South Mississippi woman accused of hitting someone with her car

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A south Mississippi woman is accused of trying to hurt someone with her car in Noxubee County. Now, 25-year-old Tanyra Brown is charged with aggravated assault and two counts of malicious mischief. Noxubee County Sheriff Tommy Roby tells WCBI the incident that happened this past Sunday morning on Cedar Creek Road. Roby, he says Brown…

City of Louisville is extending its curfew

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Louisville is extending its curfew and studying its success. The overnight curfew was originally instated for 2 weeks in June, with an option to renew it for 2 weeks at a time. The idea behind it was to deter crime in the late night and early morning hours. At last night’s aldermen meeting,…

Manufacturer investing nearly $10 million to bring new jobs to Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday, the Mississippi Development Authority announced the details of a new manufacturing operation coming to Starkville. Columbia Industries is investing $9.549 million dollars to relocate from Hillsboro, Oregon to Starkville, Mississippi to create 62 new jobs they hope to fill by 2023. “Columbia Industries contacted us in a sense because they really wanted to locate in…

MSDH reporting a large increase in COVID-19 numbers

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health reports a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Numbers released today show 3,240 new cases were reported between July first and July fourth. That’s an average of more than 800 new cases a day. These numbers do not include people that may have tested at home and did…

Mississippi Judge denied abortion clinic request to block “trigger” law

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – In two days most abortions in Mississippi will be banned. Tuesday afternoon, Judge Debbra K. Halford denied a request by Mississippi’s only abortion clinic to block Mississippi’s “trigger” law from going into effect. Jackson Women’s Health Organization filed suit last week seeking an injunction based on a 1998 Mississippi Supreme Court Ruling which says the state…

Lowndes County law enforcement officers to receive pay raise

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Some Lowndes County law enforcement officers will be getting bigger paychecks this year. Lowndes County Supervisors voted to raise Sheriff Eddie Hawkins’ salary by $5,000. House Bill 1408, passed by the state legislature this year, allows counties that maintain a Juvenile Detention Center to supplement the sheriff’s salary by up to $5,000. Another House BIll…

Betty Stewart Robinson resigned as Tax Assessor and Collector

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Noxubee County’s Tax Assessor and Collector has resigned and a person is appointed to fill the role. Betty Stewart Robinson’s resignation was official on June 30th. In her letter to the board of supervisors, Robinson cited her health as the need to resign. This morning, county leaders voted to appoint Shaquita Hampton Phillips to the…

Macon Welcome Center to get an upgrade with AARP grant

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Macon Welcome Center will soon get an upgrade, thanks to an AARP grant. AARP Mississippi is giving the renovation money to the Noxubee County Historical Society. The organization says funds will help with computers, food prep equipment, and audio video equipment. The goal is to give communities help, making them more livable in the long-term…

Starkville man explains how he and other veterans with PTSD cope with fireworks on July 4th

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – When many people hear fireworks, they think of celebration. But veterans like retired Command Sergeant Major Christopher Taylor are reminded of something else. “You’re hearing gunfire,” he says. “The whole time I was deployed to Afghanistan, you hear gunfire or mortars coming in.” According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the sound, shockwave and even…

July 4th is Free Saltwater Sport Fishing Day in Mississippi

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – July 4th is Free Saltwater Sport Fishing Day in Mississippi, where residents are allowed to fish without a saltwater fishing license. Stores like Academy Sports say they are seeing more people come by to gear up to fish over the holiday, even those that might not be able to make it down to the Gulf Coast….

