Good morning, Hattiesburg.

Regional gas prices had fallen to an average of $3.74 per gallon on Monday, down from $3.79 last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and analysts expect a further drop of 20-30 cents in upcoming weeks while prices remain 9.3% below the national average.

USM Honors College hosted its Spring 2026 Sophomore Showcase today, where students presented seminar projects on topics like space + cinema after a semester of exploration and hands-on learning.

The event highlighted diverse academic ideas through interactive displays.

The University of Southern Mississippi Robotics team is building an autonomous underwater vehicle for the Robosub competition in Irwin, California.

They will be the first team from Mississippi to compete and are seeking more sponsors to support their travel (July 11-16).

Southern Miss will launch a fully online Master’s in Business Analytics this Fall that can be completed in 12 months, allowing working students to build essential digital data skills.

It will be the first graduate degree of its kind in Mississippi and was developed by the School of Finance.

Mississippi officials announced that federal and state tax deadlines will extend to June 8 because a severe winter ice storm caused widespread power outages earlier this year.

The relief applies to individual, business, and quarterly returns (taxpayers should contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue for guidance).

Hope Clinic in Hattiesburg offers free pregnancy help by providing ultrasounds, tests and counseling for women facing crisis pregnancies.

The faith-based center will host Hero’s Walk for Hope on April 25 at USM (Payne Center) to raise funds for ongoing services.

Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard won the Howell Trophy + Ole Miss forward Cotie McMahon earned the Gillom Trophy at Pearl River Resort in Choctaw on April 15, marking state honor as Hubbard became the first to win the award three times in a row.

Tuesday night at Trustmark Park, No. 25 Ole Miss defeated No. 22 Southern Miss 10-3 with a powerful third inning and added runs in the sixth, while Southern Miss will now return home to face Texas State at Pete Taylor Park in a Sun Belt Conference series.

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.