Neshoba County woman indicted for fraudulently receiving SNAP benefits

NESHOBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Neshoba County woman was accused of swindling more than $46,000 in SNAP benefits. The Mississippi Department of Human Services said April Long was indicted on the charge. She was accused of not reporting household income accurately to MDHS. The investigations division of MDHS collected the evidence and turned it over to the local district…

National Police Week observed with memorial in Tupelo

Veteran officers and cadets at NMLETC honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It is National Police Week, a time to remember and honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving. For Houston Police Chief Adam Harmon, the Northeast Mississippi Law Enforcement Memorial has special meaning. He knows many of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, among them, his brother…

Franklin Academy modernizes its methods of energy consumption

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Franklin Academy began as a one-room school building over two centuries. Now the elementary school has almost 400 students and is modernizing its methods of energy consumption. The Tennessee Valley Authority award the school a $200,000 grant for energy-saving innovations. This includes LED lighting, enhancements to the school’s ventilation and filtration system, and strategic energy management…

WCBI visits West Oktibbeha County Elementary for Career Day Event

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – WCBI paid a visit to West Oktibbeha County Elementary School for the school’s Career Day Event. Young students got to learn what it means to be a TV news journalist and a meteorologist from our very own Winston Reed and Isaac Williams. Kids were curious about the day-to-day life at our station and even the…

Local groups to host forum in Starkville aiming to improve race relations

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Ideas on how to improve race relations in Starkville are being brought to the table. Five small groups will each present two ideas at the forum. These groups are made up of racially diverse people, totaling about 60 members. The ideas being presented come from previous sessions that took place in March and April. Mississippi State’s…

Testimony continues in trial of 2020 Columbus shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Testimony continued in a Columbus shooting trial. Davonta Wells was charged with shooting into a dwelling and felon in possession of a handgun. The reported shooting happened in April 2020 on Byrnes Circle. Wells was accused of shooting a home. At the time, investigators believed a domestic situation led to the gunfire. Former investigators at the…

UPDATE: West Point police report teen was safely located

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – UPDATE: West Point police report teen was safely located. (05/17/2023) West Point police need your help locating a missing teenager. 15-year-old Jason Andrew Sanders was last seen leaving his house Monday night around 8:30 in West Point. Police believed Sanders may be around Cottrell Street, South Gate off of Industrial Access Road, or Churchill Road…

Mathiston man found guilty on charges related to January 6 Insurrection

MATHISTON, Miss. (WCBI) – A Mathiston man is found guilty of eleven total charges in the District of Columbia, which includes assault with a dangerous weapon during the January 6 Capitol Breach. This photo was posted on Thomas Harlen Smith’s Facebook page. Smith was found guilty of nine felony charges and two misdemeanors. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Smith and…

MDHS removes hurdles for single parents applying for childcare assistance

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Department of Human Services has removed a hurdle for single parents seeking childcare assistance. According to our CBS affiliate WJTV, officials announced the Mississippi Department of Human Services removed the child support cooperation requirement for parents and guardians receiving child care tuition assistance through the Child Care Payment Program. This means that a single parent…

Columbus-Lowndes County Airport receives grants for improvements

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Another project was completed at the Columbus-Lowndes County Airport. The taxiway pavement project repaired parts of the runway. This will allow planes a smoother takeoff and landing. The $548,000 improvement was paid for through grants from the FAA and the state department of transportation. County leaders said this will have a big impact on the…

Lowndes County deputies make arrest after finding stolen vehicle

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies said a familiar face is back in jail 15 days after he was released. 37-year-old Corey Mixon was charged with felony taking of a vehicle. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said a car from James Pest Management was reported stolen on May 8. A GPS tracking device found the vehicle in Alcorn County. That’s…

Macon police arrest man on domestic violence charges

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – A Macon woman continues to recover after being shot. Tavares Mason was charged with domestic violence aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Macon Police Chief Davine Beck said officers were called to Noxubee General Hospital about a gunshot victim on May 5. The unidentified woman was shot in…

Vehicle pursuit leaves one person dead, suspect in custody in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Louisville police continue to investigate a deadly crash that happened during a pursuit. The accident happened on Highway 25 and Old Robinson Road on May 6. 43-year-old Ashley Brown died at the scene. Investigators said 33-year-old Tyree Webb of Kosciusko hit Brown’s vehicle after driving through a stop sign. A Louisville police officer was several hundred…

Lowndes Co. teens receive scholarships at board of supervisors meeting

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two Lowndes County students received scholarships at Monday morning’s board of supervisors meeting. Victoria Cooper and Todd Ellis were selected for the Mississippi Association of Supervisors County Employee Scholarship Program. Both received a $500 scholarship. The teens must meet GPA requirements, live in the county, and be enrolled at a higher learning institution. Counties can…

Columbus police investigate Friday afternoon shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police are investigating a report of gunfire in the 900 block of Alabama Street. CPD said the incident happened Friday afternoon. No shell casings were found or other evidence was found in the area. A juvenile told officers he may have been the intended victim of the shooting but was not cooperating when questioned further….

Local organization helping spread awareness to reduce recidivism rate

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI) – According to the National Institute of Justice, almost 44 percent of criminals released return before the first year out of prison. And one local organization is helping to provide support and job training to reduce recidivism. “If you look up the meaning of Parole, It means to lay down your arms of war and pick up another…