COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County man is accused of setting an abandoned house on fire. Marty Atkins is now charged with arson. The blaze happened Wednesday night in the 5000 block of Jess Lyons Road. When deputies arrived, the home was engulfed in flames. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says deputies found Atkins in the area and he admitted to…
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- A new report suggests the Mississippi Department of Corrections has mishandled records and data for some offenders under state custody. PEER Mississippi reviews how government agencies perform and if state money is being spent correctly. The committee recently sampled 100 active inmates and found some key flaws in the MDOC database. This included missing documentation, missing photo…
MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN, Miss. (WCBI)- Discussions continue on whether now is the time for Mississippi University for Women to change its name. The university has held the title for 48 years following four name changes. However, men began attending and graduating from the W for over four decades. School alumni have reached out to President Norah Miller about changing…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council heard an update on plans to acquire the eastern portion of Sandfield Cemetery. At its most recent meeting, the Council heard from Columbus resident and attorney, Nicole Clinkscales, about maintenance needs at the historic cemetery, particularly the eastern portion. The city had already been looking into the issue. The main roadblock is…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Planning for now and later. Dozens of seasoned citizens in the area attended the WCBI Senior Expo today in Columbus. The event was an opportunity to educate seniors about resources in the area to help them make healthcare, financial, and legal decisions. More than 25 vendors set up booths to distribute information on a variety of…
CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The newest “crop” coming out of the Prairie will be feeding the area’s energy needs. A 2,000-acre site in Clay County will soon be home to a solar electric generating and storage facility. Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley signed the order approving its construction and operation in a ceremony today. MS Solar 7…
EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – Eupora Police want to talk to a person seen near the site of a fatal shooting Wednesday morning. Eupora Police have released this picture taken near the scene of the shooting at the Westwood Park Apartment Complex. 26-year-old Daimain Britt of Maben was shot and killed in the parking lot of the apartment complex around 6…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – As we end the month of September, we want to take time to talk about an important topic you have heard a number of reports on–suicide awareness. September is suicide prevention awareness month, however, the work goes well beyond after this month. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says it is the 12th leading cause of death…
YALOBUSHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Yalobusha County sheriff is expected to spend the next year on house arrest. Former Sheriff Lance Humphreys has pleaded guilty to embezzlement of public funds. State Auditor Shad White accused Humphreys of taking nearly $5,000 from the county’s “Inmate Canteen Account.” He then put that money directly into his personal bank account back…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It is happening today. The WCBI Senior Expo is going on at the Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus until 1:00 p.m. Get tips for healthy living and talk with care providers including Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle. “Hello. My name is Madison Guyton, Director of the ambulance Service at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Golden Triangle. Don’t be…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – What’s in a name? That’s a question that will be swirling around the Mississippi University for Women campus. The on-again / off-again subject of updating the identity of the now co-educational institution is “on-again”. In a letter to MUW Alumni, university president Doctor Nora Miller is again broaching the subject. In the letter, Miller says “we…
TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The suspect in the shooting death of a Tupelo convenience store clerk, killed during a robbery, is in jail with no bond, but there are many questions about the case. The suspect, Chris Copeland, had prior felony convictions but was placed on house arrest after violating parole. Six days after he was shot and killed during…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Finding the right healthcare plan for you and your loved ones may take a little research. Bell and Associates can answer those questions. You can find them at the WCBI Senior Expo this Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus. Here’s a healthy living spotlight: “As time passes, most…
COLUMBUS, Miss. ( WCBI) – As the Biden Administration rolls out a trillion dollar student loan forgiveness plan, there are many questions that remain. There are also new challenges for those the plan is supposed to help The White House anticipates that nearly 400,000 Mississippians could receive debt relief through the plan. I spoke with the Financial Aid Director Nicole…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Chickasaw County deputies made an arrest on a bomb threat to Houlka High School. The threat was called into the school district this past Friday. Today, a 15-year-old was charged with the crime. The case now goes to the Chickasaw County Youth Court. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Categories: Crime, Local…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Members of the Mississippi National Guard will help with Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. Governor Tate Reeves says 20 soldiers and airmen will go on the response missions. The 111th Aviation Regiment based in Meridian and the 255th Air Control Squadron in Gulfport are the two chosen locations to deploy. Reeves says the state of Florida requested the…
EUPORA, Miss (WCBI) – Eupora police continue to look for a killer tonight after a shooting at an apartment complex. The gunfire happened just before 6 a.m. in the parking lot of the Westwood Apartments. 26-year-old Daimian Keontae Britt of Maben was shot and killed. Webster County Sheriff David Gore was not aware of any suspects that were in custody. Webster…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss (WCBI) – Normally getting a “D” on your report card is not a cause for celebration. But for an area school district, it is a sign of improvement and one step closer to regaining local control. In the latest State accountability rankings, the Noxubee County School District moved up from an “F” to a “D”. The district…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss (WCBI) – This Fall is looking pretty sweet for some area farmers. Sweet potato harvest season has been underway since August, and growers are looking at a strong, average crop. And depending on the weather, they could see “above” average yields. The growing season got off to a slow start due to dry, hot weather in late…
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The NAACP is requesting a civil rights probe into the Jackson water crisis saying the state has long discriminated against the majority black capital. 83% of the Jackson population is African American. The civil rights organization submitted a complaint to the US Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday requesting an investigation into how federal dollars were spent when…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health says COVID-19 hospitalizations are still a big concern. However, health leaders add they are declining. That is some good news on the covid form in the Magnolia State. As of the 19th, 147 Mississippians were in the hospital sick with COVID-19. The State Department of Health is urging people to get…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Fall is definitely in the air, which means cooler temps and lower humidity. Unfortunately, that drier air can create fire dangers, especially when it’s joined by gusty winds. A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for North Mississippi and West Alabama at least through Wednesday. Low humidity and high winds can create the perfect conditions…
JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- The grades are back and the grades are in. The Mississippi State Board of Education approved accountability ratings for districts across the state, judging students’, proficiency, growth, college and career readiness, participation, and graduation rates. This is for the 2021-2022 school year, following the COVID-19 shutdown of schools. A majority of schools in our viewing area received…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – One of the largest banks in the area is changing its name. BancorpSouth is re-branding all of its offices, banking locations, and the arena in Tupelo to the Cadence Bank brand. Signs of the name change began taking shape several weeks ago, as the signage on the BancorpSouth Arena came down, and that for Cadence Bank…