Renee Johnson
Digital Content Manager
Biloxi, MS
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Renee Johnson is the Digital Content Manager for WLOX. And while you may not know her, if you're a regular commenter on the WLOX Facebook page, she probably knows you!
Renee has been working at the station since she was a senior at Ocean Springs High School back in 1993. As a teen, she co-hosted two of the station's "Viewpoint Youth" talk shows, but fell in love with writing and all the behind-the-scenes work.
After graduating from the University of South Alabama, Renee worked as a producer for years before making the jump to WLOX.com.
She's especially proud of being part of the team that kept WLOX on the air before, during and after Hurricane Katrina's landfall in 2005. That work won the station several major journalism awards, including a Peabody, an Emmy, and an Edward R. Murrow Award.
"Every night growing up, my family sat around the dinner table and watched WLOX News. I've been lucky enough to learn from and become friends with so many of those people I looked up to as a kid."
Renee has actually spent so much time at the station over the years, she married one of her co-workers, and almost went into labor in the newsroom. She currently lives in Diamondhead with her husband, and their two awesome kids.
Updated: Jul. 25, 2022 at 7:22 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Mayor Billy Hewes says he’s speaking out because “a lie unchallenged becomes the truth.”
Updated: Dec. 30, 2020 at 3:47 PM CST
|By Tristan Ruppert and Renee Johnson
Biloxi Mayor FoFo Gilich announced Wednesday that Mardi Gras parades will not roll in his city in 2021.
Updated: Sep. 22, 2020 at 8:11 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Mr. Joe was a musician, a husband, father and friend. But to thousands of former students he was “that” teacher. You know, the one you remember.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2020 at 12:32 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Students and teachers at three schools in the Hancock County School District have now been impacted by COVID-19 cases and suspicious symptoms.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2020 at 12:09 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Diamondhead residents will elect a new mayor in September to fill the seat left open by the recent passing of Mayor Tommy Schafer.
Updated: Aug. 12, 2020 at 6:05 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
One of the men accused of killing an off duty Mississippi state trooper is also a suspect in a 2019 Gulfport murder.
Updated: May. 4, 2020 at 12:55 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Investigators now believe last week’s huge woods fire near Canal Road may have been set intentionally.
Updated: Apr. 7, 2020 at 1:26 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Local businesses need our support now more than ever, and we have a new way to help.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2020 at 10:01 AM CST
|By Renee Johnson
Many Diamondhead roads will be under construction over the next three months as the city kicks off a major street paving project Monday, January 6.
Updated: Dec. 30, 2019 at 12:40 PM CST
|By Renee Johnson
A whole new group of veterans and their caregivers will soon be able to shop at military base commissaries and exchanges starting January 1, 2020.
Updated: Dec. 30, 2019 at 10:37 AM CST
|By Renee Johnson
Diamondhead Mayor Tommy Schafer is fighting to get back into the country club, and he’s doing it with a lawsuit against the Diamondhead Property Owners Association.
Updated: Dec. 5, 2019 at 10:42 AM CST
|By Renee Johnson
Secretary of State-elect Michael Watson is bringing another South Mississippian to Jackson to serve as his chief of staff. Keith Davis is currently serving as the Chief of Enforcement for the Department of Marine Resources.
Updated: Nov. 27, 2019 at 12:49 PM CST
|By Renee Johnson
A second man is now charged with stealing 66 batteries out of St. Martin school buses earlier this month. Shaun Edward Necaise, 38, was arrested Wednesday in Gautier.
Updated: Nov. 22, 2019 at 12:01 PM CST
|By Renee Johnson
Imagine getting to be among the very first people to experience the new Mississippi Aquarium when it opens this spring? You can give someone that gift this holiday season.
Updated: Nov. 14, 2019 at 1:07 PM CST
|By Renee Johnson and Joyce Philippe
A coast developer wants to turn the site of the old Tivoli Hotel into Biloxi’s newest casino resort. The 30-acre tract of beachfront land sits just west of the Biloxi Yacht Club, and has been zoned for gaming since 2007.
Updated: Nov. 12, 2019 at 10:05 AM CST
|By Renee Johnson
South Mississippians will soon be able to fly non-stop to Nashville from the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, beginning February 15, 2020.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2019 at 10:48 AM CST
|By Renee Johnson
Biloxi Police have arrested a second suspect in connection with a two armed robberies and a shooting that took place Sunday.
Updated: Oct. 31, 2019 at 12:27 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
There are two new state fishing records on the books in Mississippi, and the anglers are ages four and six.
Updated: Oct. 31, 2019 at 11:45 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
The man tapped to be Pascagoula's new chief of police is no stranger to the job, or the city. Matt Chapman is a 28-year veteran officer who has been serving as Interim Chief for the last three weeks.
Updated: Oct. 25, 2019 at 11:48 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
It's that time of year to safely clear out your old prescriptions at the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The service is free and anonymous.
Updated: Oct. 23, 2019 at 3:01 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker wants the federal government to have a better plan the next time waters rise in the Mississippi River.
Updated: Oct. 10, 2019 at 1:59 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Two more Jackson County teenagers were arrested Thursday for making threats against their school, bringing the total to five 13-year-olds who allegedly threatened to “shoot up” St. Martin Middle School.
Updated: Oct. 4, 2019 at 1:57 PM CDT
|By Lindsay Knowles and Renee Johnson
A man accused of driving a boat while intoxicated, causing a deadly crash that took the life of a Hancock County teen, has been found guilty in her death.
