Gulf Coast Shipyards Growing Capacity While Navy Shipbuilding Plans Remain Unsettled
USNI News
Sam LaGrone | August 17, 2022
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — From the fantail of the 24,000-ton Richard M. McCool, Jr., (LPD-28), one can see the world’s most complex warships coming together, with shipbuilders welding, painting and running cables in the Mississippi sun… While Ingalls Shipbuilding is full of activity now, there’s uncertainty not only for this yard, but for naval shipbuilders around the country as the Navy struggles with its long-range shipbuilding outlook. A few months ago, it wasn’t clear if the Navy would buy many more ships like McCool.
WICKER: Larger Navy Fleet Needed to Prevent War in the Pacific
Y’all Politics
August 19, 2022
We have already begun to make some progress in rebuilding our Navy in recent years. This past March, I participated in the christening of the USS Jack H. Lucas, a brand new destroyer built in Pascagoula. In addition, last week I attended the keel laying ceremony for the USS Jeremiah Denton, another destroyer being built in Mississippi. These state-of-the-art vessels will help us counter China, but we will need a lot more of them.
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Ingalls authenticates keel of third Flight III destroyer
Gulf Live
Warren Kulo | August 19, 2022
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi — U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker joined Ingalls Shipbuilding president Kari Wilkinson and ship co-sponsors Madeline Denton Doak and Mary Denton Lewis to authenticate the keel of DDG 129, named for decorated Vietnam veteran, former Navy Rear Admiral and U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton. The keel authentication is a time-honored shipbuilding tradition signifying the ship’s keel has been “truly and fairly laid.”
Ingalls holds keel ceremony for new guided missile destroyer
WLOX
Bill Snyder | August 16, 2022
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) – A life spent serving his country and making huge sacrifices is the legacy of Jeremiah Denton, Sr. The U.S. Navy’s latest guided missile destroyer will take on that name. The vessel’s being assembled at Ingalls Shipbuilding. “Shipbuilding is about community and is a family business,” said Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls. Tuesday’s keel authentication ceremony for the DDG-129 also served as a history lesson on the man Jeremiah Denton was. “He was dedicated to the service of our country, in the Navy for 34 years,” Wilkinson added.
U.S. to Put Hypersonic Missiles on Warships as Russia Leads in Arms Race
WLOX
Bill Snyder | August 16, 2022
The U.S. is planning to put hypersonic missiles on two guided missile destroyers next year, according to reports. A new global arms race is underway to develop hypersonic missiles, which travel at between five and 25 times the speed of sound. USNI News reports the installation of hypersonic missiles on two U.S. warships will take place in a Mississippi shipyard, near the town of Pascagoula.
Singing River Health System holds public forum on options for continued care
WXXV
Sabria Reed | August 18, 2022
Singing River doctors, board members, nurses, patients, and Jackson County residents spoke about the need to keep local care in the county. Residents have two options: vote to raise taxes, which leaves the burden on the taxpayers to bring in the capital needed to sustain the health system or agree to partner with a like-minded company who will provide monies needed to continue local care.
Pascagoula college fair helps students scope their options
WLOX
Ja’Colbi Ribers | August 13, 2022
“Whatever your dreams are with college, anything is possible,” said one college recruiter. That’s the message a college fair in Pascagoula is trying to give high school students — a dream opportunity that gives them an idea of what options are available for them in college. “Why not create an event to where they can have a good time but also learn about the schools that are here in Mississippi,” said Shaudell Brooks. The college fair gave perspective to students. They had the chance to ask recruiters about scholarships, the school and financial aid, serving as a chance that some in years past didn’t have.
Jackson County aims to build new emergency management facility
WLOX
Amber Spradley | August 15, 2022
Jackson County is one step closer to securing the money it needs for a new Emergency Operations Center. The project, still in the design phase, will cost about $8.5 million and entails building a new facility located at Sunplex on Highway 57. The existing facility is currently situated in a flood zone on Convent Avenue in Pascagoula. The county is now tapping into Katrina Supplemental Community Development Block Grant funds through the Mississippi Development Authority.
State celebrates three Pascagoula-Gautier schools for reading
WLOX
Amber Spradley | August 16, 2022
Jackson County is one step closer to securing the money it needs for a new Emergency Operations Center. The project, still in the design phase, will cost about $8.5 million and entails building a new facility located at Sunplex on Highway 57. The existing facility is currently situated in a flood zone on Convent Avenue in Pascagoula. The county is now tapping into Katrina Supplemental Community Development Block Grant funds through the Mississippi Development Authority.
Ocean Springs among top in state on academic assessment
WLOX
Mike Lacy | August 18, 2022
There are a lot of good teachers and a lot of good school districts in South Mississippi. But, when it comes to overall performance, Ocean Springs does it just a little better. “It’s what we’ve worked for so long,” said Jennifer Necaise, principal of Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School. “Coming out of COVID for two years, that’s a daunting task for anybody. And it shows that our community, our students are resilient and they’re able to accomplish the main focus, which is to educate our students.”