Millport man dies in crash on Tabernacle Road in Pickens County

PICKENS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Millport man is killed in an early morning crash in Pickens County, Ala. 35-year-old Trent Graham died at the scene of the accident on Tabernacle Road. The crash happened just before seven this morning. Coroner Chad Harless said Graham’s vehicle left the road and hit a tree. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating…

Body of missing woman found in Pickens County, Ala.

PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – The body of a missing woman was found in Pickens County, Alabama. Karen Lanzas Chavarria was reported missing last month to the Pickensville Police Department. The Pickens County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney Andy Hamlin said she was found a short distance away from her home. Coroner Chad Harless told WCBI an autopsy has been…

Fraud may come into play once government funds are dispensed

MONTGOMERY COUNTY,  Miss. (WCBI) – The Better Business Bureau warns the public to be on high alert for scams. Storm victims can become scam victims when government funds are handed out. Leaders of the BBB said if you are rebuilding, your contractor has to be approved by the state of Mississippi. Any repairs over $10,000 must be handled by a…

Noxubee County deputies search for man accused of shooting car

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Noxubee County deputies are looking for a man accused of shooting a car. Deandra Smith is considered armed and dangerous. Investigators said the shooting happened in the PinyWoods area back on March 21. Deputies told WCBI there was an adult and two juveniles inside the vehicle when a bullet when through the roof of the…

Jury selection begins for murder trial in West Point

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Jury selection began Tuesday in a West Point murder trial. Octavius Collins was indicted for the November 2020 shooting. He’s accused of killing 43-year-old James Roberson on Thanksgiving morning. The jury selection process started Tuesday morning and testimony is expected to continue the rest of the week. Investigators said the shooting happened at Windale Apartments….

MEMA releases damage report numbers from March 31 tornado

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency, as the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency released new numbers from this past weekend’s tornado damage. 94 homes, along with six farms were damaged in Pontotoc County. This was the hardest-hit area in the state. Meanwhile, in Lee County 32 homes and five businesses were impacted by a tornado. Tishomingo…

Home inspectors with FEMA will be in Monroe, Montgomery Counties

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – FEMA has an update for folks in Monroe and Montgomery Counties. FEMA-contracted home inspectors will be working in those areas. After applying for FEMA financial assistance, you may be contacted to schedule an appointment for an inspection of the damage to your home. This means you may get a call from an unknown or restricted phone number….

Lowndes county voters meet with local elected leaders

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Voters met with their elected leaders Tuesday morning in Lowndes County. This was the first event of County Government Appreciation Month. The event was to allow folks a chance to visit the people they elected to office over a cup of coffee. Supervisors also awarded $1.7 million to be split among 10 area non-profit organizations….

Man charged with aggravated assault in Oxford for March shooting

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Oxford police made an arrest in a March shooting. 28-year-old Johnny Thompson was charged with aggravated assault. OPD said the shooting happened on March 18 in the 100 block of Creekmore Boulevard. There was an argument before the gunfire. The victim had a non-life-threatening wound. Thompson’s bond was set at $25,000. For 24/7 news and updates,…

Natural disasters can be hard for children to understand

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – When natural disasters hit and take everything you’ve worked for, it can feel like everything has turned upside down. Adults can usually adjust, but kids may find that adjustment difficult. Most adults have learned that not everything goes as planned, and sometimes you’re forced to roll with the punches. However, children may have a hard…

Oxford police investigate deadly single-car crash on Sunday

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – The Oxford Police Department continues to investigate a fatal single-car crash. 20-year-old Mayanity Alridge of Bay Springs died in the Sunday morning crash. Police said the car overturned. The accident happened on Gertrude Ford by Old Taylor Road in Oxford. Alridge died at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The other occupant was reported to be in stable condition….

Starkville police make two arrests in Saturday shooting case

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Two suspects are arrested after a gas station shooting that injured a teenager this past Saturday. Starkville Police arrested 17-year-old Jordan Young of Starkville and 18-year-old Javion Rice of Crawford. Over the weekend, a shooting occurred at the Sprint Mart located at the intersection of Highway 182 and Old Mayhew Road. An 18-year-old was shot but…

Inmates clean debris as part of state-county work center

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s seen as a win-win opportunity. Inmates were busy picking up debris in Tupelo from last week’s storms as part of a state-county work center. This is a way to help with storm recovery and allow inmates to gain community service in a positive environment. In Lee County, inmates worked steadily to clear debris left from…

Miss Mississippi USA, Miss Mississippi Teen USA announces winners

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Winners from the Miss Mississippi USA and Miss Mississippi Teen USA have been announced. Collinsville native Sydney Russell was crowned Miss Mississippi USA 2023 Saturday night. 26-year-old Russell is a student pharmacist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Claire Ulmer of Natchez was crowned Miss Mississippi Teen USA. The 18-year-old is a high school senior and…

WCBI-TV honored to receive award for excellence at MAB ceremony

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – WCBI-TV is honored to be awarded for excellence by the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters. Best Breaking News. Best in Sports. Best in Weather. Excellence in breaking weather coverage, investigative reporting, and sports. Excellence for WCBI Saturday Sunrise and the Public Education Partner Award from the Mississippi Army National Guard. And the Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcasting…

Lowndes County ZAZA ban goes into effect April 13

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – By the middle of the month, you will no longer be able to legally get Tianeptine in Lowndes County. After a brief public hearing Monday morning, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted to pass a county-wide ordinance banning the sale, purchase, and possession of the drug. More commonly known as ZAZA, the drug is…

Macon man indicted on two counts of aggravated assault

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Macon man is set for trial after being indicted for a shooting. The Noxubee County Grand Jury recently returned the indictment for Quarmaine Caldwell. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault. The shooting happened in March 2022. Two people were wounded in the shooting. A trial date has not been set. For…

Woman opens medical marijuana dispensary after cancer diagnosis

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A woman turned a cancer diagnosis into a passion project in Starkville. Stephanie Gray and her team hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their medical marijuana dispensary, GreenWise Cannabis Company. Gray, who is a cancer patient, invested in this dispensary shop in order to make pain-relieving cannabis medicine accessible to people in the Starkville area. Gray recommends…