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Featured, Local News

Dyslexia Summit brings together educators, parents, professionals

The summit was sponsored by the Regional Rehab Center as a way to share methods for teaching dyslexic students
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It is estimated that one in five children suffers from dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects reading, writing, and spelling. Finding ways to help those children was the topic of a summit in Tupelo. For Dr. Melissa Thomas, finding ways to help kids with dyslexia succeed is crucial. As principal of Tupelo High School, she wants…

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Local News

Contact Helpline finishes training, prepares volunteers to answer calls

Grace Brister,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – More and more people are looking for somewhere to turn in crisis and a local nonprofit is filling the need. The contact helpline is a suicide prevention and mental health resource. The organization is training more volunteers to answer calls to the crisis hotline. The line is available 24/7 and volunteers answer the phone, where you…

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Local News

Kealy Shields joins Mother Goose to help wrap up summer reading

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mother Goose brought in a little help to wrap up the final week of the Columbus Lowndes County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Our own Kealy Shields read to the children, and she even joined them and Mother Goose in singing a few songs and dancing the Hokey Pokey. The Summer Reading Program is designed to…

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Local News, State News

Small Business Administration remains active in disaster recovery efforts

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – While most people associate FEMA with disaster assistance, the Small Business Administration, or SBA, is also very active in recovery efforts. Since the March 24 and 25 tornado outbreaks, the SBA has approved over $19.2 million to assist in recovery efforts in the areas affected, including Monroe, Montgomery, and Carroll Counties. The agency is now expanding efforts…

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Crime, Local News

Itawamba County supervisor indicted on child sex crime charge

Joey Barnes,

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Itawamba County supervisor was indicted on a child sex crime charge. Terry Moore was charged with touching a child for lustful purposes. Prosecutors alleged the crime happened in October 2022. The reported victim was under the age of 16 at the time. Moore is the supervisor for District 3. No trial date has been…

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Featured, Local News

National Rural Road Safety Awareness Week: Slow down, save lives

MorrisAdmin,

ALABAMA (WCBI) – National Rural Road Safety Awareness Week. It’s a campaign with a mission: Slow down and save lives. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is partnering with the Alabama Transportation Institute to drive home the importance of speed management. According to Corporal Reginal King of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, speeding is still a top cause of rural crashes….

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Featured, Local News

Calhoun County holds active shooter drill ahead of new school year

Multiple agencies take part in real world exercise
Allie Martin,

CALHOUN CITY, Miss. (WCBI) – As a  new school year is set to begin, a local sheriff wanted to make sure law officers are ready to respond in case the unthinkable happens. Although the 911 radio dispatch said the shots fired call was an exercise, the scene at Calhoun City High School was very realistic. Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan…

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Featured, Local News

Starkville Boy Scout makes difference through community service project

A local teenager is one step away from earning his Eagle Rank and hopes to be an eagle scout in a month.
Grace Brister,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Becoming an Eagle Scout is not easy. It takes a lot of time, work, and dedication. A local teenager is one step away from earning his Eagle Rank and hopes to be an Eagle Scout in a month. Davis Banzhaf was looking for the perfect project to complete his eagle rank. “Originally, I had been working…

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Local News

Update on system-wide layoffs, reassignments at NMHS

MorrisAdmin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – An update tonight on the system-wide layoffs and reassignments within the North Mississippi Health Services. In a letter this morning from NMHS President and CEO Shane Spees, he wrote that all employees have been notified of their employment status. He called the changes necessary, as part of what is being branded the NMHS Redesign. The healthcare group…

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Local News

Park improvements back on agenda for Columbus City Council

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Park improvements were back on the agenda for the Columbus City Council. Last month, the council passed a resolution to borrow $3 million through a bond issuance to pay for improvements and renovations at the city’s parks, with most of the work focused on Propst Park. Some in the city have been critical of the emphasis…

