BMHC announces new CEO of Baptist Golden Triangle facility

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Baptist Memorial Health Care is making wholesale changes in hospital leadership across the region. Baptist Golden Triangle CEO Paul Cade will take over as CEO of the Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis facility. Rob Coleman will take over the Columbus facility. He comes here from Baptist Attala and Yazoo hospitals. Brian Welton has been appointed CEO of Baptist’s…

Boys, Girls Clubs of North Miss.opens doors to non-members during Spring Break

All activities are free during Spring Break week

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It is Spring Break and a local Boys and Girls Club is opening its doors to non-members all week. It is just after lunch and time for the Cup Game. This game sharpens listening skills and reflexes. Kids follow the leader’s instructions, trying to be the first ones to grab the cup when the adult gives…

How to have fun outside, staying safe from sun rays

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) –  It’s spring break week and it’s time to have some fun in the sun, but you want to play it safe when you’re outdoors, especially when it comes to protecting your skin. Having fun in the sun with your friends during spring break is great, but remember the sun is not always your friend. While…

Governor Reeves signs bill decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips

MISSISSIPPI (WDAM) – According to our statewide news partner WDAM, Governor Tate Reeves announced Tuesday afternoon that he has signed a bill that will decriminalize fentanyl testing strips. Reeves made the announcement on his Facebook page, saying that House Bill 722 “will help save lives.” Back in January, a proposal to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips was brought by State Rep….

Local organization works to improve lives of Lowndes County residents

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Improving the quality of life for residents of Lowndes County. That’s one of the goals of the Lowndes Community Foundation. Business and community leaders got an update on the Foundation’s work today in Columbus. The organization is funded by private donations and maintains a long-term endowment. The Lowndes Community Foundation is affiliated with the CREATE…

Clarksdale man arrested, accused of child sex crime in Lafayette County

LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Clarksdale man is in the Lafayette County jail accused of child-sex crimes. In February, Oxford Police took a report of a sexual assault of a minor. The department’s investigation led them to develop 32-year-old Joshua Bright of Clarksdale as a suspect. With assistance from the Greenwood Police Department, Bright was arrested and charged with…

Two men die in Monday night crash in Choctaw County

CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two Ackerman men died in a head-on collision Monday night. The Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to the fatal crash on Highway 12 in Choctaw County just a little after 10 p.m. MHP reported that a 1997 Ford F150 driven by 73-year-old Lloyd Bell was headed west on Highway 12 when it collided with a 2010…

UPDATE: Authorities capture man wanted for domestic violence charges

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – UPDATE: Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that Tuberville has been captured. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department arrested Vernon Tuberville. He was wanted for charges out of Calhoun County. During the search, investigators said Tuberville broke into a home and stole items. He later hid in the woods and…

Webster County receives USDA grant for new jail complex

WEBSTER, Miss. (WCBI) – Federal money is helping Webster County get a much-needed new jail complex. The county is receiving a $3 million United States Department of Agriculture grant to help pay for construction. The new facility will be behind the courthouse and serve 911 dispatch operations. The current jail was built in 1964 and isn’t up to modern standards….

Mississippi woman, two daughters drown near Louisiana beach Sunday

CAMERON PARISH, Louisiana (WCBI/KPLC) – An Attala County woman and her two daughters drowned near a Louisiana beach. KPLC in Lake Charles reported the incident happened Sunday afternoon in Cameron Parish. Neighbors told WCBI they are from the Ethel area. The unidentified 28-year-old woman and her daughters, ages seven and eight died at the beach. A nine-year-old boy was also…

Castle Properties owner talks about business ventures in Golden Triangle

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s an old saying: “Success breeds success.”, and the track record of Mark Castleberry and his Castle Properties tends to bear that out. Castleberry has a proven track record around the Golden Triangle for successful business ventures, especially in the retail and hospitality sectors. His latest outing, Triangle Crossing in Starkville, is the most recent example….

Alabama unemployment rate holds steady, unchanged since December

ALABAMA (WCBI) – Alabama’s unemployment rate is holding steady, and that’s a good thing. The newly released, seasonally unadjusted rate for January is holding at 2.6%. That is unchanged since December 2022 and is also a record low for the state. While the percentage remains unchanged, the actual numbers are improving. Statewide, there are just over 58,000 people unemployed. That’s…

Tupelo police charge man with felony fleeing after traffic stop

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo police made an arrest after a man was accused of driving away from a traffic stop. 28-year-old Mydreaus Watkins was charged with felony fleeing. This past Friday night officers pulled Watkins over near Cross Town. As they came up to his car, Watkins was accused of driving away. There was a pursuit that eventually ended…

Educators work on grant to help families with childcare in Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – While most students across north Mississippi are taking a break from classes this week, educators at the state level are working on a grant to help families with early childcare and education. It’s called the Mississippi Childcare Transformation Project. And the goal is to strengthen families by providing care to communities that most need it. Almost half…

Springing forward reminds us to check our smoke detectors

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Springing forward reminds us that you may lose one hour of sleep or even gain more sunlight, yet it is also a friendly reminder for people to check those smoke detectors. “A piece of furniture that people tend to forget about every year and it is the most important piece in your house is the difference…

Zachary’s St. Pawty’s Day fundraiser continues for 5th year

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s an event even your furry friend could attend. Zachary’s hosted their 5th annual St. Patty’s Day event Sunday and is hoping to break their fundraising record. It’s a day full of good music, food, drinks, and even pets. Every year, Zachary’s shows their support for the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society by hosting the St. Pawty’s day…

Former NFL player, Joe Horn, visits Tupelo to help kids learn life lessons

A former NFL football player with deep northeast Mississippi roots returned to the area

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A former NFL football player with deep northeast Mississippi roots returned to the area this weekend to help mentor young people to learn to Love Your Neighbor. Joe Horn spent 12 years in the NFL, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. On Saturday, he came to the Northside Boys and…