Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Good morning, Hattiesburg. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 9th of April.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Petal has partnered with the South MS Planning and Development District — a move aimed at attracting new downtown businesses and boosting local commerce. The collaboration is expected to guide downtown improvements in the coming weeks. WDAM
- ➤ Hattiesburg brothers James and Thomas Duff turned their father’s Southern Tire Mart into the nation’s largest truck tire distributor and now own 18 diversified businesses. Their net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion, making them Mississippi’s only billionaires. Hattiesburg American
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Southern Chorale, the top choral ensemble at Southern Miss, rehearses three days a week to prepare performances locally and touring nationally. The group will tour Europe this summer (including Italy and France) and continues to impress audiences in Hattiesburg. SM2 Media
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ USM’s Physical Plant keeps campus lights on and buildings running amid staffing challenges and tight budgets—upgrading LEDs in the library and sponsoring Hattiesburg’s Right Way to Throw Away Day to manage waste. SM2 Media
- ➤ On Wednesday, Apr. 8, FedEx gifted $500K to JSU College of Business to support student scholarships, expand its supply chain management center, and upgrade its data analytics lab — renewing the partnership aimed at preparing students for the workforce. Mississippi Today
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Hattiesburg Fire Station #2 is nearing completion and will soon boost emergency services in the area. City officials say construction has progressed steadily as the facility is set to open in the coming weeks. WDAM
- ➤ At NASA’s Stennis Space Center, engineers completed tests of a rocket stage used for Artemis I that helped prepare for the Artemis II mission (ensuring astronaut safety), and they will test a stage for Artemis V this fall. This work highlights Mississippi’s role in advancing space exploration. WDAM
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Delta Sigma Theta Inc. is hosting a mental health seminar for parents and teenagers—designed to offer practical advice and resources to support family mental well-being. WDAM
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Mississippi native Konnor Griffin signed a nine‐year, $140 million contract with the Pirates after his MLB debut on Friday, Apr. 3, marking the largest deal in team history. The rookie shortstop hit a double against the Orioles and is set to develop with the club. SuperTalk Mississippi Media
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Downtown Crawfish Jam 2026
10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Walthall Park — $40-$50 — Enjoy live music and all-you-can-eat crawfish at this family-friendly festival.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The smaller the change, the easier it is to stick to.
~ James Clear
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