MIAMI (WCBI) – A Lee County man charged with making terroristic threats has died in federal custody. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has confirmed that Cory Wayne Patterson is dead. Patterson was arrested in September after he allegedly stole a plane from the Tupelo Regional Airport and threatened to crash it into the Tupelo Walmart. He crashed the plane in…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council temporarily tabled a plan to explore expanding the city’s borders. The council heard a proposal from Golden Triangle Planning and Development District about conducting a study into the costs and benefits of annexing two areas around Lehmberg Road into the city limits. GTPDD estimated the cost of the study to be around…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It happened late yesterday afternoon. One person was injured when shots were fired at a Starkville apartment complex. The victim was taken by private car to OCH Medical Center just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Starkville police said they received a report of shots fired in the road at the Connor Heights apartments. The apartment complex…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Lowndes County Detention Center employee was accused of having sex with an inmate. 42-year-old Margaret Hughes was charged with sexual activity with an incarcerated individual. She was recently indicted by a Lowndes County Grand Jury. Prosecutors allege the correctional officer had sex with an inmate on February 14 of this year. The Mississippi…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves will sign legislation for the state’s largest economic development project. We were in Jackson when a special session was held approving the project that’s happening in Lowndes County. A $2.5 billion capital investment by Steel Dynamics is bringing an aluminum plant to the Golden Triangle. It’ll create 1,000 jobs with salaries at…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – We heard from the Columbus Police Department’s newest Police Chief for the first time Tuesday night following the mayor’s announcement. Joseph Daughtry took the stand to address the city council, the police department, and the citizens. Daughtry has served in law enforcement for over 20 years from the Orleans Parrish Sheriff’s Department, Pelahatchie, Hinds County, Rankin…
BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. (WCBI) – A local college that has been part of the area for nearly 150 years is undergoing a name change. “Well, it’s a marvelous opportunity for us to communicate who we are as an institution,” said Dr. Barbara McMillin, President of Blue Mountain Christian University. McMillin said the name change from Blue Mountain College to Blue…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s that time of the year when many people can’t wait to shop until they drop. But before you drop your gifts off in the car and walk away make sure they are safe and secure. People look forward to the holidays. Shopping for those Christmas deals and watching their loved one’s faces light up when…
WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Santa has a few more helpers this year and they’re in Webster County. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting its annual Christmas toy drive. Last year they collected enough toys to spread the love to other counties. Seargent Brandon Chaille says this is one more way to serve…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Noxubee County Sheriff and a former deputy find themselves in trouble with the law. Terry Grassaree has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of bribery and one count of giving a false statement to an FBI agent. Vance Phillips was indicted on one count of bribery. In the indictment,…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Accolades continue to pour in for a pair of retiring circuit judges. Today, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted to pass a resolution honoring 16th Judicial District Circuit Court Judges Lee Howard and Lee Coleman for their service. Both Howard and Coleman are retiring from the bench this year. Lee Howard has been a…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A volunteer fire station in Lowndes County will now bear the name of its longtime chief. Lowndes County Supervisors voted unanimously today to rename the Rural Hill Fire Station in memory of Wayne Doyle. Doyle served as a volunteer firefighter for 40 years and was the longtime Chief of District 3. Supervisors said that Doyle…
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…
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…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – With the blast of cold air coming in this week and temperatures dropping to the 30s and 40s, people are starting to pull out their sweaters and space heaters. But before you plug in those space heaters don’t forget to review the safety rules. The temperatures are dropping, and we’re starting to dig deep in the…
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 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…
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…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The trial for two Columbus men accused in a PPP loan scam was rescheduled and they have asked for the indictment to be dismissed. Jabari Edwards and Antwann Richardson were both indicted by a federal grand jury. Both men were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and…
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…