UPDATE: TPD reports Christine Johnson has been found safe

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – UPDATE: According to the Tupelo Police Department, Christine Johnson has been located and is safe. (04/19/2023 – 2:26 p.m.) A Tupelo woman hasn’t been seen since April 16. Now, her family and Tupelo Police are asking for your help to find her. Christina Johnson was last seen around 9:30 Sunday night, walking away from her home…

One person hospitalized after SUV, motorcycle collide in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A mid-afternoon crash sent one person to the hospital in Columbus. Police and emergency crews were called to Main Street near the entrance of the Palmer Home Thrift Store across from Propst Park around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. A motorcycle and an SUV collided. Both vehicles suffered major damage. The motorcyclist was taken to Baptist Golden…

Moving violation leads to drug trafficking arrest of Booneville man

PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A moving violation landed a Booneville man in jail accused of moving drugs. On Sunday, a Prentiss County Deputy pulled Jason Lee Hargett of Booneville over for a traffic stop on County Road 7301 near Jumpertown. Upon further investigation, the deputy arrested Hargett on a charge of Trafficking a Controlled Substance. Hargett was taken to…

Mississippi Governor signs bills aiming to retain medical professionals

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed three bills he said will help strengthen hospitals and increase the pipeline for much-needed medical professionals in the state. Reeves signed House Bill 271 and Senate Bill 2372. These bills both deal with the Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program. The $103 million fund will be handled by the Mississippi Department of Health….

Oxford police arrest man for aggravated stalking after complaint was filed

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oxford man faces a serious charge after being accused of harassing someone. Late last week, someone went to the Oxford Police Department to file a complaint about being harassed. During the investigation, police identified 29-year-old Kevin Kassell as the suspect. Kassell was arrested. He is charged with Aggravated Stalking. A judge set Kassell’s bond at…

Tupelo man faces multiple counts of child sex crime charges

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo man is facing child sex crime charges. 38-year-old Travis Lamar Judon was charged with four counts of sexual battery of a victim under the age of 18 and one count of fondling. Tupelo police said Judon was in a position of authority but are not releasing specifics about that alleged relationship. Investigators did say…

Republican primary candidate forum for Lt. Governor

WEST POINT Miss. (WCBI) – Republican primary candidates came together in West Point to explain to the public why they should earn people’s vote for Lt. Governor come August and November. Current Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, Tiffany Longino, Senator Chris McDaniel, and Shane Quick discussed various topics during a candidate forum at The Ritz. During Monday’s event, tax cuts, debt,…

Candidates find ways to reach out to younger voters

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Party primaries for county and state offices are a little less than four months away, and candidates are trying to get their messages out in the hopes that voters will turn out for them. With the changes in how people get their information, many candidates are trying to figure out the best way to deliver those messages,…

Mississippi House Bill allows firefighters to receive retirement funds

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – A bill that would allow volunteer firefighters to receive retirement funds is now signed into law. Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill 521 which creates the Mississippi Length-of-Service Award Program. The initiative encourages recruitment and retention by investing up to $500 a year into an account that a volunteer firefighter can access when retired. For 24/7 news…

Mississippi Governor, MDOT declares Work Zone Awareness Week

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – As you cruise down the highway and spot a flash of orange, you likely think of construction zones. Recognizing the signs of these work zones is crucial to avoiding accidents and potentially saving lives. Governor Tate Reeves and the Mississippi Department of Transportation declared Work Zone Awareness Week April 17-21. This campaign reminded people of the daily…

Pursuit from Lamar County to Lowndes County ends in gunfire

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An investigation is underway after a pursuit in Lamar County ends in gunfire. Multiple sources told WCBI the chase started in Lamar County and briefly crossed the state line into Lowndes County before it ended on County Road 9, back in Alabama. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said a man was brought to Baptist Golden…

Lowndes County closes on purchase of building on former Ecolab campus

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant is one step closer to a new facility. The county closed on one of the buildings at the former Ecolab campus on Lehmberg Road on Monday. The building will house the County Morgue, an Emergency Management Agency alternate site, and possibly other county offices. There are still some renovations to…

FEMA, SBA approve $12M for homeowners, renters affected by tornadoes

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – FEMA and the Small Business Administration have approved over $12 million for homeowners and renters affected by last month’s devastating tornadoes. May 25 is the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance. Determination letters will be sent out, informing you of whether your application is approved or denied. Read this letter fully for more important information and instructions…

EMCC Adult Education Program looks to help those complete GED

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Sometimes the difference between getting by and getting ahead can be just one crucial decision. That’s the case for many people when it comes to finishing their education. EMCC’s Adult Education Program is there to help those who have taken that next step. After dropping out of high school, Shantoyia Tate didn’t know if she would…

Macon police search for man who allegedly fled from stolen truck

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – A Macon man is wanted after police allegedly found him in a stolen truck. 28-year-old Dairrion Bryant could face a felony receiving stolen property charge when he’s arrested. Macon police said officers spotted Bryant in the driver’s seat of the truck while it was parked on North Street. When they went to arrest him, Bryant ran…

Lowndes County employees no longer get supplement leave for COVID

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a return to a pre-pandemic policy that may be unwelcome for some county employees. At Monday’s meeting, Lowndes County Supervisors voted to do away with supplemental leave time for employees affected by COVID. President Joe Biden signed a Congressional resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency about a month early. Supervisors voted to do…

REO Speedwagon made its first appearance in Northeast Mississippi

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- They were one of the most successful rock bands in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but they had never played a show in Northeast Mississippi, until Friday night. Friday night’s concert was the band’s first appearance in Tupelo. Lead Singer Kevin Cronin said it’s always special playing in a city for the first time, especially the…

EMCC summer course tuition will be cut in half

SCOOBA, Miss. (WCBI)- Tuition costs at East Mississippi Community College are going down this summer. EMCC is waiving half the tuition costs to in-state students for face-to-face and online classes during the 2023 Maymester, Full Summer, Summer Intensive I, and Summer Intensive II terms. Reduced tuition costs will apply to for-credit academic classes. Students will be required to pay for…

An accident in Montgomery County leaves a woman dead

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Montgomery County sheriff’s office is investigating a fatal accident that happened Friday afternoon. Just before 1:00 Friday, April 14, 2023; Montogomery county 911 received a call about a vehicle that was turned over a median. When law enforcement arrived they saw the driver was still in the vehicle while the passenger had been ejected. 74-year-old Shirley…

Hundreds headed to Choctaw Lake for Kids Fishing Rodeo

ACKERMAN, Miss (WCBI) – Hundreds of families kicked off their weekend by pulling out their fishing poles and heading to Choctaw Lake. This was all in Part of the Kids Fishing Rodeo just outside of Ackerman. Young and old gathered along the banks of Choctaw Lake to cast a line in hopes of catching a big one. Both of the…