Updated: Sep. 14, 2019 at 6:48 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A New Orleans man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after admitting he shot and killed a man near Bayou Caddy in 2017.
Updated: Sep. 9, 2019 at 4:08 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
The president of Diamondhead's Property Owners Association on Monday filed a simple assault charge against the city's mayor, Tommy Schafer.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2019 at 1:06 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Narcotics agents in Hancock County just uncovered what they’re calling “an extensive marijuana growing operation” on Rotten Bayou Road. They also believe this same operation may be the source of vaping products that have been turning up in the hands of local high school students.
Updated: Aug. 22, 2019 at 11:47 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A Chinese national at the center of an international drug trafficking investigation that started in South Mississippi is now officially considered a drug kingpin by the U.S. government.
Updated: Jul. 19, 2019 at 11:04 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Sparklight has added WLOX ABC & WLOX CBS back into the channel line-up for Diamondhead/Hancock County customers. That announcement gives people in Diamondhead more opportunities to get local news from the station for South Mississippi.
Updated: Jul. 18, 2019 at 6:40 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
The Mississippi Gaming Commission on Thursday gave site approval to Cure Land Company's proposed gaming site in Lakeshore.
Updated: Jul. 17, 2019 at 4:59 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Mississippi’s U.S. senators delivered high praise of U.S. District Court Judge Sul Ozerden to their colleagues in Washington Wednesday.
Updated: Jul. 16, 2019 at 6:33 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Could you be the next American Idol? WLOX is looking for that one great voice to represent South Mississippi on the hit ABC reality show.
Updated: Jul. 12, 2019 at 6:27 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Five people were rescued by the Coast Guard Friday morning near the Chandeleur Islands, about 20 miles southwest of Gulfport.
Updated: Jun. 27, 2019 at 6:19 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
We have some good news to update you on about a Vancleave woman who decided to donate a kidney to a man she’s only met once.
Updated: Jun. 25, 2019 at 5:54 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
You’re invited to help send off some hometown heroes Saturday morning.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2019 at 7:07 PM CDT
|By Ray Price and Renee Johnson
Governor Phil Bryant is asking for a federal fisheries disaster declaration for Mississippi due to the Bonnet Carré Spillway opening. Such a declaration could help all those negatively impacted by the freshwater intrusion, including fishermen and related businesses, obtain financial assistance.
Updated: May. 30, 2019 at 3:57 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
As news of former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s death spread Thursday morning, condolences from across the country began pouring in from those who worked with and admired Mississippi’s longtime senator.
Updated: May. 24, 2019 at 12:00 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Attorney generals from across America are urging the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to automatically forgive the student loans of veterans who became totally and permanently disabled while in service to our country.
Updated: May. 23, 2019 at 10:51 PM CDT
|By Hugh Keeton and Renee Johnson
Alison Spann calls the early release of John Walker Lindh "a slap in the face - not only to my father and my family, but for every person killed on Sept. 11th..."
Updated: May. 22, 2019 at 2:54 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says he’s concerned about the environmental impact of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway opening. And he’s asking to meet with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to gather more information on how it affects Mississippi.
Updated: May. 8, 2019 at 12:14 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A man who helped set up the lottery system in North Carolina will now do the same for Mississippi. Thomas N. Shaheen has been hired as the first president of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation.
Updated: May. 3, 2019 at 5:53 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
At first glance, a bag of rocks with a weird, photocopied message inside seems harmless. But Hancock County Sheriff's Department is warning that it's much more dangerous than it seems.
Updated: Apr. 28, 2019 at 5:22 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson and Joyce Philippe
USA Today is looking for the Best Coastal Small Town, and Bay St. Louis is in the running.
Updated: Apr. 24, 2019 at 1:10 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A D'Iberville man will spend five years in prison after authorities found multiple pipe bombs, including a working device, in a home where he used to live.
Updated: Apr. 16, 2019 at 9:08 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A Florida man made his recent trip to Biloxi an unforgettable one when he placed a bet on Tiger Woods to win the 2019 Masters Golf Tournament.
Updated: Mar. 29, 2019 at 11:16 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A man trapped inside a pipe at Jindal Tubular is now free and alert. He’s being taken to a hospital in New Orleans for treatment.
Updated: Mar. 26, 2019 at 8:35 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
American political commentator, and former Campaign Manager for President Donald Trump Corey Lewandowski is on the Coast for a book signing. We talked with him about the Mueller Report and all the big news in Washington right now.
Updated: Mar. 22, 2019 at 4:30 PM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
Some Moss Point fifth graders got a hands on lesson in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) thanks to some of South Mississippi's biggest companies.
Updated: Mar. 22, 2019 at 11:26 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson and Ray Price
Gulfport Police are searching for a woman who robbed a BancorpSouth location Friday morning.
Updated: Mar. 19, 2019 at 10:33 AM CDT
|By Renee Johnson
A Harrison County grand jury has cleared the police officers involved in a deadly Gulfport shooting. Marvin Ray McMillan died in March 2018 after a standoff with police.
Updated: Mar. 3, 2019 at 8:43 AM CST
|By Renee Johnson
Because of the threat of rain, a second coast Mardi Gras parade will roll early today. The D’Iberville St. Martin North Bay parade will now start at 12:30pm, an hour earlier than previously scheduled.
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