RHCJC

New planner aims to boost civic info, community connections

July 15, 2025

A new weekly resource is launching to help southeast Mississippi residents stay informed and connected. The Southeast Mississippi Planner will feature civic updates, community news, event listings and more.

Ward 5 residents lead the way in Hattiesburg change

Morgan Gill, JC Roberts and Alexa Hatten • July 14, 2025

Streetlights are getting fixed, debris is being cleared faster and neighbors who once felt ignored are now sitting at the table with city leaders.

Cotton prices down, costs up: Mississippi farmers face harsh decisions

Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan and Nischit Sharma • July 14, 2025

Mississippi cotton farmers are losing money — and some are preparing to abandon the crop altogether due to falling prices, extreme weather events, rising input costs and trade tensions.

Training the future: Mississippi expands AI in schools, colleges

Justin Glowacki, Alexa Hatten, Sami Jordan and Nischit Sharma • July 7, 2025

Mississippi is pouring tens of millions of dollars into artificial intelligence education, promising to modernize classrooms and prepare students for tech-centered careers.

Aging on the Coast: How Hancock County is preparing for a retirement-ready future

Morgan Gill, JC Roberts and Sameen Chand • July 7, 2025

Mississippi’s Gulf Coast is aging faster than the rest of the state, and Hancock County sits at the center of that demographic shift.

HIV prevention advances, but stigma persists

Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan and Nischit Sharma • June 30, 2025

For John, a 19-year-old from rural Mississippi, getting medication to prevent HIV came with more than just a prescription — it came with fear.

New vet clinic brings care closer for rural Mississippi farms

Samuel Hughes, Cadence Renfro and Rochak Basnet • June 30, 2025

For years, pet owners and cattle producers in this small Mississippi town have relied on at-home remedies and long-shot emergency calls.

Mississippi looks to reverse brain drain with jobs, education

Morgan Gill, JC Roberts and Sameen Chand • June 30, 2025

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.

Mississippi airports race to secure federal funds before 2026 deadline

Samuel Hughes, Cadence Renfro and Rochak Basnet • June 23, 2025

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law set to expire in 2026, Mississippi airports are rushing to lock in federal dollars before time runs out. The funding, which began flowing in 2022, offers airports across the country the chance to tackle long-delayed improvements.

Businesses adjust to seafood labeling law taking effect July 1

Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan and Nischit Sharma • June 23, 2025

With Mississippi’s new seafood labeling law set to take effect July 1, restaurant owners and seafood sellers are trying to understand how to comply — and what could happen if they don’t.

Junior Auxiliary helps meet needs of underserved families in George County

Morgan Gill, Alexa Hatten, Sameen Chand and JC Roberts • June 23, 2025

In a rural corner of Mississippi, where more than 5,000 residents struggle with food insecurity and nearly three-quarters of public-school students live in poverty, a small group of women is stepping up to fill the gap — one Easter basket, book and life skill lesson at a time.

No complaints, no action: MDEQ says no sewage violations on Pascagoula River

Justin Glowacki • June 16, 2025

Despite public concern and warnings from the state’s marine resources director, Mississippi’s top environmental agency said it hasn’t received a single complaint in the past five years about houseboat sewage on the Pascagoula River — and has taken no enforcement action as a result.