MDEQ discusses factors and safety on water contact advisories

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- Officials continue to warn Mississippi beach-goers to check water quality before heading out as active water contact advisories continue along beaches in western Harrison County. As of Tuesday, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality says bacteria levels at six locations along the Coast are higher than what is safe for contact. MDEQ Coastal Monitoring Coordinator Wyatt…

Stennis Space Center role in Artemis II launch

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- All eyes will be on the skies this evening for the anticipated launch of Artemis II in Florida, and South Mississippi has played a major role in getting the Artemis program to this point. As we’ve reported from time to time over the past few years, Stennis Space Center has been the test site for the…

March is Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness Month

The month of March is recognized as Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness Month. According to the American Kidney Foundation, about 35.5 million people in the United States currently suffer from chronic kidney disease, also referred to as CKD. We spoke with Dr. Hoyet Hand with Singing River Health System. He told us all about the disease, what causes it, and how…

Man charged with felony fentanyl possession in Picayune

PICAYUNE, Miss. (WXXV)- A Picayune man is behind bars for possessing a felony amount of fentanyl. Police had initially pulled over Hendrick Leverette Monday afternoon for careless driving. Police then searched his vehicle, where they apparently found the stash of fentanyl. He’s now being charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, along with a charge of careless driving. Categories:…

04/01 Ryan’s “More Rain, No Foolin” Wednesday Morning Forecast

We're expecting just a bit more rain than yesterday as we head through the middle of the week.

Expect more rain as we head into our rainiest day of the week ahead of an even wetter weekend. It still won’t be by much though, just a slight increase in overall expected amounts and in a few more places than yesterday, which was still spotty and inconsistent. The radar indicated a few areas that could have seen upwards of…

Harrison County Sheriff’s Office holding benefit for deputy battling cancer

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)-The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office announced a benefit for Process Deputy Gail McDougal, happening Thursday. McDougal is currently battling stage three breast cancer. This benefit takes place at the Harrison County Courthouse parking garage in Gulfport from 11 to 1 p.m. Jambalaya and pulled pork plates will be sold for $10. Cash, checks, and credit cards will…

Singing River Health System celebrates the opening of new clinic

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WXXV)- Singing River Health System celebrated the opening of a new clinic in Ocean Springs. A celebration was hosted Monday for the new cardiology office on Ocean Springs Road. Singing River officials say this new clinic helps expand access to advanced heart and vascular care with an experienced team. Services provided to patients include diagnostic testing and…

Local candy shops see rise in Easter chocolate sales

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- Easter shoppers are fueling a sweet surge across the Coast with local candy shops seeing a noticeable boost in chocolate sales. At La Passion Artisan Chocolates in Gulfport, staff say foot traffic usually picks up in the evening as customers stock up on holiday treats. The shop is also reporting a strong increase in demand for handcrafted…

Satsumas begin blooming at Mert’s Satsumas in Gulfport

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- After a winter filled with freezing temperatures, many along the Gulf Coast were left wondering what it would mean for local crops, but now as spring arrives there are signs of hope. WXXV News 25’s Everett Ganier Jr. takes us to Mert’s Satsumas in Gulfport as the satsumas are starting to bloom again. At Mert’s Satsumas, the…

MDOT making safety improvements to railroad crossing in Stone County

STONE COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- The Mississippi Department of Transportation plans to make safety improvements at a Stone County railroad crossing that has been the site of two vehicle-train accidents this year, including the deadly crash that claimed the lives of five people. MDOT shared a statement with WXXV saying it is waiting on an estimate from the railroad company for…

Mississippi Heroes launches ‘Ramp it up 100’ campaign

The local nonprofit Mississippi Heroes is launching a new initiative.  ‘Ramp it Up 100’ is a campaign to raise $50,000 to help build wheelchair ramps across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Mississippi Heroes is looking for 100 local businesses, organizations, or individuals to get involved. Mississippi Heroes President Eric Alvarez says the need continues to grow. “In the local area we…

Mary C. turning into Midsummer Night Fair

The Mary C. in Ocean Springs is turning into a midsummer night.  Clary and Sage Apothecary will be hosting their Midsummer Night Faire on April 10. Brandi St. Cyr, along with Avery and Tres, are in studio ahead of the fun. The Midsummer Night Faire takes place April 10 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Categories: Local News Tags: Clary…

Changes made to state retirement system

Legislators agreed on a conference report Sunday that changes the service requirement from 35 to 30 years for state employees. The action changes the new tier 5 approved last year. Tier 5 was enacted to help address a $26 billion unfunded liability in the retirement system known as PERS. It had drawn criticism from public employees, primarily teachers, police, and…

First rug making studio on Mississippi Coast opens in Biloxi

BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV) — Just off Porter Avenue in Biloxi, you’ll find Coastal Rug Studio—where owner Greylen Malboeuf recently opened the Mississippi Coast’s first tufted rug studio. He says what started as a creative outlet for himself quickly turned into something he wanted to share with the community. Greylen offers both one-on-one and group sessions—all by appointment only. From there,…

Harrison County Sheriff’s Office mourns Corrections Deputy Ryan Peterson

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of Corrections Deputy Ryan Peterson. The department announced Deputy Peterson’s passing over the weekend. The department says Deputy Peterson chose to serve the community and was prepared to protect others, support co-workers, and make an impact on those around him. They ask everyone to keep his friends,…

03/31 Ryan’s “Grey & Rainy Again” Tuesday Morning Forecast

Expect more grey skies and inconsistent shower activity today, though not by much as moisture continues to inch our direction.

South Mississippi woke up to more grey skies and warmer weather this morning as the low jumped from the lower 60s yesterday to the upper 60s/low 70s today. The warming trend will continue into the afternoon as well, but much more subtly only gaining a degree on yesterday’s high, now climbing to near 77 degrees. We’re expecting a little more…