MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Department of Human Services got the green light from the federal level to replace stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or benefits for victims of fraud. SNAP benefits are typically stolen from scams, including skimming and cloning, where scammers obtain SNAP EBT numbers and PINs to gain access to benefits. MDHS will begin replacing the funds…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Gas prices are inching towards $4 as we approach the Labor Day holiday. The national average for regular gasoline hit $3.85 a gallon according to AAA. That’s the highest average since October 19 of last year. In the state of Mississippi, Sumter County has the highest gas prices on average at $3.52. In the WCBI viewing area,…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves appointed a new District Attorney in the 5th Circuit Court District. Adam Hopper has served as an assistant district attorney in the same office since 2006. Now, he will lead it. Hopper will begin his new role on August 15. He is serving out the remainder of Doug Evans’ term. The Grenada man recently…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI0 – An argument at supper time turned into two arrests. 26-year-old Ethan Foster and 37-year-old Sheron Gandy, both of Starkville, have been charged with misdemeanors after an altercation at a local restaurant. Foster was charged with disturbing the peace. Gandy was charged with discharging a firearm in the city limits and disturbing the peace. It happened just…
KOSCIUSKO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Kosciusko store went up in flames and some firefighters went down from the heat. Jacob’s Ladder caught fire Sunday afternoon on North Madison Street. The building was heavily damaged. Our news partner, Breazy News, reported some people were inside the building when they saw smoke coming from the second floor. Fire Chief Duane Burdine told…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – We now know the charges filed against a New Hope teenager after a gun video went viral. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said the unidentified 17-year-old was charged with possession of a weapon by a student and simple possession of marijuana. This past Sunday a video began circulating in the community of someone inside a…
UNION COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Georgia man was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Interstate 22. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said the crash happened early Sunday morning in Union County. 51-year-old Christopher Maclin was walking east when he was struck. Investigators said 18-year-old Jackson Hudson of Dumas was driving the pick-up that reportedly hit Maclin. Maclin died…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mark and Donna McCain lost their daughter Meagan in a wreck caused by an impaired driver. After her death, they launched the nonprofit Meagan’s Legacy. “When we lost her, we did not know what to do with ourselves,” said Donna McCain. “So when someone suggested doing this memorial, it became a way to honor her legacy,…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – There was a verbal disturbance inside at Zaxby’s on Highway 12 around 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11. After the parties left the property a single gunshot was reported by bystanders. No injuries have been reported. SPD continues to investigate the incident and charges are pending. Anyone with information should contact SPD at 662-323-4131, Golden Triangle…
ITAWAMBA, Miss. (WCBI) – Dorm Move-In Day at Itawamba Community College was Saturday, Aug. 8. Volunteers from Bethel Baptist Church and other community outreach programs helped ICC students move into their dorms this afternoon. Classes at ICC start Monday, Aug. 14. President of ICC Dr. Jay Allen says this is a great way to start the semester. “It’s a great…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Elvis fans gathered at the Elvis Birthplace for Fan Appreciation Day. Dozens came to visit the iconic two-room house where Elvis was born. They could also stop and hear some music, or venture up the hill to the lookout and grab an Elvis Burger from the Tupelo Elvis Fan Club. Roy Turner is the Executive Director…
COLUMBUS- A local mentoring organization is going outside the pavement, hoping to reach community kids. I Am Mentoring Program held its annual back-to-school car show. Members of the community and out-of-towners lined up their cars to show off the interior and exterior pof their Corvettes. Founder of the organization Madison Darnell believes that cars will attract parents, students and that…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A shooting at a Starkville High School football scrimmage late Friday night is under investigation. According to a spokesman from the Starkville Police Department, officers responded to the SHS parking lot around 12:30 a.m. to assist the school’s law enforcement after reports of shots fired. No injuries were reported. So far, no arrests have been made….
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Even though we may not be seeing as many cases, COVID-19 has not gone away. And with the beginning of a new school year, numbers are beginning to climb again. That has some school districts reviewing and reviving their precautions to avoid the outbreaks and shutdowns we’ve seen in the past. Monroe County schools just…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A local organization believes the stigma around homelessness is preventing a large sum of people from receiving financial and housing assistance. Many times there is a stereotype of homelessness, but in actuality, it goes much deeper than that. Starkville Strong is a nonprofit organization here in Starkville to help those who need it. The federal government…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – District 6 State Senator Chad McMahan said he is ready to continue working for his constituents, now that a heated campaign is behind him. McMahan won a third term after defeating challenger Lauren Smith in the Republican Primary Tuesday. Without an opponent on the Democratic ticket, McMahan has his goals lined up for the next term…
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Home is where the heart is and where a local fitness trainer wanted to help encourage healthy habits. Hillard Smith III was born and raised in Louisville. He always knew he wanted to help make a difference in some small way in his hometown. After graduating from Mississippi State University with a degree in Kinesiology, he…
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI/WJTV) – 15 people can now call themselves Americans after they were sworn in during a naturalization ceremony at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse. This is video shot by our Jackson CBS affiliate WJTV. The individuals came from 10 different countries. Emotion filled the auditorium as friends and family members saw their loved ones being presented with…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus is looking to expand its court system. It would be called an Environmental Court. The cases would include things such as dilapidated housing, code enforcement, fire code, and animal control issues. City officials took a trip to Hattiesburg on Thursday to learn more about how the proposed court would look. The goal…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Students heading back to school in Tupelo will notice construction projects across the district. One of the biggest capital improvement projects is the expansion of the cafeteria at Rankin Elementary. Once work began, it was discovered that the plumbing also needed to be replaced. In fact, new plumbing is going in at most of the campuses….
NORTH MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – If the Natchez Trace will be part of your road trip in the coming weeks, expect a detour. Beginning August 16, the Parkway will be closed for paving from Milepost 239 to 251. The closure will expand to Milepost 256 on August 21. The Northbound detour will take you off the Trace at Highway 32. The…
STURGIS, Miss. (WCBI) – The town of Sturgis honored a native public servant with a highway dedication ceremony. The late Granvel Louis Jones was a police chief for the Sturgis Police Department for three decades. He was also one of the founding members of the Volunteer Fire Department and was involved in charity work and community outreach. With Senate Bill…