Good morning, Hattiesburg.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles hosted a USM Kids Camp at The Rock for children in prekindergarten to 5th grade, where players led basic drills and gave kids a chance to learn football skills.

General manager Reed Stringer said (per the release) the camp set a strong community standard, with future events hoped for.

Today in Hattiesburg, extreme heat led the Southern Miss Football Team to hold a kids’ camp with water stations at local fields, while zoo staff served cooling treats (and extra breaks) to animals, and T.L.

Construction workers took regular rests while cleaning up at the Hub Complex.

Boots on the Ground by Project GAP is clearing overgrown debris from Hub Complex with local help — they plan to begin interior cleaning after restoring the outside.

Mississippi Aquarium is hosting Toxic Beauty, Plastic’s Hidden Cost through Sept.

9, an exhibit organized by Dr. Kristina Mojica that turns Gulf Coast beach trash into art — including sculptures of sea turtles and a video game tribute that supports research on pollution.

The 6th annual Storywalk took place Saturday morning at Pocket Museum Alley in downtown Hattiesburg & despite breezy conditions that kept the planned literary trail from launching, organizers handed out about 300 free children’s books and shared reading activities with families.

More than 120 freshmen at William Carey University volunteered at 14 community sites, including the Hattiesburg Zoo (as part of the annual HubSERVE) during Welcome and Orientation Weekend.

Orientation Weekend will end tonight with a Festival of the Freshmen on campus.

State agencies are tracking extreme heat that is elevating wildfire risk and power demand and advising residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities — especially at midday — and to stay well hydrated.

Experts note that these dry conditions, worsened by last year's drought, may lead to increased public safety measures in our area.

Southern Miss coach Blake Anderson addressed the media after the Golden Eagles' scrimmage + discussed quarterback Ethan Hampton's injury, noting the team is carefully monitoring his condition before upcoming games.

Mississippi's six Division I football teams begin their seasons with games set from Aug.

27 to Sept. 6 — Hattiesburg fans can watch Alcorn State host Southern Miss at M.M. Roberts Stadium on Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. CT.

The Mount Olive Pirates, a 1A football team, will start their 2026 season Aug.

28 at Magee. Head coach Eric Nelson said the young team is driven by a hard-fought win last year and plans to play physical and fast.