State representative introduces bill to exclusively recognize MLK Day
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI/WLBT) – A Columbus lawmaker wants Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to have his own holiday in the state of Mississippi. State Representative Kabir Karriem has introduced a bill that would exclusively mark the third Monday of January as Dr. King’s birthday holiday. Right now, the state also recognizes Robert E. Lee’s birthday on the same day. Lee was…
District 23 Mississippi House of Representatives race goes to runoff
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – In a special election to fill the District 23 seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives, the race now goes to a runoff. Perry Van Bailey and Andrew Stepp will face off again in the January 31 runoff for the seat. Bailey got 38% of the votes while Stepp got 48%. A candidate has to get 50%…
MSDH emails Lil’ Blessings Daycare stating the center is being fined
HAMILTON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health has fined the Lil’ Blessings Child Care and Learning Center in Hamilton following videos that showed employees taunting children while wearing Halloween masks. WCBI was the first local station to report the story and get answers. There are new details in the story that triggered a lot of parents. MSDH…
Victim identified in deadly crash Tuesday on Casey Lane
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The woman killed in a Lowndes County crash was identified. 40-year-old Summer Michelle Yearby died at the scene of the accident on Casey Lane on Tuesday morning. Coroner Greg Merchant said Yearby was the passenger inside the Honda Accord that hit a tree. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins told WCBI that the driver told deputies he lost…
One doctor in the GTR is proud to educate others on Medical Marijuana
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Patients with debilitating illnesses and pain have been waiting for Mississippi’s medical marijuana regulations to go into effect. It’s a multi-step process. And, now the first licensed physician to prescribe medical marijuana in the Golden Triangle said part of his role is making sure the community understands how prescription cannabis works. There is a lot of regulation…
Resources in the Golden Triangle are working to fill the workforce gap
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – You could call it a good problem to have businesses with good-paying jobs steadily calling the Golden Triangle home. They need people to fill those good-paying jobs. Groups like the LINK and EMCC have put resources in place to help fill that gap, but not everybody knows where to look. Connecting industries with the people…
Lowndes County Emergency Management searching for 911 dispatchers
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Emergency Management is looking to hire 911 dispatchers. Dispatchers do not have to have previous experience and will receive on-the-job training. Director of the Lowndes County EMA Cindy Lawrence said they are looking for someone who is dedicated to helping others and who can be a leader during times of stress. “Well,…
Baptist Memorial Hospital hosts emergency response presentation
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Sometimes during an emergency situation, there may not be enough time to wait for first responders to save a life. That’s why healthcare professionals from Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle hosted a “Stop the Bleed” presentation for teachers at Fifth Street School in West Point. The program, which features law enforcement, doctors, aircraft medical crews, and…
Military veterans to be honored with ‘Hometown Heroes Banner Program’
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Tupelo will give its residents a chance to honor true heroes. The parks and recreation department has partnered with the Tupelo Veteran’s Council for a ‘Hometown Heroes Banner Program’. For $225, people can display a banner on street lights in honor of a loved one who has served in the military. The banners…
Senator Roger Wicker visited with residents, business leaders in Columbus
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Senator Roger Wicker is home from Washington for a few days looking for ways to get the most out of Federal spending in the Magnolia State. Mississippi’s senior Senator made his first stop in Columbus today, where he visited with area residents and business leaders at Lion Hills. Wicker spoke about the need for further economic…
One person dies, another injured in late morning Lowndes County crash
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – One person is dead and another person is injured after a crash in Lowndes County. The accident happened late Tuesday morning on Casey Lane, in the New Hope community. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said only one vehicle was involved. It left the road and hit a tree. Right now, deputies are not sure why the accident…
Three people charged with trafficking drugs at barbershop in Tupelo
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – More than 10,000 fentanyl pills, meth, and edibles have been seized at a Tupelo barbershop. Now, Marqcus Jernigan, Jeremy McGee, and April Huddleston are all charged with aggravated trafficking of fentanyl and aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine. Tupelo police and North Mississippi Narcotics agents made the bust on January 5 at Spectacular Cuts on Tupelo Commons Drive….
MSDH reports deadly fungus found in central Mississippi care facility
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting a deadly fungus has been found at a central Mississippi long-term care facility. Candida Auris (C. Auris) primarily affects people already being treated for serious or chronic health conditions. The fungal infection is most often seen in hospitals or long-term care facilities. It is resistant to many antifungal drugs…
M17 Scholarship recipient graduates from part-time police academy
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The winner of a scholarship that honors the memory of a Monroe County sheriff’s deputy is a recent graduate of the department’s academy for part-time officers. Deputy Tremain Edwards is the recipient of the 2022 “M17 Scholarship”. That scholarship is named in honor of Deputy Dylan Pickle, who was struck by a car and killed…
Shuwaski Young announces plan to run for Mississippi Secretary of State
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Secretary of State’s race got its first candidate. Shuwaski Young announced Tuesday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for that office. Young, who worked in the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama Administration, is fresh off of an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was Michael Guest’s Democratic challenger…
Special election is being held to fill Mississippi District 23 House seat
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Legislature has already started meeting, but it has been at least one member short. Voters across four area counties are taking care of that today. A special election is being held to fill the District 23 seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives. The seat was left vacant after Governor Tate Reeves appointed former State…
Artesia Road at Old Mayhew Road will be closed Wednesday
ARTESIA, Miss. (WCBI) – If you live in Artesia or plan on traveling through town, just know that one road will be closed off Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Artesia Road at Old Mayhew Road will be closed off so rail road engineers can do some repair work. The city of Artesia expects the work to take one…
Oxford police arrest two people for embezzling scratch-offs
OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – It turns out that having all the tickets may not improve your chances of winning the lottery. Late last week, Oxford Police were called to a business on Thacker Road about possible inside theft. An investigation led them to Preshaye Hearn and Sincere Swims, both of Oxford. The pair is accused of stealing a stash of…
Starkville adds new stop signs to intersection near high school
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Starkville continues to work to make things safer for walkers. The latest effort is for those walking to and from Starkville High School. The intersection of Yellow Jacket Drive, Eckford Drive, and Victory Lane is now an All-Way Stop. The changes went into effect on Friday, and new signs have been put up…
Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon for George Bryan
CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Funeral services for legendary business leader George Bryan will be on January 11. Bryan died earlier this week at his home of natural causes. The 78-year-old golf developer and philanthropist was also well-known for his support of Mississippi State, where he graduated in 1968. He served as Sara Lee’s Senior Vice President and Chief Executive…
Man reported missing in Lowndes County has been found
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The man reported missing in Lowndes County has been found. This past weekend investigators sent out an alert to help find Derek Gray. At that time, no one had seen him since December 9. This morning, Sheriff Eddie Hawkins reported that Gray was safe and had been located but did not release more details. For…
UPDATE: Child’s mother has been located, investigation continues
COLUMBUS, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – A three-year-old child is safe and secure after being found walking on the railroad tracks near College Street and 22nd Street South in Columbus Tuesday morning. According to Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtry, the young child was found near 9:45 a.m. walking on the tracks. The mother of the child found walking on the railroad…
Mega Millions jackpot jumps up to $1.1 billion for Tuesday’s drawing
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mega Millions jackpot is now more than $1 billion after no winning ticket was pulled in Friday’s drawing. The top prize is no $1.1 billion with a cash option of $568.7 million for the Tuesday night drawing. You can watch that right here on WCBI News during our 10 p.m. show. This is the third largest…