From sea to table to sea: How recycled oyster shells are restoring the Alabama coast

Gulf South oyster reefs are fading because of the changing climate. Alabama hopes to reverse this by using recycled shells to grow oyster gardens.

Meet the Alabama woman who is turning her farm into an indigenous food forest

As the climate changes, some Gulf South producers are focusing on ways to preserve the land.

Deadline approaches for USDA loan discrimination funds for underserved farmers

Gulf South farmers are racing to meet the deadline for DFAP. Some say the aid is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.

How making Jackson’s famed Farish Street more green could also help cool it off

On the heels of Mississippi’s record-breaking summer, the historic neighborhood hopes that adding more trees and green space can solve its heat island problem.

Place, Erased: Is this Mississippi community really a ghost town? It depends on who you ask

Some say this coastal Mississippi town doesn’t exist anymore, wiped off the map due to repeated storms. But to its residents, it’s still alive and well.

Place, Erased: How a drowned Alabama town still holds lessons 60 years later

Some southern towns have been erased by environmental disasters — whether natural or man-made. One Alabama town offers lessons on the hidden cost of progress.

How Gulf South outdoor workers dealt with the hottest August on record

With no federal or state guidelines regarding extreme heat, outdoor workers and employers in the Gulf South are coming up with their own methods for protection.

EPA wants to reject Alabama’s coal ash program; says it is not protective enough

The EPA’s proposed denial claims Alabama’s proposed standards are too lax and don’t meet federal guidelines under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

North Birmingham’s Bluestone Coke plant issued warning for Clean Water Act violations

The industrial plant has 60 days to clean up contaminated water in Five Mile Creek before it faces a federal lawsuit, local environmental groups warn.

Elder Black farmers in Mississippi seek a new generation to continue their legacy

Black farmers in Mississippi are aging. Now, they’re connecting with next-gen farmers to keep their ancestral practices of sustainable farming alive.

As the US invests more in climate-smart ag, these Louisiana farmers could serve as a model

Climate-smart agriculture is getting a “once-in-a-generation” investment of $20 billion. Louisiana farmers show what a successful rollout could look like.

Tornado’s swift arrival in Rolling Fork highlights Gulf South’s emergency management needs

Residents in some Mississippi towns didn’t get much warning before deadly tornadoes struck. It exposed the challenges of emergency response in rural areas.

Pascagoula residents sue EPA to halt production of Chevron’s plastic fuel

Cherokee Concerned Citizens and Earthjustice are seeking to halt Chevron from producing new chemicals from plastic waste at a nearby refinery.

Why preventing flooding in Mississippi’s Yazoo Backwater is easier said than done

The Vicksburg Post’s Anna Guizerix discusses the history of flooding in the Yazoo Backwater area, and why finding a solution is considered controversial.

Legal complaint claims Alabama discriminates when distributing sewage infrastructure funds

Alabama only allows state funds for sewage infrastructure to go to public bodies. A civil rights complaint argues the policy hurts communities of color.

Mississippi updated its solar energy guidelines. Renewable energy advocates want more

Mississippi added incentives for low-to-moderate income residents to encourage more investment in renewable energy. Activists are pushing for more access.

A Mississippi community is ‘grateful’ for more air testing, but skeptical of what comes next

A $500,000 EPA grant will make more air testing in Pascagoula’s Cherokee Forest community possible. Residents worry their voices will — again — not be heard.

In the fight for environmental justice, Birmingham tells Jackson to stay loud

Gulf States communities have been living in contaminated environments for years. Jackson and Birmingham residents share strategies that can help.

Jackson’s water crisis put new attention on its longstanding lead contamination issue

Jackson’s water issues echo infrastructure struggles across the Gulf South, resulting in nearly 1,800 lawsuits over the past year and attention from the EPA.