The upper Natchez river bluff area is undergoing new improvements with the development of a plaza honoring Black Union Civil War soldiers and beautification work near the former Broadway Street train depot. The Natchez Board of Aldermen has selected a Jackson‑area landscaping company, Four Seasons, to develop part of the green space at Broadway and Madison designated for the memorial dedicated to formerly enslaved men recruited by the Union Army in Natchez. Four Seasons was the lowest of two bidders. The contract totals nearly $443,000 and includes drainage improvements for another planned city plaza.
The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed 36 in‑state cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea. Louisiana is one of 30 states reporting cases. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the CDC and FDA are working to identify the food source responsible for the outbreak. Once the contaminated items are traced, they will be recalled. Michigan health officials have suggested lettuce and salad greens as a possible source, though Sokol notes the scale of the outbreak indicates a domestic cause rather than cases linked to international travel.
Mississippi has joined 48 other states and territories in a $29.6 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Glenmark. Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that the company was accused of participating in a long‑running conspiracy to inflate and manipulate generic drug prices and restrict competition. Mississippi’s share of the settlement is just over $236,000.
Concerns continue to grow over potential costs to utility ratepayers as Meta expands its data center in Richland Parish. Meta and Entergy have stated they will cover all power‑related costs for the facility. However, the Alliance for Affordable Energy notes that the data center is not on its own grid, and certain expenses such as fuel and transmission costs may still affect ratepayers. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis said Meta must uphold its commitments or risk communities considering ordinances that restrict data center development, which could push such projects to other countries.
The Mississippi River at Natchez‑Vidalia is at 35.69 feet and falling.
