issued two weeks ago by the due to higher than average levels of turbidity, or cloudiness, in the water.ย 

The university is now planning for the 750 new who were to move-in this Saturday to to campus starting Thursday, Aug. 18. The move-in date for returning students is now Saturday, Aug. 20. But those dates are still subject to the city restoring water pressure, according to a press release posted to the university’s social .ย 

Classes are still scheduled to start on Monday, Aug. 22.ย 

โ€œWhile we know this is a huge inconvenience, the postponement is the right thing to do to prevent students from arriving on campus while we’re experiencing these water issues,โ€ university officials said in the press release.ย 

Last week, city officials said that while they did not have a โ€œdefinitive timelineโ€ for lifting the boil water notice, they hoped service would be back to fully functioning starting today for well-system customers starting today and as early as Saturday for surface system customers.ย 

The water issues are also affecting Jackson Public Schools, the superintendent told WAPT, affecting the ability of some larger buildings that are more than 50 years old to flush toilets.ย 

“We’re at a place now where many of our buildings are failing us,” Errick Greene said. “HVAC systems, plumbing systems, electricity, we’re constantly patching, fixing, and running behind so many issues.”

JSU, a historically Black college, relies on the city water system but for years has sought for years for from the Legislature to construct its own. Though lawmakers this appropriated American Rescue Plan Act funds for capital projects at Mississippi’s eight public universities, most of the bills seeking infrastructure improvements for JSU โ€“ such as new dormitories โ€“ died in committee.ย 

Of the 17 bills introduced last session for capital improvements at JSU, only one โ€“ a bill authorizing the university to sell land to a private entity to develop student housing โ€“ was signed into law.ย Capital projects for the universities are sometimes funded through appropriation and bond bills.

One of the unsuccessful bills, proposed earlier this year by Rep. Angela Cockerham, an independent from Magnolia, sought $8 million for JSU for costs associated with building a separate water system.ย 

Cockerham said she has thought for years that JSU, her alma mater, needs its own water supply. This issue became particularly urgent, she said, after seeing how last year’s ice storm affected the campus. Students, faculty and staff didn’t have clean water, according to HBCU Advocate, and the university had to install portable showers and restrooms near the dorms.ย 

The impact on students of the university pushing its move-in date underscores the need for her bill, Cockerham said.ย 

โ€œSome students here locally, but a lot of students are coming from out of state,โ€ she said. โ€œThis severely affects the parents, especially if they bought plane tickets, if they rented cars, if they’ve got U-hauls.โ€ย ย 

The university’s press release states that the financial aid and business offices will be available to assist students with completing registration during the new move-in dates.ย 

Four Mississippi universities have their own water systems, according to the Institutions of Higher Learning, including Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Mississippi.ย 

The University of Mississippi Medical Center uses its own water source for about 90% of campus with the remaining coming from the city, IHL’s spokesperson, Caron Blanton, wrote in an email earlier this year.ย 

IHL has received $25 million in ARPA funds for capital projects at all eight public universities, but it’s likely not enough to cover the full scope of the need at every university, including JSU. Mississippi Today asked what portion of the $25 million was allocated to JSU, but IHL did not respond by press time.ย 

For JSU alone, IHL had initially requested $17.8 million in ARPA funds for the university to implement a range of upgrades to its plumbing and sewage systems, such as installing water meters and filtration systems on the service lines for 52 university buildings and replacing a sewer line on Lynch Street.ย 

The request would have also funded a plan โ€œto implement an alternate water supply system to serve the JSU campus.โ€ย 

JSU has also been seeking to build new dorms to alleviate a waitlist of more than 600 students seeking on-campus housing. At a town hall last month, President Thomas Hudson addressed the university’s housing issues, which he said stemmed from โ€œyears of underfunding,โ€ according to a press release.ย 

Hudson said the university is taking a โ€œtwo-prong approach to this issueโ€ that includes repairing the current on-campus housing and looking to build new dorms in the coming year.ย 

โ€œIt’s long overdue for JSU, and it’s long overdue for a new residence hall that meets our growing demand and is more in line with what our students need and want,โ€ Hudson said. โ€œWe ask that everyone be patient with us; work with us. We’re going to try and place as many students as we can this year.โ€

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

National Women’s March held in Tupelo brings locals together

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www.wcbi.com – Kaleb Green – 2024-11-02 22:19:00

SUMMARY: The Women’s March in , Mississippi, joined national marches advocating for women’s rights, coinciding with in Washington D.C. and other . Organized by Indivisible Northeast Mississippi, the march influential speakers who emphasized the importance of personal autonomy and women’s involvement in societal issues. Participants expressed gratitude for the ‘s significance in a small town, with speakers urging women to fight for their rights and control their own bodies. The message for young women included themes of independence and empowerment, encouraging them to pursue their goals bravely. The Tupelo march was part of a larger movement encompassing similar events in and Hattiesburg.

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Mississippi News

‘Get Out to Vote’ rally encourages citizens to cast their ballots

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www.wcbi.com – Khamari Haymer – 2024-11-02 20:01:00

SUMMARY: Elected in Columbus, Mississippi, are promoting voter participation ahead of election day through a โ€œGet Out to Voteโ€ rally hosted by Representative Kabir Karriem and District Supervisor Leroy Brooks. The provided food and drinks while emphasizing the significance of exercising rights. Karriem stressed the importance of voting, stating every citizen should participate. Brooks, reflecting on the historical struggles for voting rights, underscored that voting should be a natural part of civic engagement. The rally took place in front of the Lowndes County Courthouse, encouraging community members to take action.

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Mississippi News

Millport hosts annual Stallion Street Fair

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www.wcbi.com – Khamari Haymer – 2024-11-02 19:41:00

SUMMARY: The Stallion Street Fair in Millport attracted hundreds, featuring food, vendors, , and ‘s activities. Attendee Mark Trull praised the for fostering community connections and supporting local businesses. Vendor Cynthia Woods emphasized its importance for raising brand awareness and networking. Meanwhile, Jason Patterson and Ashley Sudduth promoted a new weight loss clinic addressing obesity in Mississippi and Alabama. They plan to offer comprehensive services, diet management and recipes. Vendors are already gearing up for next year’s fair, marking it as a vital event for promoting local engagement and business opportunities.

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