Good morning, Biloxi.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service that restored passenger rail after Hurricane Katrina; representatives will travel to New Orleans, Gulfport, and Mobile to release new ridership numbers + distribute celebratory keepsakes to riders.

Cruisin’ the Coast extended its early bird online vehicle registration deadline to midnight today—online issues spurred the change; mail-in registrations remain due Aug.

15 with 7,867 early birds so far.

Over the weekend, the Humane Society of South Mississippi hosted a Paw Patrol themed pet adoption event at Premiere Lux Cinema in Biloxi to celebrate the movie opening and lower adoption fees to $25 while also launching a new emergency wellness clinic for pet care.

Crews are expanding Highway 49 between O’Neill Road and School Road; northbound work continues while southbound widening nears completion plus South Swan Road access is restricted.

A pedestrian safety project with median barriers, sidewalks, and crosswalk upgrades will finish this fall, with construction set to extend into 2027.

The 21st Katrina Memorial Blood Drive begins today at Longfellow Drive in Bay St. Louis from 12:30 to 6 p.m. and will continue at sites in Pass Christian, Pascagoula, Biloxi, Ocean Springs + others through Aug.

27 as part of the American Red Cross effort to remember storm victims.

Analysts Brian Hadad and Carlo Barone say Mississippi State may start 2026 with four wins to join the Top 25 after a surprising 4-0 run last season—an insight featured in the preseason AP poll preview today.