MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A couple in Monroe County was accused of filing bogus disaster claims where they do not live. Jason and Carole Coffey were charged with two counts of felony false pretense. Sheriff Kevin Crook said the couple came to the area in April, following the March tornado disaster. Investigators believed the couple filed fraudulent claims with…
NESHOBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Louisville man was accused of having sex with inmates at his job in Neshoba County. 47-year-old Randal Prince was charged with three counts of sexual activity between correctional personnel and prisoners. In a press release, Sheriff Eric Clark said the jail administrator received a tip from an inmate about the relations happening behind bars….
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville police made an arrest in a shooting investigation. 21-year-old Cameron Roby of Shuqualak was charged with aggravated assault. Investigators say the shooting happened early Thursday morning at the intersection of Highway 12 and Louisville Street. Before the gunfire started, SPD says there was an argument at Westside Market. A vehicle was damaged by bullets but…
ALABAMA (WCBI) – Alabama’s unemployment holds steady at a record low but locally the numbers are climbing. For the state, the seasonally adjusted rate for May remains at 2.2%. That’s the same number as it was in April. The new set of data shows 51,000 people in the state are unemployed, which is a record low. It also shows more…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The Juneteenth Celebration for Tupelo has been postponed because of expected bad weather. Organizers said the parade will take place Saturday at 1, starting at the CC Agustus Center. But all other activities have been rescheduled for July 1. Vendors are still welcome to apply for a spot at the event, which will include music, food,…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Recovery continues in north Mississippi after the deadly March tornadoes. Now, FEMA wants survivors to know who will be calling them. Applicants for FEMA assistance could receive a call or text message from a number they do not recognize. It is important to respond and also make sure you are talking with a FEMA employee. If you…
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District’s Board of Trustees appointed a new superintendent. Dr. Howard Savage, Jr., will serve as the district’s next Superintendent of Education. The board voted him in during its meeting on June 14. Savage will fill the position following the retirement of Dr. Teresa Jackson on June 30. He served two years…
CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Derma man was accused of threatening to kill the Calhoun County sheriff and county prosecutor. 40-year-old Gary Howell was charged with two counts of making terroristic threats. Sheriff Greg Pollan said Howell sent several threatening text messages to someone he thought was the sheriff. County Prosecutor Tina Scott was also allegedly named in the…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – An aerospace company that makes unmanned aircraft is expected to not only have a big economic boost on the region but also to have a pool of skilled future employees. Noah Bass is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Instructor at the Lee County Career Technical Education Center. He is using some of the summer break to prep…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus city leaders want to attract more business downtown, and they believe a new option for enjoying adult beverages could help. The city council is exploring the establishment of a leisure district downtown through a red cup law which. It would allow people to carry alcoholic beverages from one business to the other. Officials believe the…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The unusual trend of strong storms this month continues to cause damage in our area. These June storms have caused damage to homes, some greenhouses, and now crops. “It’s just farming, last year we had one of the best cotton crops we’ve ever had and we started raining when the bowls started opening and rotted…
OKTIBEHHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s never too late to learn, and that was on full display at the 2023 Triad Luncheon at the Oktibbeha County Safe Room. Local community members gathered to learn about health and wellness resources for older adults. Through the Triad Grant, the state of Mississippi was able to implement more programs geared towards senior citizens…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council met Thursday morning and one of the big topics of discussion was repairs to the Columbus Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge. The “Old River Bridge”, as it’s sometimes known, was severely damaged in February 2020 when it was struck by a runaway barge filled with limestone. Mayor Keith Gaskin said repairs are supposed to…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Finally, it was an hour of reading, marching, and music at the Columbus Lowndes Public Library. The Mother Goose Story Hour featured a special guest, WCBI’s Allie Martin. He was the marching band leader and led the kids into the story hour room. Allie also helped Mother Goose act out a book as she read it….
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A stolen flight suit, an Air Force pilot helmet, and a sword land a Columbus man in jail and possibly ground a theft ring. 39-year-old Justin Brown was charged with two counts of burglary and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said Brown was pulled over on Tuesday….
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Election season is among us and it’s important to know the rules at the polls and for your mailbox. Primary Election Day is August 8. You must be registered to vote in the primary election by July 10. If you are voting absentee by mail it must be cast and postmarked by Election Day. It can be…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A little publicity helped the Columbus Police Department make an arrest in a felony shoplifting case. CPD credited help from the public with identifying two women suspected of stealing from Ulta Beauty in Columbus. The department released pictures captured from security cameras to WCBI and other media outlets, as well as social media. As a result,…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Candidates for the District One seat on the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors got a chance to make their case to voters. The Exchange Club of Columbus invited all District One candidates to speak at a forum at the club’s weekly meeting at Lion Hills. Only two of the three Republican candidates, Matt Furnari and…
PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Booneville woman is in the Prentiss County Jail, accused of attacking a man with a knife. Monday, Prentiss County deputies were called to a home on County Road 7461. When they got there, they found a man who had been cut in the throat. They were told that the woman who cut him left…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Sounds of Summer has been postponed until next week. The free, outdoor concert series at the newly renamed Roger Short Soccer Complex in downtown Columbus was scheduled for June 15. With rain in the forecast and with already wet soccer fields, the decision was made to move the event to June 22. The time for next…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Golden Triangle Development LINK is bringing another Tennessee Valley Authority Certified Megasite to Lowndes County. This area is the only one to have multiple megasites. Plans are underway now and the economic development team is ready to get rolling. While it may be bare now, this field will be growing new economic development opportunities…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – What began as an investigation involving a vulnerable adult turned into some tense moments after a homemade explosive device was discovered at a Tupelo area convenience store. Tilar Thompson was going to stop by the Texaco T-Mart on his way home Tuesday night, but those plans changed. “My store closes at 11, I was here at…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – On this day, 245 years ago, Congress approved the design of the American Flag. The flag today looks a lot like the one the first Americans flew. June 14, 1777, was the day the Second Continental Congress passed a flag resolution: 13 stripes alternating red and white and that “the union be 13 stars, white in…