Former Natchez Mayor Tony Byrne will speak at this evening’s meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. His presentation will cover the philanthropy of Mary and E. Taylor in Natchez, including the Christmas Fund, the water fountain at Main and South Commerce streets, and Taylor’s Old Charter Bourbon Whiskey Company. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Natchez Foundation, located at 108 South Commerce.
The Louisiana legislative session enters its final week with the state budget for the next fiscal year still awaiting approval. Funding proposals include the governor’s alligator program and a teacher pay raise, though both face uncertainty. Legislators recently learned that fewer dollars are available than previously expected, prompting leadership to urge caution in spending. A new congressional map also remains unresolved, with discussions centered on a configuration of five Republican districts and one Democratic district.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Visitor Education Center at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery is partnering with the National Park Service to host a youth fish camp on June 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The camp is open to youth ages 10 to 15 and will feature instruction on fishing, the hatchery, and the NPS Junior Angler Program. Activities will include fish identification, water safety, a hatchery tour, and catfish fishing in the VEC pond. Participants will meet an NPS ranger, receive equipment and bait for use during the camp, and those completing the full day will earn the Junior Angler badge and receive special items.
In Louisiana, there may be movement toward extending the teacher stipend. Governor Jeff Landry and legislative leaders are scheduled to hold a news conference this morning at 11:30 to discuss the possibility. The president of the Louisiana Federation of Educators has expressed concern that eliminating the stipend would strain teachers’ finances. If the legislature does not act by June 1, school districts could potentially raise teacher salaries on their own, though rural districts may lack the necessary funds.
The Mississippi River at Natchez is measured at 28.13 feet and falling.
