Listen to podcasts and audiobooks from Forrest County, home to Hattiesburg and Petal, Mississippi. Explore local stories, voices, and conversations that highlight the people and places that make this county unique.
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Data from Mississippi's air quality monitoring stations shows an upward trend over the past decade in moderate or worse pollution days in southeast Mississippi, increasing the risk that Mississippians will develop respiratory conditions.
For Hattiesburg barber Bonnie Holloway, the process marks a sign of progress after two years of uncertainty following the state’s merger of its cosmetology and barbering boards.
The new law increases penalties for possessing, selling or transferring stolen firearms, especially if those guns are later used in violent crimes.
The projects are expected to ease overcrowding, expand student opportunities and improve learning environments across the district.
In Pearl River, Jackson, Forrest, George and Stone counties, local officials said the money will support projects including emergency facilities and infrastructure upgrades.
Damascus Moffett’s struggle to aid his aunt highlights Mississippi’s diabetes crisis. High costs and systemic barriers force residents to rely on community networks for life-saving medical supplies and care.
Mississippi families face uncertainty as pandemic-era child care funding expires, leading to decreased summer camp enrollment and rising costs for essential childcare services across the state.
Mississippi becomes the first state to ban lab-grown dairy, but local farmers argue that deregulation and better market access are more critical for the survival of small-scale agriculture.
In Hattiesburg, district leaders said their own updated strategic plan reflects many of those same priorities.
The American Cancer Society estimates about 18,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in Mississippi this year. The most common types include prostate, lung and bronchus, and breast cancers.
The partnership between Cornerstone Counseling and Venture Church marks the organization's fifth counseling center since 2012 and its first in South Mississippi.
House Bill 1466 would allow restaurants to use menu symbols paired with a clearly visible legend instead of labeling each seafood item individually.
Mississippi has eliminated its hands-on licensing exam for cosmetology and barbering, allowing students to enter the workforce faster while enabling instructors to focus more on individual skill development.
Hattiesburg residents are exploring a 24-hour childcare facility to support overnight workers, though local providers warn that staffing shortages and rising operational costs remain significant hurdles for round-the-clock operations.
Petal is replacing the aging South George Street Bridge with a modern culvert-style design, enhancing vehicle safety and creating vital pedestrian links to Hattiesburg for local residents.
Mississippi’s new vape law reshaped what’s on store shelves — but many users may not realize what they’re inhaling has changed. A lab-made nicotine alternative is raising red flags.
As the 2026 session approaches, Forrest County leaders focus on growth, infrastructure upgrades and regional partnerships across the Pine Belt.
Leaders across southeast Mississippi outline their priorities for the 2026 legislative session, highlighting shared challenges facing local governments.
Mississippi's obesity epidemic threatens health and infant mortality; officials push coordinated policies, education, medications and community investments to prevent worsening outcomes.
Petal becomes Mississippi’s second dementia-friendly city, launching free programs and resources to support residents and caregivers alike.
With thousands of Mississippi adults struggling to read, a Hattiesburg nonprofit is training volunteers and launching a new program to close the literacy gap.
From June 2024 through February 2025, U.S. beekeepers suffered their worst winter losses in more than a decade, with commercial operations losing an average of 62% of colonies.
As the 2026 legislative session approaches, audiologists are urging legislators to revisit having private insurers cover hearing aids, saying the lack of coverage affects thousands of Mississippians each year.
Mississippi has one of the nation’s lowest percentages of traffic deaths tied to speeding, yet sheriffs say they need radar guns — a tool currently banned for county law enforcement — to help curb dangerous driving on rural roads.
Three “mini pantries” in the Hub City — on a university campus, at a community center and in a church driveway — form a network of neighbors fighting hunger.
After years of steady hikes, Mississippi auto insurance rates are showing signs of stabilizing, with more than a dozen companies approving decreases this year that could affect 80% of drivers.
“We diagnose about 1 in every 8 dogs with heartworm disease,” said Tamara Huff, shelter director of Hub City Humane Society. “Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes … it just takes one bite from one mosquito for your pet’s life to change.”
For Stephanie Rodriguez, Mississippi offers safety, affordability and a quieter lifestyle, but for Gunnar Hamm, it was a place he couldn’t wait to leave. Their stories reflect the growing divide in how young adults view life in the Magnolia State — and what’s driving many to look elsewhere for opportunity.
Lamar County resident Kenneth Hornsby doesn’t mince words when discussing the challenges of accessing health care in his town.