Natchez City Alderman Valencia Hall is asking the Board of Aldermen to consider additional restrictions on golf carts that have increased on city streets since 2022. Hall said golf carts have become “out of control” and described concern about what she called joyriding in Natchez.
Hall spoke at a meeting with the aldermen and mayor. The board adopted an ordinance in 2022 allowing golf carts to drive on low-speed city streets if they are registered and pay a $100 fee. The ordinance also requires multiple safety items for a cart to be street legal, including front and rear turn signals, brake lights, seat belts, and a windshield.
In New Orleans, a biennial Quality of Life Survey indicates a shift in residents’ top concerns. The survey conducted by LSU New Orleans political science professor Ed Shervenak reports that streets and infrastructure are now the leading concern among New Orleans residents, rather than crime. In Jefferson Parish, Shervenak said crime continues to be the top concern, though the survey reflects a smaller percentage of residents identifying crime compared with two years ago.
A separate public safety announcement from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency encourages residents to take part in the annual Great Shakeout earthquake drill. The drill is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. Participants and organizations can register at shakeout.org. The self-led drill asks people to practice three actions: drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or desk if possible while protecting the head and neck, and hold on until shaking stops. Registered participants will receive additional information for planning and preparedness tips, according to the agency.
In Louisiana, the Department of Health says Medicaid services for prison inmates will be offered before their release dates following approval of a waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The department said the waiver will support treatment for behavioral health conditions before inmates leave incarceration. A demonstration is expected to begin early next year at the Elaine Hunt Correctional Center, with other state prisons and parish jails to follow.
Locally in the Natchez area, the Mississippi River is reported at 23.19 feet in the Natchez Valley and rising.
