Good morning, Hattiesburg.

The Midtown Merchants Association will host the sixth annual Midtown Sounds concert on Saturday, Aug.

22 at Midtown Green, 309 Crestmont Ave from 4 to 8 p.m. The free event features local bands, food vendors & community booths where families can relax on lawn chairs or blankets.

Mississippi’s literacy overhaul, launched in 2013, retained third graders to boost early reading, and school districts like Western Line saw test scores rise.

The state education agency prepares an Adolescent Literacy Initiative that will add coaching and support for older students while no longer using retention—Rep. Kent McCarty said.

Jones College is introducing a clear bag policy for upcoming athletic events to boost safety and speed up entry, officials said.

The policy permits clear tote bags, clear freezer bags, and stadium cushions (with medically necessary bags allowed), following the standard used at other schools.

Renovations for Pete Taylor Park at USM were approved today by the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning to update the baseball stadium's exterior design and expand seating along the third-base line - the privately funded project will use designs by Wier Boerner Allin Architecture.

Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann will push for a bill to ban cell phones in schools during class to reduce distractions.

The proposal allows cell phone use at breaks + for emergencies and learning, a change that could affect classroom rules statewide.

The Blood Center opened its new donor center in Petal at 1223 Highway 42 with a ribbon-cutting event that featured blood donations and refreshments.

The center aims to collect 15 units daily and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Southern Miss changes its football stadium name to Renasant Stadium after signing a 10-year + $13.7M deal with Renasant Bank; the new name will run through June 30 and the team will play there on Sept.

5 against Alcorn State.

Southern Miss' football stadium is renamed Renasant Stadium effective today under a 10-year naming-rights deal worth $13.7 million — the first corporate agreement for the venue formerly known as M.M.

Roberts Stadium.