COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) With two fatal shootings in less than a month, crime has been a topic of conversation in Columbus. Youth crime and how to prevent it have been in the spotlight, especially as Summer Break approaches. Incidents involving young people usually spike in those months when students are out of school and have fewer things to keep them…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Stopping the slide. That’s one of the motives behind a plan that would alter the school year for Columbus public school students. Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Doctor Cherie Labat took her proposal for a modified school calendar to the Columbus City Council Tuesday night. Under the plan, the school year would begin in July and…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is the highest it has ever been in Mississippi. Triple-A is reporting the average price in the state right now is $4.16. The national price is $4.56. In our region, Attala County had the highest average price of $4.40. Claiborne County had the highest in the state. As…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police are investigating a shooting at a northside park. The gunfire happened about 8 o’clock Tuesday night at Sim Scott Park. Police Chief Fred Shelton says officers were in the area and heard the shots. When they arrived at the park people were leaving. The incident was caught on a camera the city recently installed…
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, Miss. (WCBI)- State Auditor Shad White speaks often about Mississippi’s “brain drain.” Now, he says it’s made worse by an increase in crime. Jackson is experiencing major crime. In 2021, the city was ranked number one in homicides per capita in the nation. In its brain drain research, White’s office found that 30% of college graduates who…
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – As Kaitlyn Sanborn and Kady Rose Hailey prepare for their high school graduation ceremonies, they can’t help but think of the person they won’t see sitting in the crowd. Their childhood friend Carmen Smith, who died when she was just 12-years-old. So the girls spent their final semester of high school keeping their friend’s legacy alive…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Gas prices are climbing to new levels here in Mississippi, and it’s impacting some people differently than others. One local sheriff’s department talks about some of the troubles they’re facing with the increased prices. Gas prices are pushing some folks to change their traveling plans. Sheriff James Meyers said those prices could be closer to that four…
TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Students at Joyner Elementary in Tupelo were able to show off their artistic talents as a mural is unveiled. The second graders have been working on a mural on the outside wall of the gym for months, with the help of art instructor Kit Stafford. Students were able to choose what they wanted to go in…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville alderman is considering a different type of paid parking. Alderman Hamp Beatty wants to talk about and research a kiosk-based parking system. Park Mobile does not offer a kiosk parking. The Cotton District is the area being considered. The city is finishing up work on painting parking spaces that will be impacted by the…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s signing day at Columbus High School. This time we’re not talking about sports. CHS held its annual “Academic Signing Day.” During the program, graduating seniors announced their choices for college. 38 students shared their decision with classmates and guests. Several of them accepted scholarships from the school of their choice. Madisyn Turner says she’s excited…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Secretary of State’s Office has a lot on its plate, and today Michael Watson was in Columbus to educate area leaders on some of what his office does. Watson explained some of the areas his office oversees. Business services have been getting a lot of interest lately. Watson, the governor, and lawmakers have been working…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Malfunctioning traffic lights could be the root cause of a late morning Columbus crash. The accident happened at Highway 45 and 18th Avenue North intersection. It appears a car was leaving the Kroger parking lot and crossing Highway 45 when an 18-wheeler collided with the car. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital….
While often not a consistent threat in our neck of the woods, hail still poses a major risk to life and property. Meteorologist Jackson Chastain goes over the hail formation process in this week’s Weather Whys. Categories: Featured, Featured Weather, Local News, Weather
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man will spend the next 40 years in prison for killing a Columbus man. Malcolm Hill pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced today in Lowndes County Circuit Court. Hill was involved in the shooting death of Marcus Pate in October 2018. Investigators believe Pate was killed during a robbery inside of his 11th…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday was the first day of Mississippi State’s annual iCanBike Camp, which teaches children and adults with special needs how to ride a bicycle on their own. The camp returns for its third year at the Sanderson Recreation Center after a break due to COVID-19. “When you learn to ride when you’re five or six, it’s…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant has identified the man killed in a Friday afternoon shooting. And Now the Columbus Police Department is asking for the community to help find the suspect. 23-year-old Amarcus McMillian was shot and killed Friday in an apartment on Waterworks Road in Columbus. A second person was injured in that shooting. So…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Supervisors have voted to give tax breaks to the newest owners of Columbus’s Leigh Mall. The Golden Triangle Development LINK has drawn up a Regional Economic Development Act Agreement to allow the Hull Group to recoup some of the tax money it will be paying in as it completes renovations. Supervisors approved their…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- Tupelo Police arrested a man for allegedly trying to set cars on fire. David Lindow was arrested as a suspect linked to three different incidents of tampering with the gas caps of vehicles and placing a burned fabric in the fuel tank. One report was made on May, 9th, and two reports were made on May, 11th….
PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI)- Investigators need your help to find a suspect linked to an April, 27th murder in Pontotoc County. The Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Department says Joseph D. Bean is considered armed and dangerous and encourages you not to confront him. However, if you have any information on where Bean may be, contact Crime Stoppers of North East Mississippi…
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board is looking for a new leader. Executive Director Stacey Pickering is retiring. His chief of staff, Melissa Wade, is pursuing other opportunities. The agency recently announced the moves. Pickering is a former state senator and state auditor. The VA Board says Pickering and Wade are both resigning as of July 11th….
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Lottery transfers more than $11 million to the state treasury. Net proceeds for the lottery have now exceeded $107 million. State law requires the first $80 million to go to road and bridge needs for ten years. This means more than $27 million has gone to the Education Enhancement Fund in Fiscal Year 2022….
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- A local stock contractor is grabbing the bull by its horns. Eight of them actually. Blake Sharp is a Lowndes County cattle owner and has a handful of bulls performing in the 2022 Professional Bull Riders World Finals. Sharp’s love for his bulls is evident. We spoke with him during a Zoom interview on Friday, May…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It was a celebration for the youngsters in Noxubee County this afternoon. The Noxubee County Headstart program held a parade for their 4 and 5-year-olds before they head off to kindergarten. It was cause for a celebration in Noxubee County this afternoon. Kids at the Noxubee County Head start Center graduated and their teachers and…
MILLPORT,Ala. (WCBI)- Folks over in Alabama chowed down on a clawdad feast Saturday afternoon. The Millport Volunteer Fire Department hosted its annual Crawfish Boil Fundraiser for community members. A spread of BBQ plates and crawfish with all the fixings were available for just a few bucks. This is one of the biggest fundraisers for the department. Proceeds help fund…