Category: News & Updates

Today’s update includes a few notes about the Back to Business MS Grant Program and another mask distribution opportunity. Back to Business MS This is a $240M grant program that was established to help small businesses in Mississippi with 50 or fewer employees recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, including operating expenses and salaries....

Today’s update includes a few notes about COVID-19 testing and blood donations. It also includes several notes about this weekend’s weather forecast. COVID-19 Testing If you live in south Lamar County, there is a free drive-thru testing opportunity on Saturday (June 6) at Ben Barrett Community Center in Lumberton, from Noon until 4 p.m. The...

Today’s update includes information about the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (Official)‘s reopening of driver’s license stations across the state, a new testing opportunity, a note about the forecast for Tropical Storm Cristobol and a link to Mayor Barker’s daily briefing. Driver’s License Stations Reopen Today – Gov. Reeves announced that on Monday, June 8, the...

On June 1, the Governor’s Safe Return order will begin. Here’s what that includes: Effective June 1 – June 15 → All vulnerable (65+/underlying health conditions) should continue to shelter at home. GROUP GATHERINGS → Group gatherings & recreation if social distancing is not possible ▪️ Indoor: 20 ▪️ Outdoor: 50 → Group gatherings & recreation if...

Today’s briefing with Mayor Barker goes over testing data from the free testing site at C.E. Roy Community and provides more information about masks and hand sanitizer for organizations, businesses and churches who may need it. Four factors that go into reopening Hattiesburg include: Widespread availability of testing Wearing of masks Watching local data Listening...

Today’s update features the briefing with Mayor Barker goes over the announcement from Gov. Reeves for his “Safe Return” Order – Executive Order 1492, which will take effect on June 1 at 8 a.m. It includes: All businesses will be allowed to open to some degree, with strict guidelines. Most current restrictions on restaurants and...

Today’s update rounds out all of the current executive orders into one place and goes over what began today with both Governor Reeves’ Orders 1487 & 1488 and Mayor Barker’s Executive Order 2020-9. Governor Reeves’ Executive Orders 1487 & 1488 Opens outdoor recreation and amusement (playgrounds, water parks, etc.) at 50% capacity. Opens school sports...

Today’s update includes several notes for you going into the weekend regarding mask distribution, the Hattiesburg Way Forward – a resource guide to reopening businesses safely, Gov. Reeves’ latest orders, new openings on Tuesday and a note about Memorial Day. Mask Distribution On Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, masks can be picked up...

Today’s update includes information about the mall reopening and mask distribution by the Forrest County Emergency Management. Turtle Creek Mall On Tuesday, May 26, Turtle Creek Mall will reopen. This entails: No food court seating. Masks required. Customer occupancy limits will be per square footage guidelines, same as other nonessential retail (outlined in Executive Order 2020-5....