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2 months ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
One of the biggest priorities of the State’s 2026 legislative session has been school choice, which has been laid out in a 446-page omnibus bill, House Bill 2 (Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act of 2026). The bill has narrowly passed the House with a 61-59 vote and now moves to the Senate.
By Amanda D. Lee on
2 months 1 week ago
Pearl River's Jaycee Holifield (Laurel; Stringer) touches home after belting a walk-off home run against Bishop State. It was her second long ball of the doubleheader.
Patience and speed were the recipe for success Wednesday afternoon in Pearl River softball's season opener against Bishop State. The Wildcats used 16 walks and 13 stolen bases to secure a sweep, winning the games 11-2 and 10-1 in five innings each.
"We were really aggressive today — a little too aggressive at times," head coach Christie Meeks said. "That's something we can continue to work on and learn from. I'm so proud of our team — especially our pitching staff. These girls all care for each other and root for each other so much."
By Dylan Dunaway on
2 months 1 week ago
The Long Goodbye starts the day we are born - the first time something is lost and never returned, a face, a voice, a feeling, a version of ourselves. We often imagine goodbye as a closing door, but it is really a door standing half opened in the shadows of time.
By Benny Hornsby on
2 months 1 week ago
Funeral homes may submit obituaries to obits@hubcityspokes.com. Death notices are printed free of charge; obituaries with photos and detailed information will incur a charge. For assistance, call (601)-268-2331.
Suzanna Alford Baker (94) of Hattiesburg passed away on January 20, 2026. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Joyce Nell Dunn Brent (85) of Hattiesburg passed away on January 25, 2026. Moore Funeral Service handled the arrangements.
Diane Mayes Byrd (76) of Hattiesburg passed away on January 22, 2026. Forrest Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
By Staff reports on
2 months 1 week ago
Can Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann do what so many government leaders have touted but failed to accomplish and actually reorganize state government? He has his Mississippi Senate looking to restructure state government and run it more like a business.
A little history.
By Bill Crawford on
2 months 1 week ago
Last week, House Speaker Jason White unveiled HB2, the Mississippi Education Freedom Act - the most exciting and ambitious advancement for school choice in our state in years, perhaps ever!
This comprehensive bill delivers everything supporters of parental power have long hoped for, and it aligns perfectly with President Trump’s strong commitment to education freedom.
This isn’t some minor adjustment or performative law – it’s the real thing for anyone who believes in putting parents in charge of their children’s education.
By Douglas Carswell - Mississippi Center for Public Policy on
2 months 1 week ago
Recently, I was listening to an interview with Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX. During the conversation, the interviewer displayed a graphic showing the age groups of Americans who plan to “pray more in 2026.” I was inspired to see the group leading the way was adults ages 30–44.
As they discussed the reasons behind this trend, my mind drifted to the numbers for my own age group—those 65 and older. Only 12% of seniors said they plan to pray more.
By Andrew Oldham on
2 months 1 week ago
Keep an eye out for the February 5 edition of the Pine Belt News for the story!
By Amanda D. Lee - Reporter on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo special to the Pine Belt News from Southern Miss Athletics.
Southern Miss softball head coach Natalie Poole says for the program to take the next step, performance must improve from years past.
“We’ve taken some really good steps in the program since I’ve been here,” Poole said. “But there’s some elevation that has to happen performance-wise for us to be able to do it.”
Poole, who was named head coach in the fall of 2022, enters her fourth season with a 67–82 overall record.
By DIMA MIXON on
2 months 1 week ago
Jail dockets for Forrest and Lamar counties are provided to the Pine Belt News as a public records service. Arrest records are current for the week prior to publication.
Hattiesburg Police:
Deandre Bolling- disturbing the peace in a public place
Rekita Bolton- contempt of court, probation violation
Iesha Bracy- providing false information to a law enforcement officer
Barbie Michelle Brumfield- DUI (second offense), no driver’s license, seatbelt violation
Donald Ray Carter- shoplifting (first offense), use/possession/possession with intent of paraphernalia
By Staff reports on
2 months 1 week ago
Rebecca Chandler (left) and Ginger Lowrey (right) announce the winners of the krewe competition at the block party after a previous parade.
