Crystal Pickering

Angel Academy Records Show Pattern of Injuries, Ratio Violations and Conflicting Accounts

Angel Academy Records Show Pattern of Injuries, Ratio Violations and Conflicting Accounts

Parents deserve to know what happened inside Angel Academy, a childcare center in Hattiesburg. The following information is taken directly from official records, including a Forrest County Sheriff’s Office report and Mississippi State Department of Health child care licensure investigation documents. Angel Academy advertises itself as a safe, nurturing environment where children are protected and closely supervised. But state and law enforcement records describe a series of incidents involving

11 days ago
Investigators Continue Probing Cause of Massive Howard Industries Fire

Investigators Continue Probing Cause of Massive Howard Industries Fire

LAUREL, Miss. — The smoke rose first — a thick, black column twisting above the treetops, visible from highways and neighborhoods miles away. By the time firefighters reached Howard Industries on Monday afternoon, the industrial park was already echoing with the crackle of flames and the roar of engines arriving from across south Mississippi. What began around 2:40 p.m. as a fire in an outdoor paint booth quickly grew into a sprawling emergency that forced the evacuation of employees and trigge

12 days ago
When Poverty Forces Petal Families to Eat From Drive‑Thrus

When Poverty Forces Petal Families to Eat From Drive‑Thrus

PETAL, Miss. — For some low‑income families in Petal, dinner doesn’t come from a kitchen. It comes from a drive‑thru window. Across the city, residents living in motels, sheds, RVs without hookups or homes with broken appliances say they rely almost entirely on fast‑food meals because they have no way to cook or store groceries. The situation, advocates say, is a hidden part of poverty that rarely appears in official reports but affects daily life for working families. Without a stove, refrige

13 days ago
Workers Say Minimum Wage Falls Short as Housing Costs Rise

Workers Say Minimum Wage Falls Short as Housing Costs Rise

PETAL, Miss. — As housing costs continue to rise across Mississippi, many low‑wage workers say the state’s minimum wage no longer covers basic living expenses, leaving some residents without stable housing and others living in their cars. Mississippi’s minimum wage remains at the federal level of $7.25 an hour. For workers earning that rate, a full‑time paycheck often falls short of the cost of rent, utilities, transportation and food. Local advocates say the gap between wages and living costs

13 days ago
Petal Families Are Being Squeezed as Prices Rise but Pay Stays the Same

Petal Families Are Being Squeezed as Prices Rise but Pay Stays the Same

Petal Families Are Being Squeezed as Prices Rise but Pay Stays the Same Community Impact Reporting Across Petal, families are facing a financial pressure that grows heavier every month. Gas prices continue to climb, grocery costs have risen sharply, and basic necessities cost more than they did even a year ago. Yet wages in the area have remained nearly unchanged. This widening gap between what life costs and what people earn is pushing many households into a situation where they have more bill

14 days ago
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