Good morning, Hattiesburg.

A local woman is launching a free community garden at 714 McKinley St. to fight rising food costs, and volunteers can help by tending the vegetables or donating supplies.

The garden will grow squash, tomatoes, and greens for everyone.

Hub City Humane Society faces a financial crisis as recent donations only cover two weeks of payroll for its over $50,000 monthly costs.

Shelter Director Tamara Huff urged locals (including fosterers and adopters) to provide ongoing support to keep the shelter open.

Ashanti Fairly, who was paralyzed in a 2019 car crash near Wiggins, will graduate from MGCCC on May 13 and is asking for community help to fund hand controls so she can drive independently.

Walmart announced plans to remodel 19 Mississippi stores as part of a national effort to upgrade over 650 locations.

The updates will include new layouts — improving in-store navigation and quicker deliveries — with changes set for stores in Biloxi, Laurel and other areas.

Allen Siegler, a mental health reporter for Mississippi Today, is named a local finalist for the 2026 Livingston Awards for his investigation on Mississippi’s opioid settlement funds — he is one of 30 journalists under 35 nationwide with winners announced in June in New York.

Mississippi skywatchers can enjoy two full moons in May as the Flower Moon rises on May 1 and a rare Blue Moon appears on May 31 while the Eta Aquarids meteor shower (known for its fast meteors) peaks on the night of May 5-6.

For May, SSI checks will be sent on Friday, May 1 for those on Supplemental Security Income while Social Security benefits will be paid on May 13, 20, or 27 based on recipients’ birth dates (SSA’s schedule confirms the details).

Mississippi observed Confederate Memorial Day yesterday as a state holiday for public workers — lawmakers have introduced bills to replace the observance with Juneteenth Freedom Day, but the proposal died in committee.

Tick season is underway as ER visits for bites surge to levels last seen in 2017.

CDC advises local residents to use EPA repellent and check for ticks after spending time outdoors (in grassy, wooded areas).

After the NFL Draft ended, four players from Mississippi schools were picked by NFL teams and several others signed free agent deals or received rookie minicamp invites; rookie minicamps for these players will occur over the next two weekends.