Doug Walker
News Reporter
Biloxi, MS
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Doug Walker was the Assignment Manager at WLOX for 20 years, beginning in 1989, before going back to his reporting roots in 2009. Doug says he enjoys the challenge of hitting the streets and reporting on stories that touch our lives and have meaning.
He also co-hosts WLOX News This Week, a weekly news magazine show with Dave Elliott. They have been paired together on that show for more than 20 years.
While working as the assignment manager, Doug was responsible for the logistical operation of the newsroom including all news gathering operations at WLOX.
Doug says, "Above all else, when it comes to journalism, I am fair to all sides involved in a story."
He went to high school in several places as his father was in the military. Doug went to college right here in South Mississippi, earning an Associates Degree in Applied Science at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Doug began his career in broadcasting in 1975, and worked in radio for 14 years before giving television a try. While in radio, he was a news director for several stations, but decided that job security and a steady paycheck made television a viable option. Doug enjoys that it's different day to day, and no moment is ever the same when it comes to news. He also likes the varied backgrounds of the people he works with.
Doug says the highlight of his career so far was being invited to the White House in 2006 to interview president George W. Bush one on one for the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
He loves the people and the weather here in our area. When he's not at work, he loves to play golf with his WLOX friends, go to the beach and spend time in the sun, taking the boat out to Horn Island every chance he can.
He also loves to spend time with his family. He's been married for more than 36 years to his beautiful wife Lila, who was born and raised in Ocean Springs. That's where they built their home. They have two daughters, Tara and Ashley.
Updated: Jul. 10, 2019 at 3:15 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
All eyes are on the Gulf of Mexico, where potential tropical trouble is brewing. That trouble could cause problems for us here on the Gulf Coast over the next couple of days.
Updated: Jul. 4, 2019 at 10:29 AM CDT
|By Doug Walker
It’s an event that’s been going on every 4th of July for almost four decades. And it’s all for a good cause and good health.
Updated: Jun. 28, 2019 at 1:52 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Every time you log on, you put yourself at risk to hackers, online scammers, or even worse. That’s why the Ocean Springs Chamber hosted coffee and cybertalk Friday morning, with the goal of keeping you, your family and your business safe.
Updated: Jun. 27, 2019 at 4:42 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Controversy continues to build in Ocean Springs concerning a vote to remove three protected live oak trees from a property on Front Beach.
Updated: Jun. 26, 2019 at 3:58 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
About 15 children from east Jackson County, ranging from 10 to 15 years old, attended a special artistic outreach event held at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art Wednesday.
Updated: Jun. 25, 2019 at 4:17 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
About 25 high school students across the Coast are more prepared to become our next marine scientists and researchers.
Updated: Jun. 24, 2019 at 3:13 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
It was a big day for Navigator Credit Union as they celebrated 80 years of service.
Updated: Jun. 20, 2019 at 4:52 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
With a unanimous vote, the gaming commission granted site approval for the old Margaritaville location. It’s an important first step for Biloxi House LLC, the company that has an agreement to buy the property and reopen it with an old Biloxi theme.
Updated: Jun. 19, 2019 at 3:58 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The Department of Marine Resources is stepping up efforts to get rid of giant salvinia, otherwise known as koi kandy. It’s an invasive plant native to the Amazon River basin, and now it’s here in South Mississippi, choking the life out of some Jackson County bayous.
Updated: Jun. 18, 2019 at 10:47 AM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Mississippi’s shrimp season will open this Thursday, June 20 at 6am, despite samples showing smaller shrimp than typical for opening day.
Updated: Jun. 17, 2019 at 4:52 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Dozens of youth are learning what it takes to be a police officer this week at the Southeastern Law Enforcement Explorer Academy in Biloxi.
Updated: Jun. 16, 2019 at 9:35 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Sunday marked 80 days that the Bonnet Carré spillway has been open so far this year. During that time, trillions of gallons of fresh water from the Mississippi River has found its way into the saltwater environment of the Mississippi Sound.
Updated: Jun. 13, 2019 at 7:17 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The state’s top legal officer is lending his voice to the growing concerns about the historic second opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway. Jim Hood was on the Gulf Coast Thursday talking about the impact of the opening.
Updated: Jun. 12, 2019 at 2:19 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
There’s little doubt the saltwater environment of the Mississippi Sound has been adversely affected by freshwater intrusion from the opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway. However, the damage is greatest at the oyster aquaculture farm south of Deer Island.
Updated: Jun. 11, 2019 at 3:56 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The Bonnet Carre Spillway continues to pour trillions of gallons of fresh water from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain and eventually into the Mississippi Sound.
Updated: Jun. 10, 2019 at 5:07 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
A non-indigenous plant is choking the life out of some bayous and waterways in east Jackson County. Salvinia Molesta, or Koi Kandy, is common in the Amazon and southeast Asia. It was first spotted in coastal Mississippi back in 2005, but in the past two months, the problem has gotten much worse.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2019 at 1:00 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
USM's Ocean Springs campus hosts Sea Camps and Angler Camps throughout the summer, giving students the chance to learn about the coastal environment and wildlife.
Updated: Jun. 6, 2019 at 5:28 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Imagine you buy a vehicle that emits no emissions and uses no fossil fuels. You’re doing a good thing for the environment. However, in doing so, you’re going to pay more to the state of Mississippi for the privilege of hitting the road, thanks to a special tax passed two years ago by the legislature
Updated: Jun. 5, 2019 at 4:57 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Dozens of residents of the Southwind Townhomes in St. Martin are trying to piece their lives back together again after the former property managers were charged with embezzlement.
