U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate said he plans to call a status hearing to invite Jackson residents to voice their views on a proposed water rate increase and to address what he called "misstatements" about JXN Water’s finances. He also responded to the Jackson City Council's opposition to the proposed rate hike.

Wingate spoke to the Clarion Ledger after receiving the National Environmental Achievement Award for Federal Public Service, presented Thursday morning by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. The ceremony took place on the steps of the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse, where NACWA CEO Adam Krantz and Ted Henifin — the man Wingate appointed to oversee Jackson’s water and sewer repairs — presented the award. Read more