While Trump says economy could restart fully by Easter week, local pastors, businesspeople are not as optimistic

Rev. Todd Matocha of Main Street Presbyterian Church is preaching to the choir.

Only the choir.

His sermon for Sunday, March 22, titled “When Public Worship is Prohibited,” isn’t delivered before hundreds of parishioners. It was filmed the Thursday before in front of empty pews and posted on YouTube.

Greg Owen hired to replace Dr. Cheyenne Trussell as new Starkville athletic director

Owen will take over for Trussell, who is leaving to take the same position at the Meridian Public School District, on July 1.

For area’s uncommitted seniors, virus-suspended season has made it hard to turn recruiters’ heads

Caledonia center fielder Thomas Tucker was hitting his stride when his baseball world unraveled.

With season on hold due to virus, New Hope baseball team gives coach Lee Boyd surprise birthday parade

“I have a lot of memories with baseball and the guys that I’ve coached over the years, but that’ll be definitely something I’ll never forget,” the 11th-year head coach said.

Guns, ammo, garden supplies, liquor among items still flying off shelves during pandemic

Now in its 85th year of operation, the Lowndes Farm Supply has been there “through good times and bad times,” General Manager Jeff Hays said.

But Hays has never seen a time like this.

Lowndes supes enact curfew, restrictions on restaurants, gatherings

Lowndes County Board of Supervisors took action Monday to limit the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus by instituting a curfew, closing non-essential businesses in the county and directing restaurants to close their dining rooms to customers.

Mississippi State softball’s Fa Leilua, Mia Davidson make Softball America top 100

Leilua, a senior first baseman, ranked No. 38 on the list, while Davidson, a junior catcher, came in at No. 76.

Inside the ‘heartbreaking’ end to the Mississippi State softball team’s promising season

First-year head coach Samantha Ricketts, who led the Bulldogs to a 25-3 record, talked about her team’s reaction to the sudden cancelation of the 2020 season.

MAIS suspends all athletic events for coming week

The suspension will be reconsidered on a week-to-week basis, and a decision on further suspension will be made Thursday.

Columbus enacts curfew, restrictions on restaurants, gatherings

Columbus City Council took decisive action Saturday to limit the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, enacting a general curfew, limiting restaurant operations and social gatherings, and ordering many businesses to close entirely until further notice.

MHSAA extends suspension of sports through April 17 in accordance with school closures

The MHSAA also canceled its state archery, choir and band championships and canceled spring football practice for the remainder of the school year.

‘The first line of defense’: MUW’s Jason Miller discusses education and more during National Athletic Training Month

Now the head athletic trainer at the Mississippi University for Women, Miller, 40, has stayed in the career he fell in love with more than 20 years ago. March is National Athletic Training Month, and Miller discussed the ins and outs of a field that is often misunderstood.

MHSAA suspends all spring sports through March 29 amid coronavirus outbreak

All local public schools had already announced they would close and suspend athletics for the duration of this week. The Columbus Municipal and Lowndes County school districts had suspended athletics until further notice.

Prep softball roundup: New Hope goes 2-2 at Pleasure Island Showdown in Gulf Shores, Alabama

A 31-0 win over Hunters Lane kicked off the weekend for the Trojans, but they suffered their first two losses of the season on Friday and Saturday.

Prep baseball roundup: Blayze Berry’s gem leads Heritage Academy to shutout of George County

The Mississippi State signee struck out 10 batters in 6⅔ scoreless innings as the Patriots improved to 11-1 on the season.

Local high school sports put on pause for a week at minimum due to coronavirus concerns

No local high school will be participating in sports between Monday and Friday, and the hiatus will be longer in some cases.

Lowndes County School District suspends athletics until further notice due to coronavirus concerns

Columbus High School has also had all athletics canceled until further notice, according to a CHS coach.

Prep baseball roundup: Seth Harris throws one-hitter as Heritage Academy blanks Pass Christian

The EMCC signee struck out four batters over his seven innings pitched. He also led the team with three hits and two RBIs at the plate.

For Mississippi high school sports, it’s still business as usual as MHSAA monitors coronavirus

Five local high school baseball teams played in five different locations in Mississippi and Alabama on Thursday as no determination has yet been made on limiting attendance or cancelling athletic events.

SEC, NCAA cancellations over coronavirus shock Mississippi State athletes and coaches

A series of shocking decisions in quick succession Thursday meant no March Madness for men’s and women’s basketball. No College World Series for baseball. No Women’s College World Series for softball. No championships in golf, tennis or outdoor track and field, either.