Blight
Local News

Columbus City Council discusses clean up plan for blighted properties

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a long-term problem that’s going to require a long-term solution, but some people think it’s taking too long to get started. The City of Columbus has around $3.5 million in federal funds to clean up blighted properties, but before the work can start, there are steps that have to be taken. At Tuesday night’s meeting,…

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Local News

Lee County soon to turn trash pickup over to Waste Management

Allie Martin,

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lee County will soon turn trash pickup over to Waste Management. The 3-1 vote was made after the Board of Supervisors President Mike Smith refused to sign the contract and recused himself from the final vote. Board Vice President Wesley Webb was authorized to sign the contract, which allows Waste Management to take over the…

Clay Sheriff
Crime, Local News, State News

Clay County Sheriff center of sexual harassment allegations, NYT writes

MorrisAdmin,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott was the subject of a New York Times article released on July 19. The investigative piece looks at accusations against the sheriff, including alleged sexual harassment, alleged sex with inmates, and alleged retaliation. The story goes as far back as Scott’s days as Chief Deputy and investigates what alleged victims…

Volunteers rehabilitate Winston County homes after major flooding
Local News, State News

Deadline to self-report flood damage is Wednesday, July 19

Joey Barnes,

NORTH MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – New numbers are coming in from the recent flooding in Winston and Choctaw counties. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said preliminary reports show 108 homes had some type of damage in Winston County, along with 18 businesses and a combined 66 roads and bridges. Three public buildings also reported damages. The July 13 floods also impacted…

Tupelo Fire Pic
Local News, News Team

Business catches fire in Tupelo near South Gloster

Joey Barnes,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – On Tuesday night, fire and smoke erupted at a mobile home lot in Tupelo. A structure at a mobile home lot was engulfed in flames near South Gloster. Reports said the building was a business. No injuries have been reported at this time. The Tupelo Fire Department is investigating the incident. For 24/7 news and updates,…

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Featured, Local News

Clean up efforts are in full swing in Winston County

Joey Barnes,

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The flood waters have receded in Winston County, but the damage they left behind will take a while to clean up. Several roads were washed away during the flood and some of the equipment to get them back up and running got stuck. Over three dozen culverts were stuck under a bridge but a Louisville…

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Featured, Local News

Amory Main Street to receive funding from USDA Rural Partners Project

The Mississippi Main Street Association received funding from the USDA Rural Partners Network Project to assist 11 Main Street communities in the State.
Kealy Shields,

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – Amory Main Street may soon be getting some unique updates and renovations. The Mississippi Main Street Association received funding from the USDA Rural Partners Network Project to assist 11 Main Street communities in the state. Its purpose is to provide support and technical assistance to Main Street programs and foster activities in rural communities. With a…

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Local News

Lowndes County deputies get some help ‘keeping an eye on things’

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is getting some help to “keep an eye on things”. The sheriff’s office has taken delivery of 20 new cameras and has been installing them in problem areas throughout the county. The crime-watching cameras provide extra sets of eyes for deputies. They can be monitored in real time, and the…

Lowndes County (LCBS)
Local News

Lowndes County leaders step up to shut down illegal dumping

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County leaders are stepping up efforts to clean things up. Supervisors, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Justice Court have been working together to cut down on illegal dumping in the county and punish the people doing that dumping. The county has an investigator dedicated to dealing with dumping. Now, supervisors are also calling for…

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Crime, Local News

Man arrested in Itawamba County charged with killing his mother

MorrisAdmin,

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man in Itawamba County is in jail, charged with killing his mother. The investigation began Friday when deputies responded to a mobile home on Brown Road that had burned along with two cars. They found a badly burned body inside the home. The victim was identified as Flora Mae Walden. Itawamba County Sheriff Chris…

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Crime, Local News

Man charged with aggravated assault in stabbing incident in Columbus

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The man wanted in a stabbing incident in Columbus is in jail. 58-year-old Isiam Perkins was charged with aggravated assault. He had been on the run since Saturday morning. The incident happened around 9:30 on 23rd Avenue North. Investigators said Perkins and the victim were in an argument about yard work when the altercation turned physical….