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2 months 3 weeks ago
Under the Senate proposals, teachers could receive a $2,000 pay increase and students would be allowed to transfer between public schools without their current district objecting.
On the first day of Mississippi’s 2026 legislative session, the Senate Education Committee kicked things off by sending three bills to the floor, each intended to strengthen the state’s K-12 public school system members said.
By Jeremy Pittari - Magnolia Tribune on
2 months 3 weeks ago
The legislation would transfer $500 million from the Capital Expense Fund to the PERS account as of July 1, and would direct subsequent $50 million transfers through 2036.
The Mississippi Senate Appropriations Committee took less than five minutes Tuesday afternoon to approve transferring hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds to shore up the Public Employees’ Retirement System, or PERS, by unanimous vote.
By Daniel Tyson - Magnolia Tribune on
2 months 3 weeks ago
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment in April 2023 charging the WWE star for his role in allegedly misappropriating millions of dollars in federal welfare funds.
Former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase, Jr. will stand trial in Mississippi for his alleged role in the state’s largest public welfare embezzlement scheme using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, funds totaling upwards of $77 million.
DiBiase’s is the first case to go to trial in the scheme, which was first reported nearly six years ago.
By Frank Corder - Magnolia Tribune on
2 months 3 weeks ago
The Pine Belt News and Signature Magazine are proud to announce the fifth annual class of “20 Under 40.” The initiative was conceived to recognize the best and brightest in this very important demographic, representing the future of our community. Too often talented young people leave the Pine Belt for larger cities with seemingly unlimited opportunities. Honoring those young people who elect to make the Pine Belt their home is the mission of “20 Under 40.”
By Staff Report on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Photo by Dima Mixon, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Southern Miss senior right-handed pitcher Colby Allen (Louisville, Miss.) collected preseason second-team All-America honors by Perfect Game Wednesday.
By Jack Duggan on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Photo special to the Pine Belt News from Sacred Heart Athletics (Joe Venus)
After former Sacred Heart football head coach Ed Smith announced he was stepping down in December, the Crusaders began the search for their next leader.
That search lasted just over a month, but the answer ultimately came from within the program. Sacred Heart Catholic High School announced Drew Dewease as the Crusaders’ next head football coach, beginning with the 2026–27 school year, turning to a longtime assistant who has spent more than a decade helping shape the program’s identity.
By DIMA MIXON on
2 months 3 weeks 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.
Myrtle Belue Aldridge (96) of Hattiesburg passed away on December 26, 2025. Moore Funeral Service handled the arrangements.
Bobby Barnes, Sr. (83) of Hattiesburg passed away on January 1, 2026. Moore Funeral Service handled the arrangements.
Marilyn Jane Bourn (83) of Purvis passed away on January 3, 2026. Moore Funeral Service handled the arrangements.
By Staff reports on
2 months 3 weeks 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:
Andrea Roachell Atterberry- probation violation
Kamaurion Jayteize Dillon- possession, sale, etc. of a stolen firearm (first offense)
Amanda Latrece Fairley- DUI (first offense)
Patrick D. Fairley- possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle
Senqtez Session Franklin- DUI (second offense), possession of a controlled substance (two counts), contempt of court (failure to appear)
By Staff reports on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Opinions of President Trump’s decision to capture the president of Venezuela and bring him to the United States to face drug charges will vary. Those who support the president will think he’s doing right for America, and those who oppose him will question the legality of the overnight military operation.
Published on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Thelma Knox (L) and Tiara Knox-Husband (R) take the initiative to lead a clean-up effort at Gillis Burkett Cemetery, their family’s final resting place.
