The Gulf Coast Community Foundation provided six coastal animal welfare agencies with a $25,000 grant. These grants go towards the ‘Fixed for Life’ program, a no cost spay and neuter program. Those agencies receiving the grant include: Rise and Shine Animal Rescue Humane Society of South Mississippi Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County Friends of the Jackson County...

WAVELAND, Miss. (WXXV)- A new restaurant and bar is coming to Coleman Avenue in Waveland, marking the area’s first new commercial construction in more than two decades. The Sand Bar is expected to open by October. The two-story, beach-side restaurant is being developed by Blind Tiger owner Thomas Genin. The ground floor will feature an open-air bar and snack kitchen,...

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- Months after the passage of a bond issue to fund sweeping improvements to county school campuses, phase one work has already begun at some Hancock County campuses. The school district is putting its bond funding to work with several improvements planned across the district. Phase one includes new turf for the Hancock High School baseball and...

Week one of the high school football season is officially in the books — and now, this guy is in the history books. In Hancock’s game against the Stone Tomcats, senior quarterback Justin Wedgeworth put up video-game numbers, throwing for 563 yards and five total touchdowns while completing 35 of 50 passes — a 70 percent completion rate. His lights-out...

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)-Two men have been arrested after several veterans’ memorial plaques were stolen from gravesites at three cemeteries in Hancock County. Fifty-nine-year-old Steve Berry is charged with three counts of grand larceny, while 59-year-old Ronald Verdon is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property. Investigators say the thefts were reported Saturday, August 29. Deputies say the plaques...

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- A new initiative is underway in Hancock County to help more children discover the joy of reading. The Hancock County Library System is partnering with several local organizations to get kids signed up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. For the past few months, the Hancock County Library System has been working behind the scenes to...

All of us here in South Mississippi and the Gulf South are marking a somber anniversary Saturday, August 29th: the 21st anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. Katrina made landfall near Waveland, bringing destructive storm surge, and fierce winds to the Mississippi Coast. The storm’s impacts were so intense, some areas recorded a nearly 30-foot storm surge. More than 220 deaths...

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. — A Pennsylvania man died following a three-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Hancock County, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The crash happened at approximately 2 p.m. on Aug. 24, 2026, along Highway 43. Investigators said a 2012 GMC 1500 driven by Donald Heater, 87, of Canadensis, Pennsylvania, was traveling south on Highway 43 with passenger Lucille...

South Miss (WXXV),  The following South Mississippi school districts have announced early dismissals due to the threat of severe weather: Hancock County School District: Elementary Schools: 1:25 p.m. Hancock High School: 2:31 p.m. Hancock Middle School: 2:45 p.m. Bay-Waveland School District: Early Learning Center, Waveland Elementary, North Bay Elementary: 1:30 p.m. Bay-Waveland Middle School: 2:35 p.m. Bay High School: 2:30...

The Hancock County School District will release students from campuses early Monday due to the threat of severe weather. The Storm Prediction Center o...