Investigators are working to determine the cause of a grass fire in Natchez that spread to an RV and a mobile home before firefighters brought it under control. Crews stopped the fire before it reached nearby houses, and no serious injuries were reported.
President Donald Trump has approved Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s request for a major disaster declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana affected by last month’s winter storm. The declaration allows the federal government to reimburse 75 percent of costs incurred by state and local governments for debris removal, utility restoration, and law enforcement. According to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the declaration does not currently provide assistance for individuals. Homeowners impacted by the storm are encouraged to report damage at damage.la.gov so the information can be forwarded to federal officials for potential future assistance.
A report from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office shows that several state agencies are out of compliance with cybersecurity regulations. The audit cited FBI internet crime data indicating that 850,000 cybercrimes were reported in 2024. The auditor’s office previously highlighted cyberattacks in Mississippi, including a ransomware attack on Hinds County, a data breach in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, and a hack involving an online meeting held by the attorney general. The report states that nearly one third of Mississippi state agencies have not met requirements under the enterprise security program established by a 2017 law.
A bill advancing in the Louisiana Legislature aims to expand enforcement authority over contaminated imported seafood. Current law allows only the Department of Health and Hospitals to seize and destroy imported shrimp found to contain banned substances. The proposal would add the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to that enforcement role. Supporters of the bill say it would help protect consumers by targeting contaminated shrimp imports. India, Vietnam, and Indonesia supply most of the shrimp consumed in the United States, as well as most shrimp found to contain banned antibiotics.
The Mississippi River at Natchez-Vidalia is at 21.20 feet and rising.
