Here are the scores for today's National Football League games (Week 8): Eagles 24 Ravens 21 Jaguars 18 Panthers 36 Broncos 23 Browns 18 Chiefs 30 Steelers 33 Seahawks 28 Buccaneers 34 Lions 14 Bengals 37 Jets 10 Redskins 20 Bears 24 Giants 13 Colts 42 49ers 15 Raiders 26 Cardinals 18 Packers 27 Saints 30 Rams 29 Vikings 20 Patriots vs Bills Oct 30, Monday Night 7:15pm

On August 19, 2017 Bj Fokakis, owner of Downtown Hattiesburg's Restaurant Coney Island, dreadfully watched his lifelong friend, Sean Hancock, world come tumbling down. Hancock, a YMCA Trainer, was performing in a tournament in Shreveport, Louisiana, thinking ahead to his next match, the state championship. But suddenly, tragedy struck. Sean's worst nightmare had come true. He broke his arm. It was over. Sean knew his career was finished. Even more, his dreams were shattered. Unfortunately, Hancock didn't even make to the Mississippi State Championship Tournament the following month in October 2017. Even more heartbreaking, Hancock's dream of winning the World Arm Wrestling League World Championship Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada quickly went rushing down the drain. Hancock injury was detrimental. It wasn't an simple fix. There was no band-aid big enough to heal his injury. Hancock discovered he had bad muscle damaged. Muscle damage so bad, he knew that no matter how hopeful he was, no matter how strong his faith, no matter how equipped he was mentally, deep down in his heart, he knew it would take a long time for his tendons and bones to heal. How long? Could it be days? Could it be a quick surgery? Perhaps he would be ready in a matter of weeks. Sports medicine is so advanced now a days, surely with today's technology, he would be back performing in no time. But Hancock was wrong. Normal procedure in arm wrestling is 12 months full rehab. A whole year. Heartbroken, disappointed, and injured, his friend Bj Fokakis had to drive him home. By now, as anyone can image and as most would had done in his position, Hancock had given up. Hancock was experiencing his lowest point in his career. He had mad up in his mind, there's no coming back from here. But that's when his life long friend Bj Fokakis stepped in and refused to allow him to give up. Fokakis, a champion in his own right, understood the concept of teammates. He understood what it meant to be even stronger when your teammate is down. He saw Hancock's future. He believed in his friend, even when it was difficult for Hancock to believe in himself. Fokakis had performed and won at the Mississippi State Championship. But he didn't feel complete or comfortable without Hancock by his side. A year full of exercising, mind boggling rehab, and a true friend in Hancock who wouldn't take no for an answer, Hancock had healed physically even better than before, although mentally, he still had a ways to go. He didn't think he was ready. He needed more time. But Fokakis refused and pushed him even further, drilling in his mind that his time was now. That time was just a few weeks ago on September 29, 2018. It was Hancock's first tournament since over a year ago in 2017. So just how emotional was Hancock? As he was standing in front of the crowd getting ready to perform, he recalls, "Here comes doubt, the fear, the wondering what will happen, the unknown. I've never been here before. What's gonna happen? Am I gonna get up there in front of my home town crowd and chicken out? Am I gonna get hurt again?" Hancock said. He went on to say, "The word scared is an understatement. I have literally worried myself sick for the past two weeks. Anyone that was at the tourney could see the nerves racking through me. The very first match meant the world to me!" Then the most heart wrenching moment finally came. The first match had ended. "Leonard Harkless pointed my way and said the word 'winner!'; a thousand pounds came off of my shoulders. All the fear was gone!" Hancock recalled. "For this whole next year I get to be a champion again! Feels great! I want to thank Bj for believing in me and getting me back out there!" exclaimed Hancock. Sean Hancock went on to become a winner. Not just any winner and not alone. Two Petal, MS natives, Bj Fokakis and Sean Hancock, not only won their matches, but are the current multiple time Mississippi State Companions. Hancock and Fokakis are now preparing for the Louisiana State championship in November followed by the Alabama State Championship in February. Then there's the Nationals in April 2019 with a bunch of smaller tournaments in between followed by the ultimate tournament, the world championships in Poland August 31- September 7, 2019. But the Pine Belt don't have to wait that long to see their state champions. Both Fakakis and Hancock will perform during Hubfest 2019 in front of Coney Island. Two friends, two champions, and a friend who saw a champion in his long life friend despite life's rumble.

With only days away from what many consider the most important election of our lifetime and an unprecedented high percentage of voters expected to turn out to the polls all across the country, the most important question for most citizens especially residents in Mississippi, is not whether if they will vote or not, but "WHERE DO I VOTE? To find out where you go and vote, including the specific address, name of building, and even a contact phone number, simply click here and enter your address. The Mississippi Secretary of State Office has provided a link on it's website to make it easier to find out where do you go vote. The election is schedule for Tuesday, November 6, 2018. However, if you think you will be out of town, a military personnel or family, a student, handicapped, a senior citizen, or if you think you have to work, you don't have to miss the November 6 election, you can go vote now. Forrest County Court House will be open Monday - Fri day, 8:00am - 5:00pm, and Saturdays from 8:00am - 12:00pm. This is called an absentee vote. All you need to vote is a simple photo i.d. It can be issued by your job, school, prison, or government. You can bring any form of photo i.d to cast your vote. With so many crucial races especially in Forrest County, from the Battle of Youth and County Court, Chancery Courts, even a special Forrest County Justice Court race to the battle over Congress, officials say it's important that everyone go out and vote.

For the rest of the month of October, it will be hot during the day and cold during the night. How hot? According to the National Weather Service, it will 82 degrees during the next few days. That's summer weather. Yet, during the night, it will be cold. How cold? According to the National Weather Service, the lows will be in the 50's almost each. If that's not crazy enough, can you guess the next day it's scheduled to rain? Halloween! Wednesday, October 31, according to the National Weather Service, there's a 60% chance of rain. For up to date weather, follow us on facebook.

I n light of so much activity about the Dabbs Street Community, City of Hattiesburg Ward 5 Councilman Nick Brown is not just talking about making changes, he's also putting his words into action. Tuesday, October 16, 2018, when Dabbs St. Community asked the city to change the city's zone codes so that more businesses can be brought to Dabbs Street, Councilman Brown was the only person who voted in favor of the community's request which would have led to opening new businesses on Dabbs Street, everyone else rejected the request in a 4-1 decision, overruling both the community and Councilman Brown. After multiple violent crimes across the city, which left one dead and several others hospitalized, Councilman Brown attended a meeting of community, city, and business leaders representing the City of Hattiesburg on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 and on the next day, Thursday evening, although he wasn't asked to speak or help plan a rally that was organized by city officials against violence that was held walking distance from his home in his neighborhood, he showed up anyway, and forcefully spoke out against the crime. This comes just months after he's hosted a job fair in which over 1,500 people attended and built a much needed state of the art pavilion in the Palmer's Crossing Community. Add that to the fact that he's increased safety by demanding blown out street lights be fixed and personally picking up paper on the sides of the roads, you can say Councilman Nick Brown is serious about action for improving the community in which he both lives and serves.