Two area teachers among finalists for top awards from MDE

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Two teachers in the area are among the finalists for top awards from the Mississippi Department of Education. MDE today announced the finalists for the 2023 Mississippi Administrator of the Year and Teacher of the Year. Amy Johnson is up for the award in the administrator category. She is the director of the Lee County Career and…

Yalobusha County deputies arrest 4 people in Arkansas teen murder case

YALOBUSHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Bond is set at $1 million each for four Coffeeville residents charged with murder in connection to the death of an Arkansas teenager. According to the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Facebook page, Alicia Jackson, Brandon Jackson, Bralin Jackson, and Devin Smith, all of Coffeeville, have been charged with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of…

Community Counseling Services hosts Spring Break event in West Point

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a spring fling to celebrate Spring Break. Community Counseling Services hosted the event today at the Mary Holmes College Gym. More than 200 students participated in fun activities, interactive discussions with their peers, and games. The theme for the event was “Be a Part of the Solution.” Organizers said the focus was on children’s…

Tupelo area wins award for ‘Top Micropolitan’ for 13th time

Region gets the honor for attracting new business and industry

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Communities across Northeast Mississippi are always looking for ways to attract new industries and businesses to their area. One region has been especially successful and gets a top honor once again. For the 13th time since 2005, the Tupelo region, which is made up of Lee, Itawamba, and Pontotoc Counties, has been named a top Micropolitan…

Louisville police release video of deadly shooting incident in January

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A video of the January mass shooting incident in Louisville has been released. Apartment cameras across from the Blackwell’s store captured how the shootout developed. A group of people was standing in the parking lot. Once the first shots were fired multiple people began to scatter, take cover, and even fire shots back at another group….

Supervisors approve Lowndes Co. sheriff’s proposal to buy new cameras

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is getting about 20 new sets of eyes to help keep a lookout for criminal activity. Supervisors have approved Sheriff Eddie Hawkins’ proposal to buy 20 new surveillance cameras for the county. The cameras will be deployed in areas that are known to be or suspected of being high-crime areas….

LCBS approves Lowndes County sheriff’s request to hire 4 more deputies

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – In spite of the withdrawal of four Columbus Police officers from the Columbus-Lowndes County Drug Task Force, the county’s drug interdiction efforts will soon be back up to full strength. At Wednesday’s meeting, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a request from Sheriff Eddie Hawkins to hire four additional deputies to round out…

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…