Southside Blues Festival is back in full swing this weekend

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a saying in the Blues world – The best cure for the Blues is the Blues. And Southside – Townsend Park is the place to kick those Blues this weekend. The Southside Blues Festival is back in full swing this weekend. The 2 day event was scaled back last year after being canceled due to…

Mississippi teachers to receive pay increase in July

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Teachers in Mississippi will see a larger paycheck starting next month. The new budget year starts Friday, which happens to be the first day of July. This past legislative session lawmakers passed a teacher pay raise. Teachers will receive, on average, a $5,100 increase. Assistant teachers will get about $2,000 more in their paychecks. In the 2019-2020…

Monroe County sheriff says inmates planned filmed attack on deputies, threatened female guard

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – The group Mississippi Dreams Prisoner Advocacy has posted pictures and video of the “planned assault” that the sheriff’s department says happened at the Monroe County Jail on Sunday. The images were recorded during a video call between Tillie Miller and husband Joshua Miller, who is serving a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend and other gang-related…

Aberdeen Alderwoman accuses mayor and fellow Alderman of serving illegally

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Aberdeen Ward 2 Alderwoman Lady Garth is suing the city, claiming the mayor and one of her fellow Alderman are holding their seats illegally. “It’s all a nasty conspiracy,” she says. “They feel as if they can circumvent the law.” Alderwoman Garth says her accusations are against Mayor Charles Scott, City Attorney Robert Faulks and Ward…

Some car dealerships are having a tough time getting brand new cars on the lot

Car lots may have vehicles on their lot, but several dealerships aren't getting in newer models

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)-  The COVID-19 pandemic made its mark on several sectors and while some have gotten back on their feet; others are still being hit in one shape form or fashion. Car lots may have vehicles on their lot, but several dealerships aren’t getting in newer models.  Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic has played a part in putting an extended…

Columbus Community Counseling share warning of recent scam calls

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Scams are everywhere whether it be calls, texts, emails, or social media. Members at Columbus Community Counseling are seeing more romance scams as of late. Romance scams come from people who portray themselves as someone else online and lure people into giving them money or monetary items. Scammers have been hitting folks that are more vulnerable…

Mississippi Highway Patrolman is arrested for domestic violence

ATTALA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Mississippi Highway Patrolman is arrested for domestic violence. This video was anonymously sent to WCBI but shows the alleged incident involving trooper Jeffrey Watson on June 24th. You can see the violence captured on a surveillance camera near a Kosciusko home. A Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson tells WCBI “This is both an…

Cooling shelter in Columbus this week

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Folks in need of shelter from the heat have a cool place to cool off for the week. The Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition is hosting a cooling shelter at St. Stephen United Methodist in Columbus located at 800 Tuscaloosa road. Drinks and snacks will be provided. The shelter will be open from 9 AM to 5 PM…

Two federal inmates to spend more time in prison after multiple incidents

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two Federal inmates in the Monroe County Jail have probably earned themselves a few more years behind bars. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Miller, who is serving a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend and other gang-related charges, and Dillon Heffker, who is there on gang-related drugs and weapons charges, had threatened to assault…

Chickasaw Co. officials do a drill in the event of active shooter at a school

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Chickasaw County emergency responders, law enforcement, and hospital staff are working to make sure they’re on the same page if the worst should happen. Over 50 people, including school officials, law enforcement, and medical professionals came together to discuss what to do in the event of an active shooter at a school. During the tabletop…

Ole Miss fans flood The Grove to welcome CWS champion Rebels

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – The celebration has not stopped since Brandon Johnson got that final out Sunday to bring home Ole Miss Baseball’s first national championship. Hundreds of Rebels fans packed the Grove Monday to welcome home the 2022 College World Series Champions. Mike Bianco and his national championship team stepped off the bus Monday afternoon and right onto the…

Mississippi will ban abortion beginning in July

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Abortion will soon be illegal in Mississippi, with only two exceptions. The Mississippi Legislature passed what is known as a “Trigger Law” in 2007. This law will take effect ten days following the state Attorney General’s posting in the Mississippi Administrative Bulletin. That was filed Monday morning. Now, abortion will be banned in the state of…

BankFirst completes merger with Sycamore bank of Senatobia

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- BankFirst announced a definitive merger with Sycamore Bank of Senatobia. The deal was approved by the board of directors of each company and is expected to close before the end of 2022. BankFirst’s President Moak Griffin said this furthers the vision of partnering with other community banks and a tradition of relationship banking, customer service and community…

People in the community come together for 16th annual celebration

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Veterans and other supporters filled Barnes Crossing Mall today in Tupelo to support the 16th annual 7 days of Troops. This weekend in Tupelo, people in the area celebrated the 16th annual 7 Days of the Troops. Founder of the event and marine corp veteran Scott Burns spends 7 days camping in Barnes Crossing Mall Food…

A Columbus family loses their home in a devastating fire

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- A Columbus family loses their home in a devastating fire. Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Duane Hughes said the fire started around 2a.m. on June 25th at 317 23rd Street North. Firefighters were able to get control the blaze. One man is being treated for burns on his arms, no other injuries are reported at this time….

An Amory man dies following car crash

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI)-An Amory man dies from his injuries in a car crash. Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley said 53-year-old Willam Elbert Tallent, Jr. of the Bigbee Community died Saturday morning. Gurley said the incident happened back on June 17th on Highway 25 North in Smithville. Tallent was traveling north when he collided head-on with an 06 Charger. He was…

“Elvis” movie expected to have big impact on Tupelo

The movie by Baz Luhrmann looks at the influence Tupelo had on Elvis the boy and the entertainer

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – One of the most talked about movies of the summer is now in theaters nationwide.  “Elvis” the movie chronicles the life of Tupelo’s native son, from his humble beginnings in East Tupelo, to worldwide fame. Only minutes into Baz Luhrmann’s “ELVIS” Tupelo, is front and center, as a young Elvis Presley makes his way into a…

A West Point company cleans up around the city

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) –  Keeping the environment clean…that’s the motto for one organization in West Point. Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi is closing out their “World Environmental Month” with a pick-up day in the city. Litter and trash will no longer cover Marshall Park in West Point. On Saturday, employees with Yokohoma Tire Manufacturing Mississippi hosted “World Environmental Month”. And…

Third grade reading scores are improving for students in Noxubee County

Scores from the third grade reading assessment show that 74 % of the state's 31,000 third graders have passed the test

NOXUBEE, Miss. (WCBI)- Reading comes easy for some, but not for everybody. Scores from the third grade reading assessment show that 74 % of the state’s 31,000 third graders have passed the test. Mississippi put the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA)  in place in 2013 to help improve reading skills for kids kindergarten through third grade. The test requires students to…

Community Organizations are helping more people after rise in prices

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Rising prices for everyday staples like food and gas have more people than usual turning to community organizations for help. But even with the increase in requests, most are still trying to fill the needs of those who come to them. At the gas station, the grocery store, and clothing stores, prices are rising everywhere you…