Daily
Hattiesburg
Wednesday, December 17th, 2025
Good morning, Hattiesburg. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 17th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ On Tuesday, more than 600 families received gifts at the annual Toys For Tots event at Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center — community groups collected toys over the past two months to support the effort, and a bike giveaway is planned for today morning. WDAM
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ A recent Exoticca survey found that many Americans view Ocean Springs as the ideal Gulf Coast location for a future Hallmark Christmas movie — thanks to its vibrant food, arts, and shopping scene. Previous productions in Natchez, Oxford, and Gulfport underscore Mississippi’s growing holiday appeal. Hattiesburg American
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ State lawmakers and college leaders met Wednesday and Thursday to review funding models and college success metrics for public universities, aiming to boost support for nontraditional students. Lawmakers will propose a workforce grant program and financial literacy initiatives in January. Mississippi Today
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Mississippi law prohibits package store alcohol sales on Christmas Day, meaning residents must use bars or restaurants for drinks while local rules may alter on-site hours. A new law effective July 1 will allow shipping up to 12 cases of specialty wine per year (with a 15.5% tax) statewide. Hattiesburg American
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Stafford Shurden — a local farmer and retired judge — started his Gas Station Tailgate Review series in 2020 after a chance stop in Drew led him to sample gas station eats; his videos now draw millions of views on social media. Hattiesburg American
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ PHS senior Jy Moore leaves Petal today for the six-day Hawaii Tiki Bowl in Honolulu, where he will play his final high school game and meet college recruiters (his trip cost around $3,000 is covered by community fundraisers). WDAM
- ➤ Gina Skelton reached her 1,000th win at Wayne County High School — the first woman in the state to do so — and earned multiple state titles and Coach of the Year awards, with players crediting her inspiring coaching for shaping local basketball. WDAM
- ➤ Blake Anderson was named Southern Miss head football coach Dec. 11 and will coach in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 23 (4:30 p.m. CT) at Caesars Superdome. He plans to recruit high school players and use the transfer portal to build the team and fill staff roles. Hattiesburg American
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Ragin' Cajuns at Golden Eagles Women's Basketball
7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. — Reed Green Coliseum — Cost info not available — Southern Miss faces off against Louisiana-Lafayette in a competitive Sun Belt matchup.
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The Nutcracker by World Ballet Company
7-8:30 p.m. — Hattiesburg Saenger Theater — Tickets required — Experience the magic of Christmas with a stunning ballet performance featuring Tchaikovsky's beloved score.
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World Ballet Company - The Nutcracker
7:00 – 8:30 PM — Hattiesburg Saenger Theater — Tickets available — Experience a magical holiday classic with breathtaking performances and enchanting storytelling.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The truth is found when people are free to pursue it.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
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