MSDH announces ongoing concerns about COVID-19 hospitalizations

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health says COVID-19 hospitalizations are still a big concern. However, health leaders add they are declining. That is some good news on the covid form in the Magnolia State. As of the 19th, 147 Mississippians were in the hospital sick with COVID-19. The State Department of Health is urging people to get…

North Mississippi and West Alabama Fire Weather Warning

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Fall is definitely in the air, which means cooler temps and lower humidity. Unfortunately, that drier air can create fire dangers, especially when it’s joined by gusty winds. A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for North Mississippi and West Alabama at least through Wednesday. Low humidity and high winds can create the perfect conditions…

Pre-pandemic return, improvement for school district assessment grades

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- The grades are back and the grades are in. The Mississippi State Board of Education approved accountability ratings for districts across the state, judging students’, proficiency, growth, college and career readiness, participation, and graduation rates. This is for the 2021-2022 school year, following the COVID-19 shutdown of schools. A majority of schools in our viewing area received…

BancorpSouth merges with Cadence Bank, changes signs on buildings

Name change is part of merger finalized last fall

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – One of the largest banks in the area is changing its name. BancorpSouth is re-branding all of its offices, banking locations, and the arena in Tupelo to the Cadence Bank brand. Signs of the name change began taking shape several weeks ago, as the signage on the BancorpSouth Arena came down, and that for Cadence Bank…

Tupelo drive-by shooting sends one woman to the hospital

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo police are investigating a drive-by shooting that left a woman injured. Early Monday morning police were called about a woman who had gone to the emergency room at North Mississippi Medical Center with a gunshot wound. Officers learned from the victim that she and a group of friends had been out walking in the area…

Lowndes County students participate in life reality fair

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Some Lowndes County students got a crash course in Economics today. The Lowndes County School District Career and Technical Center teamed up with the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus to host a reality fair. Students were given a budget based on their Grade Point Average, then they were sent to different stations to acquire the goods…

Local committee begins search for new Columbus police chief

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The committee charged with finding the next Columbus police chief met for the first time this morning. This meeting was designed to start the search process and look at the qualifications of the applicants. Ten people make up the group. City leaders, administrators, and four community members will make the selection. The group began discussions on…

East Columbus house catches fire early this morning

COLUMBUS, Miss (WCBI) – Columbus Firefighters say an East Columbus home is a total loss after an early morning fire. Firefighters were called to this home in the 1900 block of Short Main around 2:30 this morning. You can see smoke coming from the top of the home. Columbus police had the streets blocked off for hours this morning while…

Macon police search for shooting suspect

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Macon police are asking for help finding a shooting suspect. One of the recently installed cameras in the street caught what is believed to be the car involved in the drive-by shooting. Police Chief Devine Beck says Johnathan Turner is wanted for the crime. A man was shot in the foot in the Baptist Hill area…

Miss. State Dept. of Health announces monkeypox vaccine locations

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – You can now make your own appointment to get your series of monkeypox vaccinations. The Mississippi State Department of Health announced today those eligible can make their own appointments at any of the nine designated county health departments in the state. In our immediate area, Lee and Lowndes County health departments are administering the vaccine and taking…

Mississippi State University Students Celebrating Culture

National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th-October 15th

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) –  National Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15th. And Mississippi State University’s Latino Student Association is celebrating all month. The group is working to bring more awareness to the diverse backgrounds it represents. Hispanics currently make up nearly 3% of Mississippi State University’s student population. And students say having a cultural-based organization helps give them a…

Scholarship named for man who integrated the University of Mississippi

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, Miss(WCBI)- The University of Mississippi is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the school’s integration by endowing a scholarship named for the man who led the charge. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched for the “James H. Meredith Legacy Scholarship Fund.” The scholarship was created by U.M. alumnus Dr. J. Steven Blake of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to honor…

In-person and mail-in absentee ballots now available in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- The Secretary of State’s Office announced Mississippians can now cast their in-person and mail-in absentee ballots for the November general and special elections. The ballot will be provided upon request from your local circuit clerk. You can also check your availability through your circuit clerk. If you cannot make it to your circuit clerk during the weekdays,…

Police monitor social media threat made towards Starkville High School

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – In what has been a common sight lately, another area school is put on lockdown today. A spokesperson tells WCBI that Starkville High had a controlled lockdown this morning. There was a threat to the school posted on social media. No incident of this kind occurred at the school. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District says it…

Columbus Police search for murder suspect

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – There are still more questions than answers after a weekend shooting leaves a former New Hope Football stand-out dead. Columbus Police responded to a call at Country Air Apartments on Lehmberg Road, Saturday, just before midnight. When they got there, they found 24-year-old Taekion Reed in the parking lot with a gunshot wound. Reed was taken…

Victim files simple assault case against attacker in Oxford

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tate County man is charged in an Oxford assault case. Just after midnight on September 18th, there was an altercation around Fillmore Avenue in the city. The victim was hit once, fell, and hit his head. Oxford Police became aware of the situation after the victim’s roommate took him to Baptist North Mississippi for treatment….

Winona shooting suspect arrested in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man accused of shooting his girlfriend was arrested after a day on the run. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page says 53-year-old Willie Richardson was arrested today. Deputies say the shooting happened early Sunday morning. No update has been posted about the victim’s condition. Calls to the Winona Police Department have not been…

Police investigate apartment shooting, murder in West Point

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Investigators are working on a shooting case at a West Point apartment complex. It happened just before midnight on Sunday. Now, one man is charged with the death of a West Point man. Clay County Coroner Alvin Carter identified the homicide victim as 22-year-old Jerni White of West Point. White died at the hospital. Two…

Columbus Ward 4 council members host community meeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus Ward 4 council members are hosting a community meeting tonight. It is happening tonight at 6 p.m. It will be at the Sims Scott Center. Councilman Pierre Beard Sr. is inviting those in Ward 4 to come by to talk about what is happening in their neighborhoods. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook…