Daily
Hattiesburg
Thursday, February 5th, 2026
Good morning, Hattiesburg. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 5th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Hub City Humane Society is receiving many calls from residents who report stranded animals facing dangerous cold as temperatures drop. The shelter urges the community to foster or donate pet supplies + help handle the increased need since it is at capacity. SM2 Media
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ A waterline broke in downtown Hattiesburg on Feb. 4, 2026, causing traffic delays and prompting utility crews to begin repairs. WDAM
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ On Feb. 2, Rouses Markets took over 10 former Winn-Dixie stores in Louisiana and Mississippi — keeping all previous workers and doubling staff at each location — a move that local leaders say boosts service and community options. WDAM
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Smith Drug Company, a historic Black-owned business on Mobile Street that once served as a pharmacy, soda fountain, and meeting space during segregation, now functions as a museum (open Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.) preserving a legacy that helped shape local culture. SM2 Media
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ On Jan. 15, the House passed a bill boosting teacher salaries by $5,000, raising the minimum from $41,500 to $46,500 and ensuring monthly pay during holidays. The Senate approved a separate $2,000 raise last month and plans to discuss assistant teacher increases later. Mississippi Today
- ➤ U of Southern Mississippi libraries are shifting their focus from physical books to digital resources while renovating spaces to better serve students. Dr. John Eye said fewer students use print materials, and renovations at Cook Library + McCain Library will create inviting study areas. SM2 Media
- ➤ USM campus will see construction changes as the Forrest Avenue project creates a new hangout space near Cook library, upgrades Reed Green Coliseum, and adds stoplights on Fourth Street. The first phase finishes in May and some student routes may change during the work. SM2 Media
- ➤ Southern Miss will host the Unify Challenge to foster respectful dialogue among students from Feb. 24 to 26 and March 3 to 6. The virtual event will match students from different universities and backgrounds to practice civic leadership through guided video conversations. SM2 Media
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Mississippi emergency officials are gathering detailed damage reports from Winter Storm Fern — using county assessments and an online self-reporting tool — to prove the need for broader federal disaster aid while lawmakers work on a new state disaster assistance program. Hattiesburg American
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Hattiesburg now has a free naloxone vending machine operating 24/7 near the University of Southern Mississippi at Fire Station No.6 (3802 Montague Blvd.) made possible by a Mississippi Public Health Institute partnership, extending life-saving access beyond James Moore’s bike shop hours. WDAM
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Molten Mohawk Niner and 4 Miler
7:30-9:45 a.m. — Thomley's Christmas Tree Farm — Cost varies — Challenge your endurance with a scenic run through Hattiesburg's beautiful landscape.
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Mustache The Band Live
8 p.m. — Brewsky's — Tickets start at $27 — Experience an unforgettable night of live music with Mustache The Band.
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Flow Tribe Live Concert
8-11 p.m. — Brewsky's — Check event page for ticket info — Experience high-energy performances blending R&B, soul, and Caribbean rhythms by the lively Flow Tribe.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Hattiesburg
Welcome to the Daily Hattiesburg, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Hattiesburg, Mississippi community. If you like the Daily Hattiesburg, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Hattiesburg.
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