Updated: Jun. 4, 2019 at 4:31 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
If you’ve ever wondered about the impact that small businesses have on the American economy, consider this: There are 30 million small businesses in the U.S. 62% of all new private sectors jobs are created by small businesses. And more than 600,000 new small businesses will open this year.
Updated: May. 30, 2019 at 10:18 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
For now, there’s lots of fear and concern, but few answers about improving the situation.
Updated: May. 29, 2019 at 4:07 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The Big Play Entertainment Center is growing once again. The company has spent $7 million on improvements since 2010, and more are on the way.
Updated: May. 28, 2019 at 4:46 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
There is growing concern about the environmental impact of the Mississippi Sound from the second opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana. All of this had led to an unprecedented meeting held in Biloxi Tuesday.
Updated: May. 24, 2019 at 5:06 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
A number of residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport have a better understanding of the mission of the Combat Readiness Training Center and the work done by the Air National Guard.
Updated: May. 23, 2019 at 10:43 AM CDT
|By Doug Walker
A loaner stand filled with life jackets was installed Thursday morning at Biloxi Small Craft Harbor courtesy of the Sea Tow Foundation.
Updated: May. 22, 2019 at 4:05 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
One of South Mississippi’s biggest tourist attractions is gearing up for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. About 700,000 people visit Flint Creek Water Park in Stone County every year.
Updated: May. 21, 2019 at 4:10 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
All eyes are on the waters of the Mississippi Sound due to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana for the second time this year.
Updated: May. 20, 2019 at 4:37 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
A group of students from Colmer Middle School in Pascagoula are getting ready for the trip of a lifetime.
Updated: May. 13, 2019 at 11:06 AM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Residents at Perk Beach RV Park are safe but shaken after rising water flooded the park, causing many of them to become stranded and need rescued.
Updated: May. 13, 2019 at 6:07 AM CDT
|By David Elliott, Doug Walker and Lindsay Knowles
Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania and Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson came by the WLOX studio to talk more about the investigation into Officer McKeithen's murder.
Updated: May. 10, 2019 at 5:40 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The city’s only food truck has been in operation on a trial basis for the past few months. By all indications, it has been a success, and that success could lead to more food trucks in the future.
Updated: May. 9, 2019 at 4:26 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Dozens of police recruits are undergoing intense training at the Harrison County Law Enforcement Academy.
Updated: May. 7, 2019 at 4:17 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Wiggins Police Chief Matt Barnett is talking for the first time about his department’s role in bringing the accused killer to justice.
Updated: May. 2, 2019 at 8:51 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
A 74-year old Harrison County woman is still recovering from the fire that almost took her life last month. Now, three weeks later, out of the hospital and rehab, Sylvia Rediger took time Thursday to thank one of them for their bravery.
Updated: May. 1, 2019 at 4:40 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Allegiant, a low-cost air carrier, has been flying out of the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport for the last 18 months.
Updated: May. 1, 2019 at 7:55 AM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The G.I. Museum in Gautier stands out like a beacon of hope and honor. The man behind the museum is Doug Mansfield, the founder, curator and visionary who continues to pay tribute to all things military.
Updated: Apr. 30, 2019 at 5:39 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
There is a growing sense of anticipation in downtown Biloxi these days. That’s because three properties located within one block of each other are getting ready to open soon.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2019 at 4:17 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The Estate in George County is now in operation. It’s a $6 million addiction treatment facility that could save many lives.
Updated: Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:11 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
There are now 745 million reasons for Jackson County residents to smile. That’s the initial dollar amount of the contract between VT Halter Marine and the Coast Guard to build a polar security cutter for the service.
Updated: Apr. 23, 2019 at 7:09 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The Biloxi Shuckers has done very well on the field at MGM Park in Biloxi for the last five years. City leaders say what has not worked out so well is paying back the money the city borrowed to help build MGM park.
Updated: Apr. 22, 2019 at 4:23 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Hurricane Katrina destroyed the yard back in 2005, and it’s been dormant ever since. But that should soon be changing.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2019 at 8:40 PM CDT
|By Taren Reed and Doug Walker
Lightning struck a homeowner’s shop in Gautier Thursday night but luckily, there’s no major damage.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2019 at 4:14 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
As Republicans gathered Thursday in Jackson County, much of the talk in the room centered around the recently released Mueller report. Not surprisingly, most felt it clears President Trump of any wrongdoing.
Updated: Apr. 17, 2019 at 1:16 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
The city coffers in Ocean Springs are richer to the tune of $900,000 dollars. Now, the money will be used to improve water and sewer systems in the city of discovery.
Updated: Apr. 16, 2019 at 7:11 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Officials with the Department of Marine Resources unveiled a new concept today called an alternative bulkhead.
Updated: Apr. 16, 2019 at 6:53 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
There’s new hope for people who live near Turkey Creek in Gulfport and constantly worry about flooding during heavy rains.
Updated: Apr. 14, 2019 at 6:36 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
2:55 in the morning is a time that many people who live in Escatawpa won’t soon forget. That’s when a probable tornado ripped through their community Sunday.
Updated: Apr. 11, 2019 at 4:13 PM CDT
|By Doug Walker
Throughout the weekend, thousands of visitors will head to the Gulf Coast for Spring Break activities. The Harrison County Sand Beach Authority worked hard Thursday to make a good first impression.
Updated: Apr. 11, 2019 at 6:54 AM CDT
|By Doug Walker
There seems to be a feeling of optimism from those who work in the real estate and home construction business.
Updated: Apr. 10, 2019 at 6:06 AM CDT
|By Annie Johnson and Doug Walker
Firefighters in Gautier have been monitoring a boat fire that began Tuesday.
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