Last member of “Band of Brothers” has died

CALEDONIA, Miss. (WCBI) – On a day when the United States celebrates its independence,  North Mississippi  mourns the passing of one her heroes. Caledonia resident Bradford Freeman  joined the rest of his “Band of Brothers” Sunday July 3rd. Freeman, a World War Two veteran was the last surviving member of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne…

Caledonia park commission hosts stars and stripes celebration

CALEDONIA, Miss. (WCBI)- Some folks are getting a head start of Fourth of July festivities.   Other towns are getting a head start of Fourth of July festivities too. The Town of Caledonia and Park Commission hosted a Stars and Stripes Celebration. Dozens made their way to the Ola. J. Pickett Park Saturday afternoon for the grand opening of the…

Noxubee co. sheriff department makes arrest for Friday morning shooting

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- The Noxubee County Sheriff Department has made an arrest for a Friday morning shooting that happened on 13 Willie Road in Shuqualak. 36-year-old Donald Smith Jr. was taken into custody. Bond is set at $2,500. We are still learning more about this incident. We’ll release more information as it becomes available. Categories: Featured, Local News Tags:…

Columbus police prepare to monitor incoming crowds for holiday weekend

You may not see them, but they're are always watching.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Independence Day festivities have begun in the Golden Triangle. Here in Columbus, officers are preparing to monitor incoming crowds. Recently, CPD added a sixth Neighborhood watch camera. Soon you’ll see more being installed around the city. You may not see them, but they’re are always watching. ” We call them ‘SkyCops’ and we actually put cameras out…

Blue Bell celebrates National Ice Cream Month

Blue Bell celebrates National Ice Cream Month

  COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s National Ice Cream month and our friends from Blue Bell stopped by to celebrate with us at WCBI on Friday. They also brought by the newest flavor, Strawberry Lemonade – and one that hit the shelves in March, Chocolate Peanut Butter Overload. They tell us that even though Strawberry Lemonade is new to the…

Meth arrests made at Monroe County auto repair shop

Monroe County law enforcement make a meth bust at a repair shop

  ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Monroe County law enforcement makes a meth bust at an auto repair shop. Drake Thompson, 28, of Amory, and John Roark, 54, of Aberdeen are both charged with possession of a controlled substance. Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook says the Monroe County Swat Team, North Mississippi Narcotics agents, deputies, and Aberdeen police made the bust…

Arrest made in New Hope auto burglaries

Columbus teen charged with a dozen counts of auto burglary

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus teen is facing at least a dozen auto burglary charges after some early morning thefts. Tydariuz Wright, 19,  is charged with 12 counts of auto burglary. Lowndes Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says more charges are expected against Wright. The Columbus man was out of jail on bond after being indicted for possession of a…

Two new assistant superintendents to join Cmsd administration

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Classes may be out for summer but the Columbus Municipal School District is already planning for the upcoming school year. Across the Golden Triangle, several school districts are making changes at their central offices. As the roles for educators change over the years, some local school administrators are reflecting on why they chose to enter the education…

Columbus farmers market using $7,000 in grant money to bring more customers downtown

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State University Extension Service is continuing to support and invest in local farmers markets across North Mississippi. The Hitching Lot Farmers Market has been a staple in Columbus since 1976. They received $7,000 from the MSU Extension Service to make sure they’re still there for years to come. “The local vendors need a place…

Animal shelters are seeing record number of cats and dogs in house

The overflow is putting a strain on everything from the workers to the food supply

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Taking in and caring for rescues is what animal shelters do, but the task has become overwhelming as shelters are seeing an increase in pet surrenders. The overflow is putting a strain on everything from the workers to the food supply. Animal shelters across the area are overflowing with dogs and cats, many have been left…

Winona man is charged with a child sex crime in Lafayette County

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – A Winona man is charged with a child sex crime in Lafayette County. 27-year-old Decarlos Carruth is charged with enticement of a child to meet for lustful purposes and sexual battery of a minor. Today, Lafayette County deputies came across a suspicious vehicle in the area of Highway 7 South. Investigators say deputies found Carruth and…

Willie “Fly” Manning loses appeal with Mississippi Supreme Court

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Willie “Fly” Manning loses another appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court. Manning appealed a circuit court ruling denying his request to transfer DNA evidence in the trial to a different facility for testing. The higher court denied that appeal. Justices wrote that for six years Manning had DNA evidence tested and expert fingerprint analysis performed…