TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A leader in the arts community in Northeast Mississippi has passed away. Tom Booth, executive director of the Tupelo Community Theatre, died from natural causes. Booth, who was 68, began his service as executive director of TCT in 1992. He was prominent in the local, regional and national community theatre family. He led TCT to many…
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi joined a growing number of states where Tik Tok is banned on government-issued devices and the state’s network. Governor Tate Reeves announced the directive this afternoon. The letter was sent to state departments and agency heads. He said this is to safeguard sensitive information and protect critical infrastructure from the Chinese-based app. State employees must…
PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – A man from Pontotoc will serve four years in prison for illegal possession of unemployment benefit cards. 28-year-old Deonte Dilworth was sentenced Wednesday in federal court after pleading guilty. In addition to the four-year sentence, Dilworth will be on probation for three years after his release. He was also ordered to pay more than 202,000 in…
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MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Macon Police and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are investigating a pharmacy break-in. Macon Police Chief Davine Beck told WCBI that video surveillance showed that two burglars heaved a cinderblock through the window of City Drug on Jefferson Street between 3 and 4 this morning. A passerby noticed the damage later and alerted the owner, who…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Another Mississippi infant has died from COVID-19. The Mississippi State Department of Health confirmed the passing today. The child was under the age of one. The agency did not release when the child died or where. Records from MSDH show 14 children under the age of 18 have died from COVID since 2020. Most of the deaths…
CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Business leader George Bryan is laid to rest today. Bryan was known for his business, charity work, and efforts to help the area grow. The Clay County native had his hand in many projects that improved West Point. He also worked with economic developers to entertain and meet with executives that were thinking about bringing…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Social media is known for its quick trends, but one might be here to stay. Apps like TikTok are bringing users together by featuring reactions to books by popular authors. While social media is the reason many of us are on our phones, this trend is influencing people to put their devices down and pick up…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health is calling the outbreaks of a deadly fungus a “rapidly expanding and serious situation”. Candida Auris, or C. Auris, is a fungus that is highly resistant to most major anti-fungal drugs. It can enter the bloodstream and move throughout the body, and it has been causing outbreaks in healthcare facilities. There…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The parents of a child found wandering the streets of Columbus are facing charges. Tyler Williams and Elett Lowery are both charged with two counts of misdemeanor child neglect. The three-year-old child was found walking down the railroad tracks near College and 22nd Streets South. He was not harmed but Columbus police did make a push…
UNITED STATES (WCBI) – Mega Millions is more like mega billions because the jackpot now sits at $1.35 billion. There were no winning tickets bought last night. So you still have a shot at being a lucky winner. However, the next drawing will be on Friday 13, this week. So if you do win, hold on tight to your ticket…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds of flights were canceled Wednesday morning after a failure in the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions System. This computer system communicates with pilots and alerts them of safety hazards. GTR Airport Executive Director Matt Dowell explained how it has affected the Golden Triangle and the importance of taking those precautions. “This NOTAM system is…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man was stabbed and a woman is in jail after an argument. Now, 23-year-old Vanglorious Jones is charged with two counts of aggravated assault. The incident happened about early Tuesday morning, about midnight, in the 1200 block of Ash Street in Columbus. The victim had multiple injuries. Columbus police continue to investigate the incident. For…
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…
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%…
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…
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…
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…
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, 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,…
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…
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…
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…