Investigators are working to determine the cause of a house fire on Mazy Lane in Natchez. No injuries were reported. Fire crews responded quickly, focusing on protecting nearby homes while bringing the flames under control.
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry reports the state has reached key economic benchmarks outlined in its 2023 LA-Driven strategic plan. The plan aims to raise Louisiana’s job creation and wage growth rankings into the middle third nationally by 2030. The state is now ranked 24th in both categories, achieving the goal ahead of schedule. LABI leadership says progress is also being made toward improving third grade reading proficiency and high school graduation rates, but notes continued work is needed to maintain momentum.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center announced that clinics statewide are resuming normal operations and scheduled appointments today. The update follows more than a week of disruptions caused by a cyberattack. Officials report that system restoration is progressing and patient records are once again accessible. Appointments canceled during the outage will be rescheduled, and clinics will operate with extended hours to accommodate affected patients.
LSU is reinstating its requirement for applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. The university made standardized test scores optional in 2022. Concerns were raised during the decision-making process that the requirement may disadvantage low-income students and those in rural areas who may have fewer resources to prepare for the ACT. University leadership maintains that standardized test scores serve as a useful tool in evaluating student readiness and proper course placement.
The Mississippi River at Natchez Adalia is recorded at 25.61 feet and rising.