Five cities. Two counties. This first week of 2026 The Pine Belt News looks back at some of the top events from 2025, including this story originally published November 3, 2025
Forrest County sisters honor family, veterans of the community
By Amanda D. Lee on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Several months ago, I wrote an article regarding the status of waterfowl populations across the country. Not to digress, but in a nutshell, the numbers overall have been in a downward trend for many years. Again, I won’t go into the reasons, but I will reemphasize some points in this article. Since we are in the last few weeks of the 2025-2026 waterfowl season, I thought it would be interesting to poll hunters in various regions across the state to get their thoughts on how the season is going thus far.
By Jeff North on
2 months 3 weeks ago
A recent Gallup poll found 85 percent of respondents disapprove of Congress’ work. Reports suggest about 90 percent of people think term limits will align Congresspersons’ incentives with the common good. They won’t.
In the 2024 general election, incumbents won reelection more than 90 percent of the time; it’s 100 percent in some election cycles. If elections were truly competitive, incumbents would not win at that rate. Freed from competition, legislators’ incentives to are not aligned with the public good.
By Patrick Taylor on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Apparently, the DC Santa Claus did NOT visit Linda Berry this year. All she got were clean MAGA lumps of coal along with $2.25 gas. So sad. Nor can anyone in DC make her happy (“Democrats Must Make Their Case,” Northside Sun, 12/12/25). Yet she believes the Democrats have the better solutions to govern if they would but take it on. That assumes that the Democrat leadership has ability to function like a normal political party. Nevertheless, she’s a real Democrat believer. In what, I would like to know.
By Robert Penny on
2 months 3 weeks ago
The Hattiesburg Stack, a newly commissioned painting by Mississippi artist Charlie Buckley, was unveiled on December 11, 2025, during a one-night-only event at Prospect on Main Gallery in downtown Hattiesburg. Commissioned by Abb and Jennifer Payne as a gift to the city they call home, the work is a Hattiesburg-specific edition of Buckley’s acclaimed Stacked Series, which explores the layered histories of Mississippi towns and cities.
By Staff reports on
2 months 3 weeks ago
As I write this on 1/4/26 most news reports state that the United States has carried out a flawless military mission early yesterday to arrest the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in his home (aka fortress) in Caracas. Our military personnel forced their way into his house before Maduro could enter his steel walled safe room and arrested him and his wife before they could escape. The assault had been meticulously planned for months. No Americans were killed, and only one helicopter was hit but was able to continue flying. A total of about 150 aircraft were used.
By Peter Gilderson on
2 months 3 weeks ago
As renewable energy disparager President Donald Trump continues to prop up and promote coal and fossil fuel industries, Mississippi finds itself on a path to grow industries producing renewable energy alternatives to coal.
By Bill Crawford on
2 months 3 weeks ago
“Who you gonna’ believe? Me or your lying eyes.” Substitute Entergy’s spokesperson for Chico Marx, and you have the current gaslighting telling you don’t believe what you see happening in other states and what common sense tells you will happen here. Just trust Entergy not to raise electric rates for small customers to benefit Amazon’s data centers.
By Kelley Williams on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Every year has its challenges and this one is no different. On the opposite page, Jonathan Kettler writes about the start of 1949 and all the challenges faced that year. It provides a real sense of perspective.
The Sun is a community newspaper so we like to focus on local news but the decimation of local news by Big Tech has caused more focus on national and international news. It is human nature to focus on what’s there.
By Wyatt Emmerich on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Deacon Felix Diaz blesses the baby box with holy water at Friday morning’s blessing and opening of Hattiesburg’s first baby box.
Five cities. Two counties. This first week of 2026 The Pine Belt News looks back at some of the top events from 2025, including this story originally published September 18, 2025
By Amanda D. Lee - Reporter on
2 months 3 weeks ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Five cities. Two counties. This first week of 2026 The Pine Belt News looks back at some of the top events from 2025, including this story originally published August 21
The Hattiesburg Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend historic landmark status for Alpine Snow, an iconic staple of Hattiesburg summer memories. With the recommendation from the Planning Commission, the matter will now be submitted to the city council for final approval.
By Amanda D. Lee on
