Reporting What Matters

RHCJC
Reporting What Matters

RHCJC
Reporting What Matters

RHCJC

Stone County hires new economic director to drive growth

Morgan Gill, Alexa Hatten, Sameen Chand and JC Roberts • June 16, 2025
Stone County is looking to jump-start its economic future with the appointment of Layla Essary as the new director of its Economic Development Partnership.
A measuring tape next to a deterorating wooen support piling in river water shows how much width has been lost.

Ocean Springs bridge reopens after emergency repairs

Justin Glowacki • June 12, 2025
After three months of detours and construction, the Davis Bayou Bridge on Hanshaw Road is set to reopen following the completion of emergency repairs.

Raw sewage, murky oversight: Who’s policing the Pascagoula?

Justin Glowacki, Whitney Argenbright, Alexa Hatten, Jaydon Koss and Nischit Sharma • June 9, 2025
Raw sewage is leaking into the Pascagoula River — at least, that’s the concern raised by the leader of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. But as state agency staff members split on the scope of the problem, some communities are already taking action to keep their waters clean. 
A girl in a blue dress cuts a red ribbon with support from a man in a floral shirt as others stand beside them in front of a colorful science-themed mural.

Lumberton High unveils mural honoring late teacher

Whitney Argenbright, Sameen Chand, Nischit Sharma and Rochak Basnet • May 29, 2025
Students, faculty and family members gathered Thursday at Lumberton High School to unveil a mural in memory of Susan Copeland, a longtime science teacher who died in a car crash on Jan. 31, 2024.

Hall Health aims to close care gaps for Hattiesburg’s uninsured

Morgan Gill and Nischit Sharma • May 19, 2025
A new downtown health clinic is offering an alternative to traditional health care — one designed for those who often go without it. Hall Health, which opened May 8, provides primary care without requiring insurance.

‘Let’s get it rolling’: Mississippi coast ready for passenger rail

Justin Glowacki • May 19, 2025
In this artsy coastal town, the familiar rumble of trains will soon carry a new significance. Trains that once transported cargo will begin carrying passengers again — something residents and local businesses hope will bring new life to the downtown economy.

Better L.A.T.E. than never: Theater troupe helps Hattiesburg seniors reconnect

Morgan Gill and Gerome Webster • May 12, 2025
In a spacious common room inside the historic Hattiesburg Cultural Center, laughter echoes as a group of seniors huddle together, reading from scripts and exchanging inside jokes. 

Hattiesburg builds a buzz: Local events drive connection, growth

Morgan Gill and Nischit Sharma • May 5, 2025
In the Hub City, the calendar is filling up. From trivia nights and pop-up concerts to farmers markets and zoo events, businesses and community groups are turning weekdays into shared experiences.

Mississippi tourism faces seasonal staffing strain

Samuel Hughes, Rowan Luke, Gerome Webster, Hailey Perkins and Kennedi Drake • April 28, 2025
As the summer travel season approaches, Mississippi’s tourism businesses are facing a familiar challenge: not enough workers.

Vancleave rezoning debate pits rural life against growing suburbs

Justin Glowacki, Rowan Luke, McKenna Klamm, Hailey Perkins and Miracle Jennnings • April 28, 2025
Tucked behind fields, farms and winding creeks, a quiet stretch of rural land could soon give way to a new conservation-style subdivision — if the county approves a developer’s rezoning request.

Trash trouble: Litter lines Mississippi highways

Morgan Gill, Kennedi Drake, Nischit Sharma and Javion Henry • April 21, 2025
Litter is piling up along the Magnolia State’s rural roads, and the state is struggling to keep up. According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the state’s litter rate along rural highways is 30% higher than the national average.

Broadband expansion moves ahead in Pearl River County

Kennedi Drake • April 21, 2025
Rural Mississippi is seeing significant growth in broadband internet infrastructure, and communities in Pearl River County are among those set to benefit. The expansion aims to improve internet access for homes, schools and businesses, while also strengthening emergency communication systems. 
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