Good morning, Hattiesburg.

Laurel-Jones County Animal Rescue League is asking for donations to help keep its 26 dogs and 18 cats cool amid rising temperatures and shelter overcapacity.

Donations (cleaning supplies, blankets, pet food) can be dropped off at 2511 Moose Drive in Laurel.

Heritage Outdoors in Oak Grove launches a raffle selling $10 tickets for a Walther PDP C 9mm handgun to support the family of fallen investigator Andretta English.

All proceeds go to covering her family's expenses, with ticket sales running until July 10.

Today, the Fieldhouse for the Homeless in Hattiesburg opened a cooling station to help locals beat the heat by offering water, cooling towels, sunblock, and frozen water bottles (additional wipes are available to deter bugs), and officials say support will continue as the heat advisory persists.

Cal-Maine Foods settled for $1.5 million with the Department of Justice after egg price manipulation allegations and will donate 30 million eggs to food banks, while it appoints an antitrust officer to monitor policy adherence.

Leaders in Hattiesburg and Petal are set to host The Star-Spangled Celebration tonight with festivities starting at 6 p.m. and fireworks lighting the sky at 9 p.m. Petal organizers remind attendees to leave pets, glass, and tents at home and plan for limited parking.

Southern Miss opened the Rural Digital Forensics Initiative Laboratory at the School of Justice, Forensic Science, and Security to help local law enforcement process digital evidence more quickly today—cutting wait times and offering training for rural agencies.

Mississippi's first West Nile virus case of 2026 was confirmed in Hancock County today.

Health officials advise residents to use repellent and wear long sleeves as mosquitoes thrive in the summer heat.

In June, three local restaurants received failing health inspection grades due to issues like pests and missing certified managers; all have fixed the problems during follow-up inspections (Checkers, China Buffet, and Jalisco Mexican Restaurant improved their scores).

College Football 27 will be released July 9 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC; the game features top-ranked players from Ole Miss and Mississippi State including running back Kewan Lacy, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and corner Kelly Jones.

Former Southern Miss baseball coach Scott Berry (528 wins in 14 seasons) will be inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame at a Jan.

8 ceremony in Chicago as part of the 2027 class.

Hub City Classic Car & Bike Show

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — The Center at Forrest County — Free entry — Experience a vibrant showcase of custom cars, bikes, and community culture all in one exciting location.

Writing and Publishing High-Impact Research Manuscripts

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Lake Terrace Convention Center — Free entry — Enhance your biomedical writing skills with expert guidance from Dr. Papasian.

Disney's Frozen - The Musical

7-10 p.m. — Hattiesburg Saenger Theater — Ticket pricing varies — Experience the magic of Frozen brought to life on stage.

The Molly Ringwalds Live

8-11 p.m. — Brewsky's — Tickets starting at $19.25 — Experience an electrifying tribute to 80s music with dazzling visuals and captivating performances.

Disney's Frozen - The Musical

7-10 p.m. — Hattiesburg Saenger Theater — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an enchanting performance of the beloved musical based on Disney's animated classic.