Good morning, Hattiesburg.

Local restaurants, businesses & nonprofits will host a fundraiser for storm victims in Purvis on Tuesday, May 19 at Cuevas Fish House, where vendors offer food from Petunia’s BBQ, Newt’s Catfish, Seafood and Steak, live music, and kid-friendly activities to support families in need.

Today, Hattiesburg High hosted a community tour for the Going Beyond Apprenticeship program, giving locals an opportunity to see career training options in a hands-on setting.

William Carey University held commencement ceremonies in Hattiesburg on May 8 and May 9 to celebrate graduates; diplomas were awarded during the events.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety held its annual memorial ceremony in Pearl on May 12 to honor 38 fallen Highway Patrol officers since 1940 and their families.

Commissioner Sean Tindell spoke at the new headquarters and said the event united law enforcement and the public.

Family Y hosted its second Pickleball 101 course Tuesday morning to teach pickleball basics to seniors (64 and older), sponsored by Wellcare and Silver and Fit, with open sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Hattiesburg and on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Petal Family Y.

Mississippi State University chemist Colleen Scott earned the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s 2026 American Innovator Award for her patented shortwave infrared dye that improves cancer cell visualization by lowering energy levels, and she was nominated by U.S.-Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

The Petal Panthers won the 7A South State Crown on May 12—marking their first state championship appearance since 2011—in a match that energized local fans.

On Tuesday, May 12, WCU Softball advanced in the NAIA opening round with a strong performance, and the team now prepares for its next game.

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum announced five Ferriss Trophy finalists yesterday, including Mississippi State's Ace Reese (18 HR, 63 RBI) and Ole Miss's Judd Uttermark (19 HR), with the winner to be revealed at a luncheon Monday, May 18 in Jackson.

Doug Hutton, a gifted athlete who scored 101 points in one high school basketball day in 1960, died May 9 at age 84.

He also excelled in baseball and track, and his remarkable legacy has long inspired Mississippi sports fans.