LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Temperatures are climbing and many people will be running the AC full blast, but staying cool may come at a higher price. 4-County Electric Power Association is looking to be proactive with its members by piloting a new program to help explain differences in their bills. Summer temperatures are on the rise and for many…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The old saying goes: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” And there’s been a lot of both around the Friendly City in the past few days. The fires are still under investigation, and it’s believed that at least some of them may have been intentionally set. Three fires in three days, two of those fires ignited in…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Golden Triangle man was indicted on child sex crimes. Ceforrest Hendrix was charged with child exploitation and human trafficking. He was arrested in March 2023 as part of a sting operation by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department. Prosecutors said he believed he was on his way to meet a child for sex. Nine others…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County grand jury returned an indictment in a deadly shooting. Jonathan Slaughter is facing a manslaughter charge. No trial date has been set for the case. Amarcus McMillian was shot in May 2022 at a Waterworks Road apartment. Slaughter turned himself in to the police after the shooting. A woman was also injured…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus man is facing a slew of charges, including murder, related to two shootings. Tommy Lee Flowers Jr. was indicted by a Lowndes County grand jury for felony murder, directing a youth to commit a felony, shooting into a dwelling, possession of a stolen firearm, and three counts of aggravated assault. Prosecutors alleged the incidents…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – When the owner of Zachary’s found out about eight-year-old Kaptain Edge’s accident they knew they had to help. Kaptain Edge was hit by a car as he was leaving school on August 1. “This is second nature to us. This is something we have done for the community for quite a while and so once we…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Emergency Management, area first responders, and other agencies laid their plans on the table. The agencies conducted a tabletop exercise to evaluate their plans, procedures, resources, and actions for responding to a tornado hitting the area. Each group shared its action plan, so that all agencies would be familiar with each other’s procedures,…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A heads up for some Noxubee County residents. If you get your water from the Town of Shuqualak, you need to take some extra precautions for a few days. A water line break on North Constantine Street has prompted a boil water notice. The leak has been fixed, but Shuqualak water customers need to boil…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oktibbeha County woman was accused of cutting her partner. Ariel Coleman was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence. Investigators said the incident happened last night in the Sunset Subdivision. Deputies believed there was an argument before the victim was cut. They did require stitches and were released from the hospital. Bond has not…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The investigation into a deadly Lowndes County accident continues. Investigators believed the crash happened early Sunday morning on Sand Road. An off-duty Lowndes County deputy spotted the wreckage at about 6 a.m. 25-year-old Matthew Tyler Hall died at the scene. Coroner Greg Merchant said Hall’s car left the road and hit a tree. Hall was…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus hotel was heavily damaged by fire Monday morning. The blaze happened at the Economy Inn in the 2200 block of Main Street. Firefighters arrived to find a room engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported. We are told the two people that rented the room were not inside when the fire started. Fire Chief…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Walmart offered free screenings and affordable immunizations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19. Customers also received free glucose, cholesterol, body mass index, and blood pressure screenings as well as immunizations for flu, HPV, tetanus, hepatitis, and more. Pharmacy manager Patricia Lavender says this is a convenient way to stay on top of…
BALDWYN, Miss. (WCBI) – The town of Baldwyn held a block party to celebrate being named a Healthy Hometown. The Baldwyn Bearcats football season is drawing closer, and these young boys are hoping to be future Bearcats as they practice in an adjacent field in Latimer Park. Thanks to a 100-thousand-dollar grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of…
CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Choctaw residents will soon have their say on the county’s status as a dry county. Since prohibition, Choctaw County has remained a dry county despite other counties in Mississippi choosing to sell alcohol. Laura Carson organized a petition drive to get the issue to go to the Board of Supervisors for a vote. She believes…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Weekends offer most people the opportunity to have a little adventure. Some are taking their venture to the Columbus Lowndes Public Library, as the local history department is helping individuals learn more about themselves and the area. The Local History Department has original county records, probate records, and wills dating back to the 19 century available…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi is known as “The Hospitality State,” so it’s not uncommon to drive through any county in the Golden Triangle and find a Blessing Box. The Blessing Box charity effort has been spreading across the North Mississippi region lately, providing a lifeline to individuals and families in need. The Blessing Box in Amory is constantly…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The 2023-2024 college football season hasn’t started yet but people are already getting prepared. Many local hotels have already been booked; however, Starkville realtors and homeowners have been able to take advantage of turning homes into weekend homes for fans. “I used to think that Airbnbs were only in larger cities and I love that Starkville…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Technology is a constantly shifting landscape, and one area that is getting more buzz is Artificial Intelligence. That’s right. AI is not new, but it is expanding its territory, not just online, but into nearby industries. “For example, let’s take a recommendation engine that Amazon uses today to make recommendations around books, why we spend more…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Little Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is still cranking up the town of Sturgis. With visitors from around the country and locals doing their day-to-day activities, it’s important to be a defensive and alert driver to keep everyone safe on the roads. According to Forbes, August is the most dangerous month for motorcyclists, and Motorcycle fatalities…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – An award-winning community theatre group is gearing up for another big season putting the spotlight on local talent. And the upcoming season for the Tupelo Community Theatre is extra special, as it will honor the legacy of its longtime director, who passed away earlier this year. The season opener for the Tupelo Community Theatre puts audience…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi University for Women is moving into the next phase of its rebranding efforts, and that is also likely to involve a name change. Earlier this year, the university and the MUW Foundation partnered with marketing firm Chernoff Newman to help define a clear brand identity and help select a name that reflects that identity. Chernoff…
PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Democrat candidate for Governor in Mississippi said he would work across party lines if elected and would not follow the lead of national Democrat leaders. We caught up with Brandon Presley during an announcement for natural gas expansion in Pontotoc County and the Democrat candidate said he has worked hard to build support from…
PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Residents in eastern Pontotoc County now have access to natural gas service. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of a multi-phase project that expanded natural gas service to rural areas. More than 14,000 feet of gas lines are now connected to 63 homes as part of the final phase of that project. The expansion is…