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.

Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2025 WDAM. All rights reserved.

Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl opened Monday’s press conference with the latest injury update on Johni Broome.

Broome went down with an ankle injury sidelining him the remainder of last weekend’s 66-63 victory over South Carolina.

The university announced Broome’s injury as a non-surgical ankle sprain. Pearl confirmed Monday that there is no timetable on his return as of now.

“I don’t know that we’re the best team in the country right now. Probably not right now, because we’re obviously not at full strength,” Pearl said. “Johni won’t play [Tuesday] against Mississippi State, but we’re still a really good team. So, we’ll prepare without him.”

When Broome dealt with his shoulder injury against Geogia State earlier this year, Auburn leaned on Dylan Cardwell and Chaney Johnson in the frontcourt.

With four of the Tigers next five opponents ranked in the top-25, transfer wing Jaheim Hudson will play huge role in the rotation.

“I’m just trying to keep a clear head. I feel like I’m prepared. I’ve been working this whole time even though I haven’t been playing a lot,” Hudson said. “I’m just preparing, trying to lock in on defense and just get stops. That’s really my main focus in the game right now when I get my chance.”

Auburn sixth man Johnson was in a familiar situation last year when Jaylin Williams went down for a few games. For Johnson, being back in the starting lineup means being keen on his decision-making.

“I’ll just say being more locked in. When [Jaylin Williams] got hurt and I knew I had to step up big time for Georgia,” Johnson said. “I’d just say being more physical, being more confident and being smarter with a couple decisions I make on the court.”

“I can’t be making stupid fouls and being overly physical. I’ve got to play a lot smarter than I have been.”

Despite not having his Preseason All-American at the moment, Pearl is still confident in the depth of his lineup ahead of Auburn’s next stretch of conference games.

“Getting back to it, I have confidence that all our guys can step up their scoring. Dylan, Chaney, Chad, Denver, Miles, Tahaad, Jahki and Chris,” Pearl said. “I just think, I think everybody has an opportunity. We have enough talent to be able to have everybody do a little bit more, I think that’s the best way to approach his loss.”

Auburn and Mississippi State will tipoff at 6 p.m. Tuesday inside Neville Arena.

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.

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.

Copyright 2025 WLBT. All rights reserved.