Grieving during the holidays and learning how to cope

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Holiday season is around the corner. Thanksgiving – Christmas and New Year’s bring joy to many, but for others, they are painful reminders of loss. According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of people surveyed said their stress increased during the holiday season, which can be caused by grief or loss. I spoke with Veronica…

Disturbance call leads to arrests for drugs, weapons

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A disturbance call in Columbus led to a drug and weapon arrest. Columbus Police arrived at an apartment on East Manor Drive for a disturbance between Kaliah Hunter and Tchnavia Howell. Officers noticed a strong odor coming from the apartment and began a search with the help of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotic STING Unit….

Athletics Director John Cohen leaves MSU, heads to Auburn

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – This is an update to a story we have been following all weekend. John Cohen is headed to Auburn as their new Athletic Director. Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum confirmed Cohen’s resignation earlier today. WCBI Sports Director Jon Sokoloff was the first to report that Cohen signed a deal with Auburn. Cohen, a former Mississippi…

GTR Airport prepares for multi-million dollar renovation

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – If you fly into the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, you’ll soon be seeing some changes. The airport will be undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. Among the new changes will be a new jetway that will allow passengers to stay out of the elements as they get off the plane and go to the terminal. There…

Columbus police continue search for killer in Sunday night shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police continue looking for a killer, as we learn new details about the victim. The deadly shooting happened in the 700 block of 21st Street North, just before 8 p.m. on Sunday night. Interim Police Chief Doran Johnson said officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant…

Columbus police investigate deadly shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Columbus police say a man is dead after a shooting Sunday night. Interim police Chief Doran Johnson says the man was shot in the chest. It’s unclear if anyone has been arrested in connection to the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 662-494-0109 For 24/7 news and updates, follow us…

Governor Reeves extends State of Emergency for Jackson’s water system

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves extended the State of Emergency for Jackson’s water system because of demands from city leadership. The order will continue through November 22. Reeves said the state has invested nearly $13 million to help the water system, distribute water, and restore clean running water since August 30. He said the city of Jackson has…

Columbus police search for burglars who stole thousands in power tools

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police are asking for help finding some power tool burglars. There is surveillance footage from inside New Home Building Stores on Main Street. Investigators said the thieves took several thousand dollars worth of power tools. The store has been broken into, recently, before this incident. If you know who these people are call Golden Triangle…

Three Mississippi State students are nominated for Rhodes Scholarship

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Three students from Mississippi State University have been nominated for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Rhodes Scholars will have the opportunity to attend the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Only 32 students across the U.S. receive the scholarship each year. These three share a special bond. Director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships at…

Pick-up and big rig collide on Highway 45, stall traffic for hours

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A crash stalled traffic on Highway 45 in Columbus for several hours today. A pick-up truck and a big rig collided sending them across the busy highway. The truck had heavy damage to the driver’s side wheel. The large hauler jackknifed and spilled diesel fuel. Traffic was diverted through Carl Hogan Chevrolet for over two hours….

Caledonia Junior High basketball coach arrested for marijuana possession

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Caledonia Junior High basketball coach is unemployed and in jail after marijuana is found on campus. 25-year-old Horatio Jackson is charged with felony possession of marijuana. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said deputies were walking through the parking lot during the football game and noticed a mason jar filled with marijuana in plain view. The…

Children in costumes strolled through downtown for “Boo Parade”

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Elsa, Scooby Doo, and even a magical sea horse made their way through downtown Columbus this morning. The annual “Boo Parade” had a variety of characters on foot, on wheels, and on the arms of parents. With their best costumes on, the little ones stop by downtown businesses for some treats. The spooky fun event is…

South side Columbus home destroyed in overnight fire

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A home on the south side of Columbus was destroyed in an overnight fire. Chief Duane Hughes said firefighters were called to the home around 9 p.m. Thursday night. The home is in the 1200 block of 11th Avenue South. Thankfully no one was home or hurt. Chief Hughes said an electrical issue was what sparked…

SAAC & CDAF say cancelling was “breach of trust”; drag show continues

SAAC & CDAF bring back scheduled drag show

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The drag show at the center of controversy in Starkville and the Cotton District Arts Festival is back on. WCBI reported that volunteers with the festival say sponsors threatened to pull funding from the event if a drag performance happened. Volunteers say the show was canceled because of the amount of negativity people were spewing–but, now the Starkville…

K-9 officer at Webster County Sheriff’s Department has died

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is honoring the memory of a fallen officer in a special way. On Thursday, officers laid to rest K-9 Zeus. Zeus, who joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2017, died Tuesday after an unexpected illness. Since then, Sheriff David Gore said his office has had a flood of calls from people…

NEMCC health center will offer low cost care to students, staff, faculty

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at one local community college will soon have access to healthcare at little or no cost to them. Northeast Mississippi Community College is partnering with Doctor Laurence Dennis, a local physician who has practiced medicine for more than 30 years in the area. NEMCC President Doctor Ricky Ford and Doctor Dennis signed a “Memorandum of…