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2 weeks 4 days ago
Spring Break across the South is just around the corner with warming temperatures and pollen showers, which signals fun times ahead at the Hattiesburg Zoo. Spring Break at the Hattiesburg Zoo dates for 2026 are Friday, March 13th through Sunday the 22nd, closing only on Monday, March 16th.
By Lisa S Conn on
2 weeks 4 days ago
Elijah Jones is a proud Hattiesburg native who enjoys writing. Email him at edjhubtown@aol.com.
The Pine Belt's two rivers, the Bouie and Leaf, meander their way through the fertile pine forests of south Mississippi. The longer of the two, the Leaf River, begins its 180-mile journey from the Bienville National Forest in Scott County before making its way through Covington, Jones and eventually into Forrest County.
By Elijah Jones on
2 weeks 5 days ago
Photo by Jacob Brumfield, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Two teams, two incredible seasons and now two chances to make a run on the national stage.
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at William Carey University are headed across the country to compete in the NAIA National Tournament this week after strong seasons in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
By DIMA MIXON on
2 weeks 5 days ago
The guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG
62) launches a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) as
apart of a joint ballistic missile defense exercise.
According to President Trump, it’s going to be up to the U. S. Navy to keep the sea lanes open and the oil tankers steaming freely through the Strait of Hormuz. Although it’s roughly 9,000 nautical miles from Hattiesburg to the Persian Gulf, we will soon feel the effects of the Iranian conflict at the gas pumps, as around twenty percent, or 18-21 million barrels per day, of the world’s oil flows through the Strait.
By Benny Hornsby on
2 weeks 5 days ago
As a long time Mississippian and a business owner who’s seen firsthand how a strong community lifts us all, I know one truth: investing in our youngest kids is investing in our shared future. Mississippi’s economy doesn’t just grow on its own—it thrives when we build up both today’s workforce and tomorrow’s.
By Jeff Good on
2 weeks 5 days ago
In 1971, a royal celebration was held in Iran. It was the 2,500th birthday of the Iranian monarchy, a rule which began with King Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC and continued (with a few interregnums) to the reign of Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi in the 20th century. Shah Pahlavi ascended to the Iranian throne in 1941, making 1971 not only a celebration of the Persian monarchy lasting two and a half millennia, but also the Shah’s 30-year Jubilee.
By Johnathan Kettler on
2 weeks 5 days 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:
Deboriouse Badon- disorderly conduct (failure to comply with commands of law enforcement)
Jacob James Bourne- DUI (first offense)
Stanley Warren Bridges, II- probation violation
Tony Akeem Bridges- simple assault by threat
Jamyia Shantel Brown- disorderly conduct (failure to comply with commands of law enforcement), domestic violence (simple assault), resisting/obstructing arrest
By Staff reports on
2 weeks 6 days ago
The Iconic Ballet Swan Lake Glides into Hattiesburg’s Historic Saenger Theater as part of World Ballet Company’s 2025–2026 National Tour Performance on March 21 at 7:00 pm.
By Staff Report on
3 weeks ago
Photo by Russ Cloy, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Tucker Stockman walked up to the plate with two outs and two runners on base against Ole Miss pitcher Landon Koenig. Stockman took a 96 mph fastball to the backside for a base hit, scoring the winning run and lifting No. 7 Southern Miss over Ole Miss 2-1 on Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 weeks 1 day ago
The Hattiesburg Zoo is now home to four juvenile spider monkeys, two males and two females. Each monkey has gone through a quarantine period and all four are being slowly introduced to their outdoor habitat with Rico, a senior adult male spider monkey who has been at the Zoo for several years.
By Lisa S. Conn on
3 weeks 3 days ago
Photo by Southern Miss Athletics
PENSACOLA, Fla. — They are halfway to glory.
Southern Miss men’s basketball has won its third straight game in the Sun Belt Tournament with an 86-73 win over Appalachian State in the quarterfinals. It’s the first time since joining the Sun Belt that the Golden Eagles have reached the semifinal round.
