One woman dies in Monday morning car crash in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Police are investigating a Monday morning car accident in Columbus that left one person dead. 59-year-old Catherine Rigdon was driving one of the cars involved in the crash on Highway 45. She was traveling north. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said Rigdon was taken to Baptist Golden Triangle. She died last night. Investigators are trying to…

Joseph Daughtry expected to be named the next police chief of Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Sources told WCBI that Joseph Daughtry is expected to be named Columbus’ next Police Chief at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Daughtry, one of the three finalists for the job, currently serves as the Chief of Police in Natchez Mississippi. He also serves as President of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police. Monday, Daughtry visited Columbus…

Local groups team up to host turkey drive in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Thanksgiving is just over a week away and three local groups are teaming up to make sure families have a turkey on the table. The Community Benefit Committee, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Columbus are hosting a turkey drive. They hope to have at least 1,000 turkeys to give away this weekend. The groups…

West Point police hold press conference for murder investigation

WEST POINT Miss. (WCBI) – West Point police have made a total of seven arrests in an ongoing investigation into the death of 22-year-old Jerni White. Jaylon Heard, Renaldo Carrothers, Lamarquez Evans, Terrance Rowe, Shaunmicah Strong, and Kevin Holliday Jr. have all been charged with murder. Jaquerius Crawford was charged with aggravated assault. Today, the West Point police department held…

MJI files lawsuit to allow Mississippi abortion ban to take effect

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – A conservative legal group is suing to allow Mississippi’s abortion ban to take full effect. The Mississippi Justice Institute or MJI filed a lawsuit in Hinds County County Chancery Court today on behalf of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The suit is aimed at allowing Mississippi’s abortion ban to take full effect. In…

Calhoun County deputies arrest, charge man with aggravated rape

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Calhoun County deputies made an arrest in a rape investigation. Roger Armstrong was charged with two counts of aggravated rape. Sheriff Greg Pollan said the alleged incidents were reported this past Saturday and happened within a day or two of the report. Pollan told WCBI there is one reported victim in the investigation, as of…

LCSO releases identities of 19 suspects in drug trafficking investigation

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – New details after Lowndes County investigators arrest 19 people during a drug round-up. This was part of a six-month investigation involving multiple state and federal agencies into illegal drug trafficking in the county. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said between the 19 suspects, 33 felony charges were filed. The sheriff described most of the suspects…

Starkville businesses ready for large crowds ahead of gameday weekend

It's a big weekend for football in the Magnolia State

  STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s a big weekend for football in the Magnolia State. Number 11 Ole Miss hosts number 10 Alabama while Mississippi State hosts number 1 Georgia. Both games are sold out and expected to bring a lot of traction to both Oxford and Starkville. Davis Wade stadium is sold out meaning thousands of fans will turn into…

GOP gains six seats in U.S. House of Representatives

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Republican red wave many politicians expected became more of a ripple. The GOP has gained six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, so far. There are 35 races still undecided. Representative Trent Kelly of Mississippi’s first congressional district is coming off a decisive victory. He believes there are more Republican seats to be gained….

Pinching pennies: how people are changing Thanksgiving traditions

STARKVILLE Miss. (WCBI) – Thanksgiving dinner is expected to take a bigger bite out of your wallet this year. With the steady rise in food prices, many people are considering options like catering or eating out. High food prices are driving many people to look at non-traditional options for their traditional holiday meals. And one that’s showing promise could help…

GTWS, city leaders meet to discuss solutions for garbage issue

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A messy situation in Columbus may be improving. Golden Triangle Waste Services, which handles the city’s garbage collection, has been experiencing shortages in trucks and manpower. Those shortages have led to delays in garbage pick-up, and complaints from residents. Things reached a critical point last month, and GTWS management met with city leaders to explore short-term…

New developments arise in discussion about Sandfield Cemetery

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – There is a new development in the City of Columbus’s discussion about the historic Sandfield Cemetery. The cemetery has been a regular topic since September when Columbus resident, Attorney Nicole Clinkscales, spoke to the council about upkeep, particularly in the eastern portion of the cemetery. The main sticking point has been a question of ownership. The…

Columbus City Council has chosen next police chief

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council knows who they want to lead the city’s police department. At a special meeting, this morning, council members and Mayor Keith Gaskin discussed the qualifications of the three finalists for the open Police Chief’s position and came to an agreement on who they want for the job. But the deal’s not done…