Mississippi River

Minnesota's 2026 water quality assessment identified 37 new mercury-impaired water bodies and 75 new wild rice protection sites, primarily in southern Minnesota. The report highlights mercury and PFOS as key pollutants, with efforts underway to address impairments and protect wild rice through sulfate level monitoring.

State transportation officials anticipate announcing a preferred location for a new Mississippi River bridge south of Baton Rouge by year-end, with the project transitioning from environmental review. The bridge project remains under development with funding and site selection as key focuses.

The Gulf of Mexico's 2023 'dead zone' is projected to exceed 7,000 square miles, larger than the four-decade average but below the 2017 record. The Mississippi River/Gulf of America Hypoxia Task Force aims to reduce the dead zone to 1,900 square miles by 2035, citing progress despite ongoing challenges from nutrient pollution linked to agriculture and urban areas.

A body found in the Mississippi River in 1975 has been identified as a missing pregnant Waukegan teen. The teen, previously known as Jane Clinton Doe, was fatally shot in the head, and her death was ruled a homicide by a nonprofit organization.

A girl found dead in Iowa in 1975 has been identified through DNA analysis as a Waukegan resident. The former 'Jane Clinton Doe' remained unidentified for over 50 years before her identity was confirmed.

LSU and Hyundai Steel have formed a research partnership to support Hyundai's $5.8 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The agreement focuses on advancing research in metallurgy, materials science, energy, robotics, and environmental engineering, while creating workforce development opportunities and fostering innovation.

LSU and Hyundai Steel have formed a research partnership to support Hyundai's $5.8 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish, focusing on advancements in metallurgy, materials science, energy, robotics, automation, and environmental engineering. The agreement aims to build a skilled workforce pipeline and facilitate long-term applied research opportunities for LSU while providing Hyundai access to research infrastructure and innovation.

A Sipcam Agro plant in Wayne County, Mississippi, is the largest emitter of paraquat in the U.S., a herbicide banned in over 70 countries due to its toxicity and link to Parkinson’s disease. Despite its risks, paraquat use in the U.S. has grown, with 35% of large farms using it to kill weeds and dry crops, while the herbicide remains unregulated as a federal air pollutant.

Fertiglobe warns that nitrogen fertilizer prices could remain elevated long-term due to war disruptions affecting Gulf exports through the Strait of Hormuz, with prices surging 80% to over $900 per ton. The supply crisis threatens global food inflation as farmers delay purchases and crop prices haven't kept pace with fertilizer costs, potentially leading to reduced yields.

Emergency crews responded to a massive explosion at Chalmette Refining in New Orleans, with unclear injuries or fatalities. The refinery processes roughly 189,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is monitoring developments and working with local officials.