Mississippi news: Hitachi plans $528 million expansion; heat alerts extended
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 — Evening edition
A major manufacturing announcement in Copiah County and newly confirmed Wednesday heat advisories lead tonight’s Mississippi news. Hitachi Energy plans a $528 million expansion with 654 new jobs, while the National Weather Service has extended or renewed heat alerts across much of the state.
Other developments include arrests in a Vicksburg shooting, a state health reminder about a recalled children’s toy and an advance power-outage notice for Pontotoc County customers. Meridian drivers also face overnight interstate restrictions beginning at 10 tonight.
Featured image: Mississippi Development Authority promotional graphic accompanying its Hitachi Energy announcement. Credit: Mississippi Development Authority. This is an agency graphic, not a photograph of construction.
Hitachi Energy plans Copiah County expansion, with production in 2029
The governor’s September 15 release says the project includes a 45-acre site at the Copiah County Industrial Park in Gallman, a new facility, manufacturing equipment and infrastructure work. Construction is expected to begin later this year; transformer production is scheduled for 2029.
The existing Copiah County operation produces small power transformers and employs 475 people. The expansion is intended to increase capacity and broaden the range of transformers made domestically as demand for electrical infrastructure grows. The announced jobs are future positions associated with the project, rather than hires already completed.
State assistance includes the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive program, along with site-development and infrastructure support. Copiah County also is assisting. The release does not give a dollar amount for that public assistance or an application schedule for the new jobs.
After the original announcement called it the company’s largest U.S. investment, Gov. Tate Reeves issued a correction saying it is Hitachi Energy’s largest investment worldwide. That characterization is the governor’s. Our project report and subsequent correction track the announcement.
Wednesday heat advisories are now confirmed
This morning, an extension was still a possibility. The Memphis office’s 11 a.m. advisory update now keeps North Mississippi under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 16, with heat-index values up to 109 degrees.
The Mississippi counties covered are DeSoto, Marshall, Benton, Tippah, Alcorn, Tishomingo, Tunica, Tate, Prentiss, Coahoma, Quitman, Panola, Lafayette, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, Calhoun, Chickasaw and Monroe.
Separately, the Jackson office issued a Wednesday advisory from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a broad area including the Delta, Jackson metro, Golden Triangle and parts of southwest Mississippi. That advisory forecasts heat indices up to 110 degrees. Tuesday’s Jackson advisory expired at 7 p.m.; Wednesday’s is a separate period.
The Memphis evening discussion warns that hazardous heat will continue through the end of the week. Further advisory extensions may follow, but the confirmed North Mississippi expiration is Wednesday evening. The Jackson discussion expects drier air to gradually reduce heat stress later in the week, even as temperatures remain high.
For Wednesday outdoor work, plan frequent shaded or air-conditioned breaks, drink fluids and check on relatives and neighbors. NWS advises moving strenuous activity to cooler hours. An evening expiration is not a promise that the broader hot spell has ended.
Vicksburg police announce two arrests in Halls Ferry Road shooting
Vicksburg police say they have arrested two people in connection with the September 12 shooting at 2607 Halls Ferry Road. The department’s announcement identifies Keandre Harris, 25, and Janasha Tyler, 26.
Police say Harris was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Tyler was charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit a crime. These are allegations, and the announcement does not report a conviction.
According to police, officers responded around 10:51 a.m. Saturday and found evidence of gunfire near gas pumps. A 26-year-old man later reached an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and was transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
The investigation remains open. The new development is the arrests, not a second shooting Tuesday. Our Vicksburg report has the department’s account; the announcement does not provide an updated medical condition.
Health department highlights Lontcs toy recall
The Mississippi State Department of Health shared a warning about Lontcs Busy Board toys. The underlying Consumer Product Safety Commission recall was issued September 10, rather than today.
About 1,835 boards are covered. CPSC says the zipper contains lead above the federal lead-paint limit. The toys were sold on Amazon from May 2024 through July 2026 for about $31; no incidents or injuries were reported in the recall notice.
The affected product is a wooden activity board with a metal handle and attached items including a zipper, latch, doorbell, keys and an abacus. Families should compare their toy with the photographs in the official notice.
CPSC says to stop using the boards immediately and contact SQT at Lontcs@163.com for a full refund. The remedy requires unscrewing components, marking the board “RECALLED,” emailing a photograph of the destroyed toy and then disposing of it. Our recall coverage summarizes the state reminder.
PEPA announces Thursday morning outage near Rabbit Creek
Pontotoc Electric Power Association has announced a planned outage beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, September 17, around Rabbit Creek Subdivision. The utility’s notice identifies Loss Road, Maxx Lane and Alane Drive, where the interruption is expected to last approximately three hours.
The subdivision itself is expected to lose power around 7 a.m. for about 30 minutes. PEPA describes the affected Highway 9 South area as 1847 9 South through 2324 9 South.
The two estimated durations matter for customers planning their morning: the utility is not forecasting a three-hour interruption for every address in the subdivision. Wednesday provides time to check the notice against an affected address and plan around the scheduled interruption. Our outage report has the location details.
Meridian interstate restrictions begin at 10 tonight
MDOT’s previously announced I-20/59 sign-truss work reaches its scheduled overnight window tonight: 10 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday, September 16. This is a tonight travel reminder, not a newly discovered construction project.
The restrictions cover the eastbound right lane, the eastbound Exit 150 off-ramp and the westbound left lane between the 65th Avenue bridge and the State Route 19 bridge in Meridian. Crews will remove and repair a damaged sign truss.
MDOT asks drivers to slow down and watch for roadside workers and equipment. Check MDOTtraffic.com or the MDOT Traffic app for changes before driving through the area overnight or early Wednesday.
Compiled with AI assistance from Mississippi News Group coverage and linked official sources. See our editorial standards and sourcing policy.
