At 10 p.m. Sunday March 14th, the Fort Bayou Drawbridge will shut down completely for repairs. The closure is expected to last 45 days and is part of an ongoing $20 million bridge repair project to rehabilitate and upgrade the drawbridge on State Route 609. During the closure, crews will be working to replace the bridge bearings and shafts. Mike…
The Scarlett Pearl Casino Resort is offering extra cash to each employee who receives the COVID vaccination. Scarlet Pearl has teamed up with Memorial Hospital to administer vaccinations to their employees. Scarlet Pearl received 100 Johnson and Johnson vaccines and they were distributed this morning to employees. Next Friday, the Moderna vaccine will be administered. Scarlet Pearl CEO LuAnn Pappas…
After Governor Tate Reeves lifted the mask mandate order last week, Edgewater Mall removed all of their signs asking customers to wear a mask. Many stores inside the mall are still requiring their customers to wear masks. Other stores like Bella Rose Boutique are going along with the governor’s orders and not requiring people to wear masks, but letting people…
The past Wednesday, 19-year-old Mickell Gordon was shot and killed near Gulf Park Estates in Ocean Springs. His body was found lying in the road on the intersection of Center Street and Spruce Street. The suspect has been identified as 14-year-old Bridgett Leann Forehand of Vancleave. The family of Mickell Gordon sent News 25 this statement. Mickell’s grandmother Marilyn Welch…
On Monday, March 22nd, WXXV News 25 will debut a renovated set and graphic look in the “News at Noon” half-hour newscast on WXXV NBC 25. The half-million dollar project took two months to complete and includes state-of-the art cameras, three video walls and an anchor desk. A new weather center and interview set complete the transformation from a completely…
One local mother of a 13-year-old transgender daughter says the bill banning transgender athletes from participating in girls sports is another example of the government portraying trans women as dangerous. Katey Vinstead’s daughter Emily has not been allowed to join her middle school girls basketball team because the school district requires the use of the student’s gender indicated on their…
Ocean Springs political candidates gathered tonight to answer community questions and lay out their visions for the city. The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the Ocean Springs Aldermen Forum at the City’s Civic Center. Candidates for the mayoral race and seven board of aldermen spots had the chance to outline their platforms and answer questions submitted by the public…
In Gulfport earlier this afternoon, Governor Tate Reeves reflected on Mississippi’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a year to the day after the first case was reported in the state. The governor says it’s been a long year for Mississippians, but the state has shown resiliency in battling the virus. Reeves says over 800,000 vaccinations have been delivered to residents…
Lots of maintenance repairs in the last several months have kept the doors to the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center closed to the public. In just one week though, the Mary C. will be welcoming the community back inside its doors. Next Thursday, the cultural center will hold its newest monthly event called Firefly. The evening event is centered around…
Gulf Coast Community Ministries is always working to help those physically, emotionally, and spiritually in need. One way the ministry helps is by hosting a free food pantry each Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The pantry gets over 4,000 pounds worth of food delivered from various churches and Feeding the Gulf Coast. Those who are homeless…
This time last year, dozens of volunteers and supporters of Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast were set to start construction on a home in Gautier as part of International Women Build Weeks. Those plans were temporarily put on hold due to COVID, but the project, and some local family’s soon-to-be home, is complete. “A house is made…
The Gulfport School District collected over two tons of peanut butter for the March of the Mayors Food Drive. Over the last month, Gulfport High School participated in a district wide food drive helping contribute to March of the Mayors. Each Coast city is assigned a food commonly used to restock local food pantries. In Gulfport, that food was peanut…
Today, March 11th, has been proclaimed as ‘Healthcare Heroes Day’ in the City of Gulfport by Mayor Billy Hewes. It’s been officially one year since the first case of COVID was confirmed in Mississippi. The City of Gulfport recognizes the hard efforts, dedication, and selflessness of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of COVID vaccinations, Memorial sees…
Governor Tate Reeves, along with state judges, family, and friends, gathered at Jones Park in Gulfport this afternoon to welcome the newest circuit court judge for the second district. Standing next to her husband and son, Randi Mueller took the oath of office to formally begin her new role serving the citizens of Hancock, Harrison, and Stone counties. Governor Reeves…
A traffic headache earlier today for thousands of people traveling along Interstate 10 in Harrison and Jackson counties. All four westbound lanes of I-10, just east of the Lamey Bridge Road exit in D’Iberville, were shut down just before 11 a.m. after an 18-wheeler rollover. No official word yet on what caused the accident, but D’Iberville Police and Mississippi Highway…
Fourteen-year old Bridgett Leann Forehand of Vancleave will be tried as an adult for second degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Mickell Gordon in Ocean Springs near Gulf Park Estates. Her first court appearance was this afternoon in Jackson County. Her bail is set at $100,000. Forehand is being represented by a public defender. The defender pleaded for a…
The Ocean Springs School District will host its annual job fair with a twist this year. For the first time, the job fair will be held virtually with interviews taking place via Zoom on Saturday, March 13th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. OSSD was just three days away from hosting last year’s in-person job fair when it was canceled…
In today’s edition of Live Local, a series you can catch on WXXV on Thursdays, Lorraine Weiskopf takes us to the City of Pascagoula featuring one of their historic landmarks. Pascagoula’s Round Island Lighthouse sits at the western gateway of the city. In its over 160 years of existence, the lighthouse has survived multiple hurricanes and undergone numerous renovations. Built…
The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported 679 new COVID-19 cases and 19 new deaths including one in Harrison County. The statewide total stands at 299,124 cases and 6,864 deaths. Here’s a look at the cases by county in our area: Hancock County has 3,569 cases and 78 deaths Harrison County is at 17,008 total cases and now 291…
Mississippi legislators are arguing over regulations for medical marijuana. The House killed one bill Wednesday and the Senate revived the issue hours later. Mississippi voters in November approved Initiative 65, authorizing a medical marijuana program, but the Mississippi Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments next month in a law suit seeking to block the program. A Senate bill proposed…
Wednesday night, D’Iberville fire and police responded to a house fire and rescued one person from the burning home. Around 9 p.m. last night, the fire department responded to a residential structure fire on Whetstone Road. Upon arriving, firefighters discovered heavy flames coming from the rear of the structure. Fire Chief Gerald Smith credits both D’Iberville fire and police with…
With just a few days left until the closure of the Fort Bayou Drawbridge, business owners are talking about how it will impact their businesses. For five years, Pat Taranto has operated his seafood business on the St. Martin side of Washington Avenue. He says the planned Sunday closure of the Fort Bayou Drawbridge will have a negative impact on…
The Biloxi Lions Club held their 91st Biloxi’s Outstanding Citizens Award ceremony at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. The award was presented to Colonel John G. Sullivan for his volunteer work at Popp’s Ferry Elementary. He reads to the children every week and serves as a strong role model to the students. Col. Sullivan also serves as a Sunday…
Another sign of South Mississippi and the City of Pascagoula getting into the flow of things is that an annual celebration will be getting underway this May. Although ‘Free Flowin’ on the Riverfront’ is changing venues, it will still be set alongside scenic water, this year at Pascagoula’s Beach Park. In years past, this annual festival has been held at…