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Continued Coverage
Recovery efforts continue in Soso one year after Easter tornado
Soso Mayor Mike Moore says there is still much more to be done in the town’s recovery.
Event promoting small businesses to be held Saturday in Hattiesburg
A Hattiesburg entrepreneur will be hosting an event in Town Square Park Saturday to promote small businesses.
Thrift store benefiting Petal animal shelter officially opens
A new thrift store that supports a Petal animal shelter had its official opening Tuesday.
Roads to close for maintenance in Jones Co. Monday
Motorists are advised to take alternative routes during the closures.
MOST RECENT
LPN openings at Forrest Co. Sheriff’s Office
FCSO announced the openings in a Facebook post Thursday.
Prescribed burn scheduled for Wayne, Jones counties
Forrest Service Roads 202, 220, 205, 221A and the Little Tiger ATV Trail will be affected.
High-speed internet coming to over 51,000 PRVEPA members
Mississippi PSC Chairman Maxwell issued final documents to Pearl Comm LLC Monday.
Petal’s New Hope shelter benefits from annual flea market
A Petal animal shelter benefited from some of the proceeds from an annual flea market in Hattiesburg Saturday.
New Hope Animal Rescue to open thrift store
Opening day for the New Hope Crest will be on Thursday, April 8.
Love’s Travel Stop opens in Sandersville
Love’s Travel Stops opened a new location in Sandersville on Thursday.
Two Pine Belt airports receive federal improvement grant
USDOT on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration awarded the grants.
‘Crossroads’ exhibit opens for six-week run in Columbia
A traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution that explores life in small-town USA has officially opened in Columbia.
Collins’ Express Care offering COVID shots with no appointment needed Sunday
You have one more day to get a free, drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine in Collins without an appointment.
Miss. lawmakers continue discussions on income tax reform
Gov. Tate Reeves has been urging income tax reform for the state, but lawmakers are at a stalemate trying to determine the next move.
Senate approves bill allowing Petal sales tax referendum
Petal residents may soon get the chance to vote on a proposed 3% sales tax increase on restaurants in the city.
Agreement reached to allow Hattiesburg bar to remain open
The agreement would allow Nostalgia Lounge & Bar to remain open if bar owners meet the conditions of the agreement.
Hattiesburg metro status at risk under proposed change to population requirement
Hattiesburg could lose its status as a Metropolitan Statistical Area under a new population requirement proposed by the federal government.
COVID-19 relief bill offers help for small businesses
Small business owners in Hattiesburg are looking forward to the assistance offered by the COVID-19 relief bill.
Pine Belt Habitat to host 4th charity golf tourney March 26
Dozens of golfers are expected to be on the Hattiesburg Country Club golf course next Friday, to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of the Pine Belt.
Covington volunteers continue to help victims of 2020 tornadoes
As the Pine Belt prepares for potential severe weather Wednesday, a group of volunteers continues to help families affected by last April’s tornadoes.
Miss. tax reform bill faces deadline Tuesday
A bill that would phase out the state income tax is approaching a Tuesday deadline in the Mississippi Senate.
Covington Hospital opening new vaccine clinic Monday
Covington County Hospital is opening a new drive-thru clinic in Collins to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
USM students assist park service with site plan for historic slave market
Some USM students are helping the National Park Service develop a historic location in Natchez that was once the site of one of the largest slave markets in the South.
Covington Co. school employees get COVID vaccines from CCH
Covington County Hospital provided Moderna vaccines for about 65 employees
Weekend community cleanups removing trash from Dist. 5 Covington roads
Two recent community clean ups have removed a lot of trash along roads in District 5 in Covington County.
CEO of Covington hospital reflects on one-year anniversary of pandemic
March 11 marks the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Mississippi, which was in Forrest County.
Woman launches business after surviving attack
Ashton Tisdale was working in her beauty shop four years ago when two gunmen entered the building and opened fire on her.
Hattiesburg metro area unemployment rate approaching pre-pandemic level
It’s been 11 months since unemployment rates skyrocketed in the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Laurel veterans museum to reopen to public
The Veterans Memorial Museum in Laurel is about to reopen its doors to the public.
Turbine transport prompts road closures in downtown Hattiesburg
Some roads are being closed in and around downtown Hattiesburg this weekend, because Hattiesburg Police are assisting in the transport of of a large turbine.
