(WMC-TV) - Crews have shut down a section of Semmes Street to make emergency repairs to railroad tracks that cross the road.

The road closure will affect the section of Semmes Street south of Southern Avenue.

(WMC-TV) – MATA riders will get discounted fares Wednesday, thanks to unhealthy air that refuses to float away from the Mid-South.

Forecasters have declared a code orange alert because they predict that the air quality will be especially poor on Wednesday. It’s the same warning they issued several times earlier this month.

(WMC-TV) – MATA riders will get discounted fares Thursday, but unfortunately it’s because the air is expected to be unhealthy for some Mid-Southerners.

Forecasters have declared a code orange alert because they predict that the air quality will be especially poor Thursday. MATA is offering 25 cent fares to help improve air quality.

“A code orange alert means the amount of ground-level ozone in our air has reached unhealthy levels,” said a MATA official in a written release. “Any active children or adults, and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.”

While fares will be discounted for everyone Thursday, people with disabilities and those 65 and older will be able to ride busses and trolley for free with a valid MATA ID.

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