Former Aberdeen Mayor Maurice Howard charged with embezzlement

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Former Aberdeen Mayor Maurice Howard finds himself facing another embezzlement charge, even with a reported name change. Richland Police tell WCBI Howard rented a vehicle from Enterprise and refused to return the vehicle. Now, he’s charged with embezzlement under contract. Investigators also say Howard used the name Maurice Jackson to rent the truck. Howard is…

Groups in Columbus gathered for Military Town Hall meeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Successful military bases depend on partnerships among a variety of groups. Thursday, in Columbus those groups came together for a Military Town Hall Meeting to discuss the successes at Columbus Air Force Base and learn more about what the State is doing to help military families. Governor Tate Reeves signed 2 executive orders, one establishing the…

Grenada police make an arrest after an explosive device is found

GRENADA, Miss. (WCBI) – Grenada police make an arrest after an explosive device is found outside a home. Now, Nickolaus Cole is facing state and federal charges. Grenada police say Cole threatened to blow up a home on Gayosa Street on Wednesday evening. The homeowner called officers after the threat. Grenada police and fire departments all went to the scene….

Columbus business raided by Federal Bureau of Investigation

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – WCBI has been told J5 Solutions in Downtown Columbus is currently being raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI agents are at the Courtsquare Towers on 2nd Avenue North where the company is housed. Dozens of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are currently raiding the J5 Solutions building in downtown Columbus. PIO Katie…

Babies born with drugs in their system increasing as price of meth goes down in Monroe County

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department says that one of the most troubling elements of the area’s increased drug activity is the rising number of infants born with drugs in their system. Meth, cocaine, morphine and heroin are some of the drugs that Neonatal Intensive Care Unit director Dr. Zhear Al-Godi says he finds most often in…

Louisville police share some of their knowledge to the future leaders of the world

The kids are the future and people in Louisville want to help pave their way to a bright one

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The kids are the future, and people in Louisville want to help pave their way to a bright one. During the whole month of June, some students have got one on one interactions with local police officers and firefighters. The HERO program will end on June 28th, but organizers feel that the kids will have a deeper…

Tek 2 Go camp introduces students to advanced manufacturing

Middle school age students get hands on lessons during unique camp

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Middle school students from across Northeast Mississippi are getting an up close look at advanced manufacturing as part of the “Tek 2 Go” Camp. It is a hands-on lesson in welding for students at the Tek 2 Go camp. Jerry Pettigrew, an instructor at ICC, says students in this camp have a unique opportunity. “Tek 2…

Starkville Oktibbeha Co. School District’s summer meal program underway

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – School may be out, but in Starkville, the cafeteria is still open…sort of. The Starkville Oktibbeha County School District’s summer meal program is going strong. Kids up to 18 years old can stop by Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary every weekday for free breakfast and lunch. The feeding program runs until June 30th but will take a…

Starkville Oktibbeha School District drops uniform policy

Students will no longer have to wear specific colors or clothing styles.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Students in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District no longer have to wear uniforms. At its June meeting, the Board of Trustees amended the dress code. The new policy removes uniform requirements for students in grades PreK-7. So beginning this school year, students in grades PreK-7 will not be required to wear school colors, t-shirts, shirt styles, and…

Tips on saving energy as air conditioning units work overtime in extreme Mississippi heat

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, 4-County Electric Power Association shared tips and strategies to cut down on electricity use to help balance out the high demand for air conditioning. “When we get extreme temperatures like we’re seeing, you get record amounts of demand,” says Jon Turner, manager of public relations and marketing for 4-County. The Tennessee Valley Authority provides power…

Ole Miss fans and businesses in Oxford prepare for the College World Series

The Ole Miss Rebels punched their ticket to Omaha for the College World Series

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – The Ole Miss Rebels punched their ticket to Omaha for the College World Series. They’re also thrilled for what it means to the town. Businesses and restaurants have already seen an uptick in sales even before the first pitch in Omaha. The Ole Miss baseball team fought its way through a roller coaster of a season….

Project ELECT gets grant for its work in the community

Grant money may be used to enhance social media presence

TUPELO, MISS.  (WCBI) –  A Tupelo based nonprofit receives a boost to help it fulfill its mission. Project ELECT, which stands for Enthusiastic Leaders Engaging in Changing Times, has received a $5,000 grant from the MassMutual Foundation. The grant is part of the company’s Community Service Award program.  The grant will help Project ELECT in its mission of acting as…

Boys and Girls Club members get to know their local police officers

Tupelo police visit the Northside club as part of Career

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Members of the Northside Boys and Girls Club of Tupelo had a unique opportunity to visit with police officers, as part of a summer program. It was a chance for members of the Northside Boys and Girls Club to ask Lieutenant Katarsha White about any police related topic.  One youngster wanted to know about the use…

Human remains found in late May have been identified

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Human remains found in late May have been identified, and they add another piece to the puzzle of a missing person case in Tupelo. Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green tells WCBI that the State Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified the remains as those of Lori Cockrell. The 58-year-old Tupelo woman had been missing since…

Black empowerment group advocates for the 2nd Amendment ahead of Juneteenth events

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Ahead of the Juneteenth Holiday this Sunday, the Black Empowerment organization is trying to gather the attention of African Americans in Columbus and all over the Magnolia State. The Lowndes County Courthouse is one of the three locations in the state where demonstrations took place today. Black Empowerment is gearing up for its “Gathering of the…

Columbus Mayor briefed business and community leaders on city progress

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin gets in a tune-up before next month’s State of the City Address. Gaskin briefed Columbus and Lowndes County business and community leaders on the city’s progress over the past year. One of the key issues has been the city’s financial health. When Gaskin took office, Columbus was a couple of years behind…

Columbus city permits given to three potential medical cannabis businesses

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Three potential medical marijuana dispensaries have taken a small but necessary step towards opening up shop in Columbus. The Columbus Planning Commission approved permits for three businesses that are each vying for a location on Highway 45. Two of the companies are seeking to set up their business in the Jackson Square Plaza. State regulations state…

West Point Police hold active shooter training to keep officers ready after Buffalo and Uvalde shootings

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – The West Point Police Department held active shooter training at the Central School on Monday. How law enforcement responds to active shooter situations became part of the nationwide conversation in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas shooting. “When…we do have to go in, they’re going to do what they have to do to save the…

First Responders give tips on how to stay cool for the summer

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The First official day of Summer isn’t until; next week, but the Summer heat is already here. And if you’re spending any time outdoors, you need to take extra precautions. It hits you almost as soon as you walk out the door. It is hot. Some folks are leaving the air conditioning only if they…