Hattiesburg Zoo hosting 4th annual Renaissance Festival
The Hattiesburg Zoo is welcoming Spring by hosting an annual celebration of European art and culture from the 14th-17th centuries.
Road closures announced for Hub City weekend turbine transport
All motorists in the area or anyone who is preparing to travel in the area is advised to make alternate plans if necessary.
Amtrak set to return to Gulf Coast in 2022 with 4 stops in South Mississippi
Amtrak is moving ahead with plans to begin service next year from New Orleans to Mobile with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula.
PIB replacing terminal roof with federal grant
There’s a lot of activity on the roof of the terminal at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport these days.
Nearly 3,000 Southern Pine Electric members remain without power after storms
Three counties in the Pine Belt had a total of 394 outages.
Southern Pine Electric continues restoring power to members
Southern Pine Electric hopes all members will have power by Sunday night.
Keith’s donates $34K to William Carey for student testing, vaccinations
The funds will be used for testing students and staff for COVID-19 and vaccinations when they become available.
Report: Hattiesburg No. 2 in job growth during pandemic
Hattiesburg placed just behind Fond Du Lac, Wis. and ahead of Knoxville, Tenn.
Realty Executives makes annual donation to Habitat for Humanity
One Hattiesburg company is celebrating 20 years of support for Habitat for Humanity.
Sec. of State Watson speaks to Jones County GOP Women
Watson addressed a monthly luncheon for the organization at the Laurel Country Club.
Major construction projects at PRCC making progress
A $13 million residence hall project on the Poplarville campus of Pearl River Community College is nearly complete.
MDOC launches recruitment drive for new corrections officers
Officials with the Mississippi Department of Corrections are making their way across the state, hoping to hire hundreds of new corrections officers.
Restaurant kicks off fundraiser for American Heart Association
Throughout February, Mugshots is selling "hearts" for $1 in all of its 20 locations.
Pine Belt restaurants hoping for COVID-19 relief
Restaurants still struggle with debts and new expenses as the pandemic continues.
USM online degree program gets high ranking from U.S. News & World Report
An online degree program at Southern Miss has been ranked as the best in Mississippi and among the top 40 in the country.
USM Veterans Center gets $10K grant for food gift cards
The center is providing dozens of gift cards for military students and veterans.
Mississippi Raiders prepare for the season with orientation
Games will be played in the Forrest County Multipurpose Center in Hattiesburg.
Senate bill could allow alcohol delivery to your front door
A Hattiesburg beer store owner believes the bill would be good for business.
Main Street Columbia gets $6K donation from Experience Columbia
Main Street Columbia Inc. received a $6,000 donation Thursday from Experience Columbia.
Mississippi Music pays employees for time donating plasma
The company adds time donating plasma to employees' paychecks.
C Spire invests $1B in Miss., Alabama over next 36 months
The governor said this investment will rank Mississippi 12th in the nation when it comes to access to fiber.
Belk to file for bankruptcy, enters agreement with majority owner to reduce debt
Belk previously furloughed workers in March and laid off several of its employees back in July due to the pandemic.
Hattiesburg Zoo to get giraffes, will seek accreditation in 2021
2021 is shaping up to be a big year for the Hattiesburg Zoo.
Columbia to begin $150K project to replace water lines
The city of Columbia is about to start a $150,000 upgrade of main water lines in the east part of town.
Hattiesburg passes new food truck ordinance
The ordinance extends food truck permits to year-round operation and allows for more locations.
Gov. Reeves names new head of MDA
His choice is John Rounsaville, who has served as interim director since May.
Eureka centennial part of busy 2021 for Sixth Street Museum District
There are some new things happening in Hattiesburg’s Sixth Street Museum District in 2021.
PRVEPA launching Internet service for customers
The service will provide broadband speed and capabilities, as well as phone service.
Waynesboro community reacts to Scotch Plywood mill fire
The Waynesboro community is reacting to a fire that destroyed the 50-year-old Scotch Plywood Company mill.
C-Spire Foundation commits $1 million for computer science education in Miss.
The Mississippi Legislature is expected to consider computer science education legislation during this session.
Peco Foods closing 3 plants in Mississippi
Peco Foods is shuttering three of its Mississippi locations.
Five exhibits to be featured at LRMA in 2021
2021 will be a big year for exhibitions at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art.