FORREST COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) - A long-time Forrest County sheriff and, to many, Hurricane Katrina folk hero, died Wednesday afternoon. Forrest County Coroner Lisa Klem confirmed that Billy McGee died at home Wednesday. He was 71. McGee was a Forrest County law enforcement fixture for more than four decades, and...

FORREST COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) – A Columbia man was killed during a motorcycle crash in Forrest County. The crash occurred on Highway 42 in Forrest County around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29. Officials with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) said a 2005 Harley-Davidson was traveling west on the highway when it collided with a […]

PURVIS, Miss. (WDAM) - A Lamar County man found guilty of multiple crimes, including attempted capital murder for shooting at and wounding a Lamar County deputy, was sentenced to a total of 134 years in prison. Troy Johnson was found guilty on Oct. 18 on two counts of attempted capital...

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - A teenager is recovering after being shot in the leg after dropping a firearm in Hattiesburg Monday. According to the Hattiesburg Police Department, around 4:30 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Mobile Street to investigate the shooting report. When officers arrived, they found a...

Jones County Sheriff's Department is conducting a search for a man who has been missing since Friday, October 25th, 2024. Christifer Lynn Morris, Jr., age thirty three, was reportedly last seen at 9:00 p.m. on October 25th leaving the Pocket Museum in Hattiesburg.

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - It’s been a year since 21-year-old Jade Rhodes was shot and killed while leaving a Halloween party in Forrest County. Investigators with the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office said Rhodes was an innocent bystander in the Oct. 29 shooting. Five suspects were arrested, and...

On Tuesday afternoon, at 3:48 p.m., two juveniles were involved in a car accident that left both injured. Boggy and South Jones volunteer fire departments responded to a report of a vehicle collision at the intersection of Pittman Road and Highway 590.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – The Lucky Rabbit consists of two buildings, located next door to each other in downtown Hattiesburg. The buildings are filled with unique finds and nostalgic treasures. But what exactly is The Lucky Rabbit? “You know, it’s a question we get all the time, and it’s difficult to describe it. You just […]

Good evening, everyone! The rest of this evening will be partly cloudy and mild as temperatures fall into the low 70s. Overnight lows will bottom out into the low 60s. Tomorrow will be cloudy for much of the day. A few spotty showers will be possible during the afternoon as highs top out into the mid 80s. A few showers can’t be ruled out during Trick-or-Treating hours, but it looks like the best chance of rain will hold off until after 8pm.

PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) - For nearly two decades, the educators of The 3-D School in Petal have taught and nurtured kids with Dyslexia. They make sure the students go on to thrive in a regular school setting. The woman who leads the teachers and the school is Dr. Cena Holifield....

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - One day after a teen was hit by a car crossing Hardy Street, we’ve learned the Hattiesburg Police Department has responded to 17 reports of pedestrians being hit by vehicles in the city so far this year. With Halloween just a few days away, Lt....

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - Lots of folks across the Pine Belt have been doing some last-minute costume shopping, getting ready for Halloween. Hattiesburg’s Ultimate Party saw crowded aisles Wednesday afternoon, as people looked for the perfect costume for themselves or a family member. “Now, Halloween goes on for two...

LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) - The Laurel High School Student Council took the time to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month Wednesday. The council held its annual balloon release to honor survivors and remember victims. Students and leaders gathered on the front lawn of the high school for the occasion. Those gathered...

LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) - The Laurel Police Department is searching for a suspect after an early morning burglary. It happened at Read Drugs on Mississippi Highway 15. This is the same drug store that was hit in February when several narcotics were stolen. The department said officers responded to Read...

Not only is the lack of parking for Southern Miss students frustrating, but it’s discouraging students from getting involved- a problem that could continue to get worse. The University of Southern Mississippi has an enrollment of roughly 14,146 students. However, there are not nearly as many parking spaces to accommodate that number. Parking has become an issue often discussed by students both on and off campus, as it often feels impossible to do something that should be so simple. This semester has only gotten worse after the closure of the fifth floor of the parking garage as well as sections of Hillcrest parking lot being closed for reconstruction. Students can pay anywhere from $90 to $162 for a parking pass- only to be kicked out of the same spaces they’re supposed to be allowed to park in. Several students have shared that they have either almost witnessed or been in a wreck due to others “racing” for an open spot.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - Pine Belt residents will attend an upcoming health and wellness fair to learn about healthcare opportunities. The “Take Care of Your Health” health and wellness fair will take place on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Plymouth Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Hattiesburg.

Dr. Justin T. Badon has joined the staff of Southern Bone & Joint Specialists PA. Badon is a fellowship-trained shoulder, elbow and upper extremity orthopedic surgeon. Badon earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Delta State University, and his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He completed an orthopedic residency at […] The post Badon joins Southern Bone & Joint appeared first on Daily Leader.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), will soon be operating a new medium-size remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in the Gulf of Mexico. To meet the growing demand to conduct fundamental research, discovery, and inform restoration efforts on the deep seafloor and water column, NOAA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced they will fund the design and build of two ROVs. These vehicles will begin construction in 2024 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. One of these vehicles will be operated by USM, and WHOI’s National Deep Submergence Facility will operate the other.

The City of Hattiesburg has signed Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships with two standout athletes from local universities: Melyia Grayson from the University of Southern Mississippi and Lauren Jones from William Carey University. Both athletes, who graduated from local high schools, have been chosen as the city’s first-ever NIL ambassadors.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – A University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Humanities faculty member and a former colleague will conduct a special history study of Natchez and the Fort Rosalie military garrison. Thanks to a $120,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service (NPS), the study will look at the city […]