Good morning, Hattiesburg.

Mississippi’s Harvest Moon peaks today at 11:49 a.m. CT with moonrise near Jackson at 6:45 p.m. — clouds may block views briefly before clearing by 10 p.m., offering a crisp fall night for skywatchers.

Elementary students learned how to be friends today when Chris Gaston—dressed as Dolly Parton—visited Oak Grove schools to read 'A Coat of Many Colors' and lead songs that taught kindness in honor of Dolly’s legacy.

Ten JROTC drill teams from South Mississippi competed in the second annual Crusader Cup at William Carey University on Friday.

Hancock County High School won as teams were tested in six precision events + the contest marked the first drill competition of the school year.

William Carey University moved up 30 spots in national rankings and earned four No.1 state recognitions for education, history, Christian colleges, and private universities.

University leaders say the growth comes from new programs and a 55% increase in on-campus enrollment (over four years).

Hub City Transit in Hattiesburg will replace older buses with lower-emission propane models after the city secured a multi-million grant, and the new fleet is set to improve air quality and transit service soon.

Southern Miss is launching the grant-funded SOAR program to provide low-cost mental health screenings for people ages 14 to 25.

Residents can access online screeners & schedule phone appointments at USM's Center for Behavioral Health to catch early signs of serious mental illness.

Southern Miss faces Tulane in the 35th Battle for the Bell rivalry game on Sept.

26 at 6:00 p.m. CT. Senior Landry Lyddy will start at quarterback after Ethan Hampton’s injury (analysts predict a 30-17 loss as Tulane’s dual-threat offense challenges the Golden Eagles’ run game).

The Ole Miss Rebels are set to face the Florida Gators today at 2:30 p.m. at the University of Florida.

Both undefeated teams have recorded wins so far, with the Rebels climbing to No. 4 while the Gators are ranked No. 21.