ALABAMA (WCBI) – Alabama set a new record low unemployment rate, again. The rate for March is 2.3%. This means there are just over 53,000 people unemployed in the state. February’s numbers stood at 2.5%. Governor Kay Ivey said jobs have been added in manufacturing, business services, private education, and health services sectors in Alabama. Salaries have also increased over…
LORMAN, Miss. (WCBI) – Another change in leadership at one of Mississippi’s universities. The state Institutions of Higher Learning board said Dr. Felecia Nave is no longer the president at Alcorn State University. She had been in that role since 2019. No reason was given for her departure. Nave was the first female to lead Alcorn. Mississippi Today reported that…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – You probably know about 4/20 and some locals thought what better way to celebrate than to open a dispensary. The Dispensary by REV held a ribbon cutting and welcomed people in to educate people about how medical cannabis works. General Manager of Rev of Tupelo Kelly Riley cut the ribbon to celebrate her store’s official opening…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a growing concern in the medical community: the misuse of the diabetic drug Ozempic, for rapid weight loss in people who are not diabetic. A pharmacist warns that using this medication without a medical need can lead to serious side effects and potential health risks for the users and true diabetics. Ozempic for weight…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – His voice has been coming through the north Mississippi airwaves for more than four decades, but after next week, a longtime disc jockey will be signing off. For more than 40 years, he’s been a familiar voice on radio across North Mississippi. Stan Allen started his radio career at WCPC in Houston, Mississippi, after serving his…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – More than $2 billion will be used to improve roads, bridges, airports, and other infrastructure in Mississippi. Governor Tate Reeves signed two pieces of legislation to get the money moving. $1.4 billion will go to the Mississippi Department of Transportation. No specific projects were in the bill, meaning MDOT has the flexibility to choose the improvements. Senate…
MISSISSIPPI (WLBT) – A former Mississippi wrestler is the latest person facing a federal indictment in the state welfare scandal. Ted DiBiase, Jr. is facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering related to the misuse of millions of…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Some of the Patrolmen of Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop G made a pit stop in Columbus to help honor one of their own. The Columbus Exchange Club presented its Trooper of the Year Award to Staff Sergeant Derrick Beckom. A Eupora native, Beckom is in his 20th year with MHP and currently serves as Troop G’s…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – You have one more chance to see history come to life in Columbus. Students from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science will have their final presentation of “Tales from the Crypt” Friday night beginning at 7 p.m. at Friendship Cemetery. The performances are the culmination of their year-long research project into people buried at the…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo woman who was reported missing Wednesday night and was the subject of a Silver Alert has been found. Tupelo Police sent out a release in the early morning hours that Tracy Shanklin had been found and was receiving care. The Mississippi Highway Patrol also canceled its Silver Alert. For 24/7 news and updates, follow…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Some important dates are approaching for some tornado survivors in the area. If you do not already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, you can apply for D-SNAP. For qualifying households, D-SNAP provides money to help buy food lost in the storm or if you lost income due to the disaster. The deadline in Montgomery County is…
AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – Nearly a month after imposing a curfew, the city of Amory has lifted the restriction. Town leaders put the curfew in place the day after that devastating EF3 tornado swept through, leaving piles of debris. The city and property owners have spent the last few weeks clearing debris from the roads. The police department lifted the…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Mississippi State students will have more opportunities for scholarships after a $100 million gift to the university. George and Kathy Bishop made the donation. This builds on the couple’s $10 million commitment back in 2018. This is the largest gift to a higher education university in the state’s history. The George Bishop Family Endowed Scholarship provides university-wide…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A well-known family was honored for their work helping improve the quality of life for Northeast Mississippians. The Reed Family was the recipient of the 2023 “Red Rasberry Humanitarian Award.” That award is named in honor of Red Rasberry, one of the founders and first director of the Regional Rehab Center. The RRC provides a variety…
SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI) – Young artists from across Lee County have a chance to make an impression with their artwork. Fifth grader LeEllen Vinson looks forward to every art class at Saltillo Elementary. “I really like art, you can do whatever you want to, there’s no limit,” Vinson said. Vinson, who has been drawing for as long as she can…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo woman reported throughout the week is found safe. Christina Johnson was last seen Sunday seen walking away from her Eckford Street home in Tupelo. Investigators said she was possibly en route to a relative’s home in Stewart, Miss. Tupelo thanked everyone on Facebook who played a part in Johnson’s safe return. For 24/7 news…
OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Four men from across the country are facing charges in an Oxford check cashing scam. Officers were called to a bank on April 13. A tip helped OPD make a traffic stop and the arrests. Oxford police said Darion Jordan of Brookhaven, Georgia, and Trevon Vanyo of Kennesaw Georgia were arrested. Both men are charged with…
AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s been almost a month since a tornado ripped through Amory, hitting people where they live and where they work. Several businesses were damaged or destroyed, putting a dent in the city’s economy. But business owners, like homeowners, are determined to rebuild. Bill’s Hamburgers has been a mainstay on the Amory restaurant scene since the 1920s,…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves has signed House Bill 1310 which means all election procedures around the state will be tightly reviewed. House Bill 1310 authorizes the Secretary of State to audit election procedures across all counties, improves citizenship checks, requires the Secretary of State to create a post-election audit manual, and lays out a system by which voting…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus residents doing business at City Hall will soon see a couple of new faces. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Council voted to hire two part-time security guards. Mayor Keith Gaskin cited a number of reasons that city leaders and employees felt the need for a new level of security. There have been incidents of…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – After a heated debate, the fate of Propst Park will have to wait. The park remains a priority for Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin and City Council. At last night’s Council meeting, Gaskin broke a 3-3 tie in favor of tabling improvements on the park until more information can be gathered. All of the council members seem…
PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Booneville man was accused of child sex crimes. 29-year-old William Stacy was charged with sexual battery and molestation. The Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department said a person came to the office to report the alleged sexual abuse of a child. Affidavits were signed and Stacy was arrested. A hold was placed on Stacy by Drug…
LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Pontotoc County woman was accused of pulling a knife on a Verona teacher. 28-year-old Jasmine Gross was charged with simple assault on a school official. Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson said the incident was first reported to a school resource officer as an argument on Tuesday morning. The SRO went to the Head Start…