HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Monday afternoon, Southern Miss signed an agreement with Mississippi College School of Law to help future lawyers get into the workforce a little early.

Through the new partnership, students can attend USM for three years majoring in political science, legal studies, and criminal justice, and then be admitted early into law school.

Students’ first year of law school would become their senior year, and they’re out of law school a full year early.

“So it turns a seven-year process into six for students,” said USM President Dr. Joe Paul. “It saves them an entire year of tuition and cost of living, and gives them one more year in the workplace, early entry to start to earn a living. So it’s a, it’s a great program for students that show up at Southern Miss that are serious about becoming attorneys.”

“Southern Miss serves the state of Mississippi and serves students in Mississippi,” said Mississippi College President Blake Thompson. “We as a law school, the only law school in the state capital, we think of ourselves as serving the state of Mississippi as well. We’re producing the next generation of Mississippi’s attorneys.”

Students participating in the accelerated degree program must pass the LSAT no later than December of their third year of full-time enrollment at Southern Miss.

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PEARL, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Mud Monsters have announced its first coach ahead of the state’s newest professional team’s inaugural season at Trustmark Park.

On Monday, former professional baseball player and experienced coach Jay Pecci was announced as the club’s Field Manager.

“I am thrilled to join the Mississippi Mud Monsters organization and take on this exciting opportunity,” said Pecci. “Mississippi has a passionate sports community, and I look forward to helping build a winning culture that fans can be proud of. My goal is to foster a team that competes at a high level while staying deeply connected to our fans and the community. Together, we’ll make the Mud Monsters a team to remember.”

Pecci was named the 2008 Northern League All-Star MVP and played seven seasons of Minor League Baseball and over a decade of MLB Partner League play. Pecci had the 4th highest batting average (.588) in College World Series history during his collegiate career at Stanford.

As a manager, he has led teams to success, including guiding the Florida Complex League Mets to the best regular season record in 2023.

Pecci has previously served in various coaching roles, including as the Bench Coach for the Syracuse Mets in 2022, and the Bench Coach for the St. Lucie Mets in 2021. He was also the complex coordinator for the Mets in both 2023 and 2024, further solidifying his role as a key leader in developing young talent.

The Mud Monsters will play their inaugural Frontier League game on May 8 at Trustmark Park against the Florence Y’alls.

Click here to view the full schedule.

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MADISON CO., Miss. (WLBT) – A woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Madison County.

A press release says the incident happened at 4:06 p.m. Sunday near the 121-mile marker.

According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, a 2017 Jaguar, driven by 26-year-old Madison Walker of Terry, was traveling northbound on I-55 when it lost control, collided with an embankment, and overturned.

Walker died at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

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