Southern Miss will now face No. 1 seed Troy on Sunday with a trip to the Sun Belt championship game on the line.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 weeks 3 days ago
Photo by Russ Cloy, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Grayden Harris was virtually unhittable in Saturday’s 6-1 series clinching win over North Alabama. Harris delivered a career high 13 strikeouts across a career high seven innings.
“My past few starts I’ve had problems with focusing in and going right at the guy every single pitch,” Harris said. “Today, I wouldn’t let that happen. I told myself I’m going to go right at the guy and trust my stuff. That worked out pretty good.”
By DIMA MIXON on
3 weeks 3 days ago
Cate Hargett, an 11-year-old in Greenwood, needs a bone marrow transplant as the search for her perfect donor match continues.
Cate, who dreams of becoming a librarian or author, was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder when she was 2 months old.
The Pillow Academy fifth grader has continued to fight bone marrow failure, which occurs when the tissue inside bones cannot produce enough healthy blood cells on its own.
By Taylor Thompson on
3 weeks 3 days ago
GOODMAN, Miss. — No. 2 Pearl River baseball jumped on Holmes early and never let up Friday afternoon, cruising to a 10-0 run-rule victory on the road against the Bulldogs.
"All of our pitchers that went out threw well today. We threw a lot of strikes and didn't walk a batter, so that was really good to see," head coach Michael Avalon said. "On offense, we took what they gave us and that's something we need to build on. Our guys get pitched pretty tough, so you have to be disciplined and cash in your freebies."
By Dylan Dunaway on
3 weeks 5 days ago
Photo special to the Pine Belt News from Southern Miss Athletics.
PENSACOLA, Fla - Missy Bilderback’s first season as head coach of Southern Miss women’s basketball is over after a 89-72 loss to ULM in the third round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
“Just a tough day,” Bilderback said. “Obviously we are disappointed. This has been an incredibly fun team to coach. I really enjoyed our team this year. Anytime you have a season end, especially with a group of players and people you care about, it makes it tough.”
By DIMA MIXON on
3 weeks 5 days 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:
Guillermo Avalos- domestic violence (simple assault)
Ashley Stogner Burns- weekender
Julion Deeric Carter- court order
Kendrick Clayton- probation violation, domestic violence (simple assault)
Galen Terrill Lashawn Cochran- possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm at crime/arrest
Jose A. Cortes- DUI (first offense)
By Staff reports on
3 weeks 6 days ago
Photo by Russ Cloy, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Nicholls used three runs on seven hits to stun No. 10 Southern Miss 3-2 in nonconference play Wednesday night at Pete Taylor Park.
The loss ends an 11-game win streak by the Golden Eagles dating back to the second game of the season.
“Credit to Nicholls, they earned that win,” Southern Miss head coach Christian Ostrander said after the game. “I thought their pitchers did a tremendous job of mixing and keeping our guys in between.”
The win is the third for Nicholls in the last four meetings with the Golden Eagles.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 weeks 6 days ago
William Carey University’s second class of LPN to BSN Advanced Placement Hybrid graduates has matched the inaugural cohort’s 100 percent, first time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination.
All nursing graduates in the U.S. must pass the NCLEX exam before receiving a license to practice from their state boards of nursing.
Kelly Williamson, WCU dean of nursing, said the achievement reflects more than strong scores.
By Staff Report on
4 weeks ago
Photo by Jacob Brumfield, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The game lived up to hype.
No. 10 Southern Miss, No. 4 Mississippi State. First top ten matchup between the two schools, and it came down to the final pitch between Southern Miss closer Camden Clark against heart of Mississippi State’s order.
By DIMA MIXON on
4 weeks ago
Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion
In Mississippi
1. Moss Point native makes “American Idol” Top 30
Moss Point native Daniel Stallworth advanced into the Top 30 on “American Idol” Monday night after performing “Stand By Me.”
By Magnolia Tribune Staff on
