Natchez Officials Urge Stewpot Donations as GM Data Settlement, Louisiana Campus Repairs, and Election Updates Roll In

City of Natchez officials are urging residents to donate to the Stewpot, a charitable Natchez organization that provides meals to destitute people. Officials say the Stewpot is experiencing a meat shortage and also needs canned goods. Collection boxes are expected to be set up at City Hall and other locations. Donations can also be dropped off at 69 East Franklin between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Mississippi is expected to receive part of a $220 million settlement with General Motors. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the state will receive just over $3.6 million from the settlement. The agreement requires GM to obtain affirmative express consent from consumers before collecting or disclosing consumer driving and location data. From 2016 to 2024, GM enrolled millions of drivers in its smart driver program, which tracked driving habits. A coalition of 36 attorneys general said GM marketed the tool as a way for drivers to improve driving safety and told consumers that data would not be shared with insurers without express consent. The attorneys general said they found GM sold the information to data brokers under contracts describing the data as intended for insurance products.

In Louisiana, the Board of Regents says $4 billion in deferred maintenance is pending on college campuses, according to Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter-Reed. Hunter-Reed said the backlog figure had previously been pegged at $2 billion, and that the cost has continued to escalate when repairs are not completed. She said needed repairs include plumbing, roofing, electrical work, and HVAC. Hunter-Reed said an annual investment of $777 million would be required to eliminate the backlog, and that state officials will work with the governor and legislative leadership to identify funding.

Political analysis in Louisiana referenced early voting turnout. LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeffrey Sadow said Democrats outnumbered Republicans in early voting by about 16,000, but he expects Republicans to make up the difference on Election Day. He also noted that Republicans in Louisiana are more likely to vote on Election Day, while Democrats are more likely to vote early. Sadow said closed party primaries that began this year may mean some votes from Republicans on Tuesday could be coming from voters who were previously registered with the Democratic Party.

The Mississippi River in the Natchez–Vidalia area was reported at 17.98 feet and falling.