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Mississippi lawmakers pass pork-laden $702M bond bill on session’s last day | Mississippi

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – 2023-04-05 14:57:00

(The Center Square) — The Mississippi Legislature’s session ended Saturday, but not before lawmakers passed a $702 million bond bill filled with lots of election-year projects.

House Bill 603 was authored by Appropriations Chairman and state Rep. John Read, R-Gautier. The bill’s conference report was passed by big majorities in both chambers.

The bill was passed after it was recommitted to conference for a second time after a continuing resolution was approved by both chambers to modify legislative deadlines and allow HB603 to be sent to Gov. Tate Reeves.

The bill will create a $371.9 million Local Improvements Projects Fund that will funnel money to various projects statewide.

Also receiving money will be the state’s universities ($193.3 million) and the state’s system of community colleges ($40 million).

A new headquarters for the state Department of Public Safety to be built in Rankin County will receive $32 million, while a new trooper substation in Starkville will receive $6 million.

Here are some of the larger projects in the bill:

  • The city of Clinton will receive $8 million for infrastructure work and $20 million for a water and sewer plant expansion project.
  • Philadelphia will receive $10 million to build the second phase of the Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music Museum.
  • Tupelo will receive $4.6 million for downtown railroad improvements and the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation will receive $4.95 million to build the Chickasaw Heritage Center in the city.
  • The Gloster Southern Railroad, which was a 35-mile short line railroad connecting southwest Mississippi and northeastern Louisiana, will receive $8 million to help restore service that was ended in 2013.
  • The Scenic Rivers Alliance will receive $8 million for the Okhissa Lake Development Project, which will build a 200-room lodge, 1,000-person conference center on 150 acres of the Homochitto National Forest in southwest Mississippi in Franklin County.
  • The Mississippi Songwriters Performing Arts Center in Gautier was allocated $2 million for construction of an amphitheater and $2 million for infrastructure work for the park where it will be located.
  • Oxford was allocated $4 million to build a new police station.
  • Also appropriated was $3.6 million for a new Attala County Fire Station, an emergency operations center and E-911 call center.
  • The Jackson Planetarium will receive $1 million while the city’s Thalia Mara Hall performing arts center will receive $1.5 million.
  • An appropriation of $2 million was for Senatobia for downtown improvements.
  • Louisville was allocated $2 million for an industrial park road.
  • Pascagoula will receive $2 million for improvements to its city hall.
  • George County was allocated $1.8 million to pay for the construction of a multipurpose facility.
  • The bill will provide the city of Waynesboro $1.5 million to pay for infrastructure improvements.
  • Olive Branch will receive $1.5 million for new aircraft hangars at its airport, misspelled in the bill as “hangers.”
  • Marshall County was allocated $1.5 million for the Chickasaw Trail Emergency Response Center.
  • An appropriation of $1.5 million was made for renovations to the Itawamba County Courthouse.
  • The city of Columbus will receive $1.425 million for renovations for its city hall.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Helene: About $9B of resolution’s $110B relief headed to North Carolina | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – 2024-12-21 09:29:00

SUMMARY: Relief efforts for Hurricane Helene in North Carolina received a boost with the passage of the American Relief Act 2025, which allocates $110 billion for various disasters, including Hurricane Helene. While bipartisan support was shown, Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop opposed the resolution. President Biden signed the bill, directing about $9 billion specifically to North Carolina for disaster recovery, including support for infrastructure and agriculture. The aid aims to address devastation from Helene, which caused significant loss of life and property damage. Key officials emphasized the importance of this funding for the recovery of communities in western North Carolina.

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News from the South - Georgia News Feed

Holiday traffic could eclipse records | Georgia

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – 2024-12-20 15:17:00

SUMMARY: AAA forecasts a record 108,677 more travelers this year in Georgia, with 3.7 million expected to journey over 50 miles, primarily by car. Factors influencing travel include colder weather reducing gas demand and a shift to online holiday shopping. Current gas prices in Georgia are stable at $2.92 per gallon, slightly lower than last year’s $3. Nearby states generally offer cheaper gas, with Tennessee at around $2.72. Lane closures on major highways will be suspended from Monday until January 5. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport anticipates a busy Christmas Day, expecting 327,724 travelers.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

Fuel prices better than national average for 3.3M forecast to travel | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – 2024-12-20 15:08:00

SUMMARY: As North Carolinians prepare for holiday travel, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline is $2.83, below the national average of $3.05. AAA anticipates 3.5 million residents traveling at least 50 miles from home in the state between December 23 and January 1. While North Carolina’s gasoline prices are better than a month ago, diesel averages $3.41. Among 14 major metro areas, Jacksonville has the lowest unleaded price at $2.72, while Durham-Chapel Hill has the highest at $2.97. North Carolina’s gas taxes, currently 40.4 cents per gallon, fund transportation projects statewide.

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