Rebecca Chandler and Ginger Lowrey, cofounders of the Krewe of St. Catherine, joined forces in 2022 to begin what is sure to be a tradition for years to come in the Hub City. After what has become forming one of Hattiesburg’s favorite parade performance groups, the Hub City HotSteppers, Chandler was asked by Hattiesburg’s Mayor Toby Barker if she had considered doing a walking parade. Though Chandler admits it wasn’t something she’d considered, she started brainstorming ideas.
By Amanda D. Lee on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The Pine Belt News recognizes the 2026 class of 20 Under 40. Read about Hunter White here and see the special section publishing on January 29 to read about all of this year's honorees.
By Christina Pierce on
2 months 1 week ago
How much of a down-to-earth garden variety gardener are you? Do you do things horticulturally by the efficiency-oriented book, or follow a meandering path of gardening mostly for pleasure?
I do a bit of both, being trained in horticulture science but raised by older gardeners who let a lot of rules slide yet still had beautiful, productive, relaxing gardens.
By Felder Rushing on
2 months 1 week ago
With a roster built on talent, toughness and speed, the No. 7 Pearl River softball team will look to take the program to new heights in 2026.
"I think this is one of the most talented teams that we've had," head coach Christie Meeks said. "What's really cool about them is I feel like they're one of the toughest groups we've had too."
That competitiveness has shown itself throughout the preseason, particularly during intrasquad play.
By Dylan Dunaway on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The Pine Belt News recognizes the 2026 class of 20 Under 40. Read about Devion White here and see the special section publishing on January 29 to read about all of this year's honorees.
By Christina Pierce on
2 months 1 week ago
As cold as the January weather has been, the December warm weather was more extreme.
The recent lows in the mid teens don’t even come close to breaking any records for those dates, which are around five degrees. Whereas the highs in December were in the top five ever for those dates when the highs reached 77 degrees.
On average for the year, Mississippi temperatures are an ideal 68 degrees, but we definitely have some variation. Just toward the end of winter, I forget the heavy summer bake and start longing for warmth.
By Wyatt Emmerich on
2 months 1 week ago
If you have entered the Dark Academia world of Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean tales, the dragons that the Riders Quadrant hope to bond with have a long-revered antecedent in Fantasy/Science Fiction. Inspired by the influential writer/editor Judith Merill, Anne McCaffrey created a massive series compiling over two millennia of history about the Dragonriders of Pern over her entire life.
By Mik Davis on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The Pine Belt News recognizes the 2026 class of 20 Under 40. Read about Kevin Weldon here and see the special section publishing on January 29 to read about all of this year's honorees.
By Christina Pierce on
2 months 1 week ago
Coy Clements (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) salutes right field fans after bashing a two-run homer against Coastal Alabama - South.
The No. 2 Pearl River baseball team opened its 2026 campaign in dominant fashion Tuesday afternoon, using five pitchers to shut out Coastal Alabama - South, 7-0.
"We scored seven runs today, and our offense still needs to sharpen up," head coach Michael Avalon said. "But we pitched and defended the ball really well, so I was proud of that.
"A lot of credit to them (Coastal Alabama - South) — that's one of the most improved teams on the mound from year to year that I've ever seen. They made things tough on us, and we managed to scratch across some runs."
By Dylan Dunaway on
2 months 1 week ago
The phrase “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey” has probably been tossed about the last few days around our state. Believe it, or not, that saying supposedly comes from more than just “toilet humor.” I’m told its origin, though I’m doubtful, comes from the Napoleonic Wars where naval ships had a brass tray to hold cannonballs. When it would get cold enough, the brass would shrink quicker than the iron balls, thus making them slide off the tray and giving us one of the greatest phrases ever to describe cold weather.
By Ben Smith on
