Good morning, Hattiesburg.

A local ministry is serving hot meals twice a week to people in need, and it will keep the service available for residents who require extra support.

Evangelist Helen Patterson said that Holy Ghost Fire Apostolic Church will serve fresh meals at 239 Broadway Drive on Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (she urged residents to donate food) to help those in need.

The SSA list for 2024 shows that Mississippi parents have kept Ava as the most popular girl name for 11 years with the top five being Ava, Olivia, Amelia, Harper — and Mary.

The report also reveals that William tops the boy names list, with John, James, Noah and Liam rounding out the favorites.

Federal lawmakers are mulling changes to the Pell Grant program that would cut the maximum award from $7,395 to $5,710 and bump the credit-hour requirement from 12 to 15.

More than 79,000 Mississippi college students may face reduced aid starting in the 2026-27 school year — community colleges and part-timers are most at risk — as advocates warn the changes could limit college access.

The Mississippi State Board of Education announced Monday that six Pine Belt school districts will receive portions of a $24 million grant to expand and create new State Invested Pre—K programs.

Three districts will launch new programs with funds estimated at about $4.9 million allocated over three years to support classroom partnerships with Head Start.

Star-Spangled Celebration on the River

6-10 p.m. — Chain Park — Free admission — Celebrate the Fourth of July with family-friendly activities, live music, and a spectacular fireworks display over the Leaf River.