Good morning, Hattiesburg.

The America250 Mississippi Commission is planning a series of events to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence — communities can apply for grant programs and propose local projects, with exhibits set to debut at local museums later this year.

Several Mississippi grocery chains operate regular hours today.

Walmart, Target, Kroger (pharmacies closed), Winn-Dixie and Whole Foods open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. will serve shoppers while Costco, Sam’s Club and Aldi remain closed.

Lamar County Schools used a $117 million bond to upgrade campuses and leadership, with Hanco Corp building new high schools in Sumrall & Purvis and adding daily weapon screenings plus Techless Tuesdays.

The district will open bids for Oak Grove Middle School in February while boosting teacher mentoring.

The Mississippi State Department of Health released the Top 25 baby names for 2025 based on provisional birth certificate data.

The list shows that James led for boys while Amelia topped for girls.

Hattiesburg native Rick Cleveland recapped 2025's 10 most-read sports stories in Mississippi Today, covering topics from Yankees pitcher Will Warren's breakthrough journey to coaching changes and tributes for local legends (including D.D.

Lewis) amid evolving college sports narratives.

Southern Miss football coach Blake Anderson filled his 2026 staff on Dec.

30 by naming Kyle Cefalo as offensive coordinator + Joe Bolden as defensive coordinator and hiring Jerone Steckel as defensive line coach while several returning coaches bolster the team.

Hattiesburg Renaissance Festival

12:00 – 11:30 p.m. — SwitchYard — $15 – $20 — Experience the magic of medieval celebration with crafts, music, and festivities in the heart of Hattiesburg.

Vision Board Party: Vision and Vibes Social

12-3 a.m. — 101 Shadow Lake Dr, Hattiesburg, MS — Included with ticket — Connect with like-minded individuals while creating vision boards and enjoying poetry vibes and food.