EPA launches civil rights investigation into Mississippi water crisis

EPA investigating whether state agencies discriminated against majority-Black city of Jackson by refusing to fund improvements

The US Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that it is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the state's majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements for its failing water system.

The announcement came days after leaders of two congressional committees said they were starting a joint investigation into a crisis that left most homes and businesses in Jackson without running water for several days in late August and early September.