Kyra Lampley

COLUMBIA, Miss. (WDAM) - Breast cancer affects almost 240,000 women every year in the United States. Of the thousands who reach the most advanced stage, less than 30 percent survive. In July 2015, at age 33, Nicole Matis was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. Matis says she discovered a lump on her right breast and decided to go see a doctor. “They called me on that Tuesday and they were like, ‘We are so sorry, Mrs. Matis. You have a 2.6-centimeter tumor.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - The Hattiesburg Fire Department is continuing to set its employees up for success. Last year, the department received a historical $8,000 starting pay raise for new firefighters. HFD Assistant Fire Chief Chris Carr said this has helped with both the retention and recruiting efforts as well as making the department more competitive. “We’ve had quite a bit of interest, from outside departments, people transferring,” Carr said.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - An exhibition made up of documents of former United States Representative Gene Taylor are now on display at the University of Southern Mississippi. The exhibit can be found on the first floor of the McCain Library on USM’s Hattiesburg campus and will be open for viewing through March 22. Taylor served in the United States House of Representatives from 1989-2011. A Tulane graduate, Taylor served 10 years in the U.S. Coast Guard.