Columbus police arrest man in deadly Christmas Eve party shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police made an arrest in a deadly Christmas Eve shooting. 22-year-old Gregory Morris was charged with murder. He had a court appearance this afternoon. Morris was injured in the shooting melee. He was also arrested last year in connection with an April 26 shooting. The Columbus man is being held without bond. The holiday party…

Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition plans small shelter community

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Plans were drawn up for a way to help homelessness in Columbus but its future remains unclear. The Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition’s goal is to build several small residential spaces and a cooling or heating shelter. Officials said the smaller living units would be located on Airline Road between the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society and the Columbus…

Columbus police investigate shooting at Cypress Park Apartments

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police are investigating a late-night shooting at an apartment complex. Officers were called to Cypress Park Apartments, just after 10 last night, on South Lehmberg Road. No one was injured but apartments were damaged in the gunfire. Investigators are still searching for the shooter or shooters. If you have any information call, Golden Triangle Crime…

Organization’s loading docks have become a donation dumping ground

Columbus Salvation Army

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -Many charitable organizations depend on and even survive on the generosity of others. Unfortunately, one non-profit organization’s loading docks have become a donation dumping ground. There’s a time and a place for everything. And The Salvation Army sees that people want to give, just not at the right time. This is what workers at the Columbus Salvation…

City of Columbus comes together working on homelessness

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Homelessness is a problem everywhere, even here in North Mississippi. In Columbus, shelter options for people experiencing homelessness are extremely limited. The Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition has been working for years towards a more permanent solution. That is why they are asking for ideas and help from others in the community. The Golden Triangle Regional Homeless…

Former United Furniture Industries employee talks about life after Lane

T J Martin regularly checks in with his former co-workers and is looking for a new career

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Wells Fargo and two suppliers for United Furniture are asking a court to force the company into Chapter Seven bankruptcy. That is the latest development since the company, which also owns Lane Furniture, abruptly closed, firing all employees the week of Thanksgiving. Now, nearly two months later, WCBI checked in with a former employee of the…

Misdemeanor case was dismissed against MHP Trooper Steven Jones

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WCBI) – The case against a Mississippi Highway Patrolman was dismissed in Tuscaloosa. Early last month, Steven Jones turned himself in at the Tuscaloosa Police Department because of a warrant for third-degree domestic violence, which is a misdemeanor. WCBI learned there was some type of hearing before the set February 6 court date and filed a public records…

New chief working to restructure ranks at Columbus Police Department

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – New Police Chief Joseph Daughtry has just taken over the reins of the Columbus Police Department, but he’s already working to restructure its ranks. At Tuesday night’s meeting, Columbus City Council members voted to allow Chief Daughtry the leeway to reorganize the Columbus Police Department, within the constraints of its existing budget. One area that Daughtry…

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department names “Deputy of the Year”

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department named its “Deputy of the Year”. Hunter McBride won the 2022 award. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins recently made the announcement on social media. McBride was nominated by other deputies. He’s on the SWAT Team and is the county fire investigator. The two-year veteran is also a volunteer firefighter. The Deputy Sheriff…

City leaders explore options to take care of garbage issues

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Customer dissatisfaction has been piling up along with the garbage in Columbus. And that has city leaders exploring options. The city is preparing to move forward with putting out Requests for Proposals, or RFPs, for companies interested in taking over garbage collection. Columbus has contracted with Golden Triangle Waste Services for several years for twice-weekly pick-up,…

Citywide boil water notice in Louisville has been lifted

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A sense of relief is flowing through Louisville after a boil water notice is lifted. Freezing temperatures and broken pipes left about 3,500 customers without water after a recent arctic blast. The city and Louisville Water System worked to make the repairs and increase water pressure. Customers were asked to conserve water as the reserve in…

Water Valley man accused of felony embezzlement

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – A Water Valley man is accused of taking from his employer. Now, 34-year-old Robert Walker is charged with two counts of embezzlement. Oxford police took an embezzlement report last month from an unidentified business on Highway 7. Investigators did not release how much money was allegedly taken but did say it was enough to make the…

Clay County Sheriff’s Office welcomes newest squad member

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office welcomes its newest team member. At two years old, he is also the youngest, but he’s already well-trained and ready to go to work. Spike may be young, but he’s also skilled in sniffing out narcotics and tracking them. This newest Deputy didn’t come cheap. The Sheriff’s Office raised over…

Emergency management officials survey storm damage in Union County

UNION COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Emergency management officials were surveying damage in Union County after storms hit the area this morning. Four structures, including a church, were damaged when heavy rain and strong winds blew through the Enterprise Community around 9:30 a.m. Crews were on the scene, helping tarp roofs, and clearing roads of downed trees and other debris. Workers…

Local, federal law enforcement investigate shooting at Grenada nightclub

GRENADA, Miss. (WCBI) – Grenada police are investigating a New Year’s morning shooting at a nightclub that injured three people. Police Chief George Douglas said the shooting happened just before 3 a.m. near “The Hot Spot” on Jasper Neely Drive. In a press release, Douglas told WCBI people were leaving the club when the gunfire started. Some victims were taken…

Baptist Behavioral Health opening unit for older patients

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Baptist Behavioral Health is expanding care options for older patients in the Golden Triangle. Baptist Behavioral held an open house for its new 8-bed Geriatric Psych Unit in Columbus. The facility will serve the needs of mental health patients 55 and older with severe disabilities and those 65 and older in the general population. Administrators at…

Mississippi lawmakers begin 2023 legislative session

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Legislature gaveled in for the 2023 session this morning in Jackson. Today was the first day of work in the 90-day session. Lawmakers were expected to discuss how to spend the state’s $1 billion surplus. Tax breaks, along with tax rebates will all be on the table. The Republican majority said it wants to…

Shifts in population lead LCBS to approve new voting district map

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Just in time for what is likely to be a busy election season, Lowndes County Supervisors approved a new district map. District lines had to be redrawn due to population shifts in the 2020 Census. Districts One and Two lost people, while Districts Four and Five gained voters. District Three remained relatively unchanged. Lowndes County…