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Local News

Employers are looking to get and retain good employees

Local businesses and industries are hiring; however finding and keeping employees can be a challenge in a competitive workforce
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Local businesses and industries are hiring; however, finding and keeping employees can be a challenge in a competitive workforce. Companies and businesses are doing what they can to recruit and retain workers. Labor shortages have and are hitting all sectors of work. On Thursday WCBI held a job fair from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the…

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Featured, Local News

Annual field day is a popular end of year event for elementary students

Students take part in field day at Tupelo's Rankin Elementary
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It was the annual Field Day at the elementary school.  Students could take their shot at dunking a teacher in the dunking booth, there was corn hole, face painting, tug of war, potato sack races, and other games. It’s an opportunity for students to have fun as they close out a school year, and also learn…

Leo Memorial
Local News

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department honoring fallen officers

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department honored the fallen officers of years past and now they have something to show for it. Agencies across the country have participated in ceremonies for law enforcement officers week. Today, multiple local agencies gathered at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s office for a moment of silence, a song of tribute to…

Job Fair Web
Local News

Local residents come to WCBI job fair searching for new opportunity

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI ) – WCBI’s job fair had over two dozen companies and roughly 200 people coming in looking for a job. The gym floor at the Starkville sportsplex had constant foot traffic from potential employees looking for their best fit. For some, they felt the job fair was the best spot for them to sell themselves to their…

Crime
Crime, Local News

Tupelo man to spend over 16 years in federal prison

Eric Lampkin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo man will spend over 16 years in federal prison for his part in a drug trafficking operation. 40-year-old Jeremy K. Mairidith pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana in November in Federal Court in Oxford. Today, Judge Michael Mills sentenced Mairidith to 200 months in federal prison. That’s just over 16 and…

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Local News

Former Bulldog turned Titan giving back in Starkville

Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – NFL Star and former MSU Bulldog Jeffrey Simmons is helping local Boys and Girls Clubs raise money. Simmons was the special guest Tuesday night for “Sports Talk” benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Golden Triangle. Before the event on the MSU Campus, Simmons stopped by the Starkville Club to visit with members and give…

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Featured, Local News

Higher pay, summer internship part of Yokohama Tire’s plan to become Golden Triangle’s top employer

Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Yokohama Tire Manufacturing in Mississippi wants to be the employer of choice in the Golden Triangle, and the business is taking significant steps to prove that to potential employees. Philip Calhoun, Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations, estimates that the West Point plant contributes at least $6 million each year to the local economy. “We…

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Featured, Local News

M 17 Pageant winners deliver gifts to Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies

MCSO staff got gift cards to Elmo's Military Surplus Store
Allie Martin,

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – Winners of a recent beauty pageant handed out gifts of appreciation to deputies at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. Several of the queens and a king from the M 17 Pageant handed out gift cards to Elmo’s Military Surplus store to MCSO staff. The show of appreciation takes place during National Law Enforcement Appreciation Week….

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Local News

Retirement stocks have dropped and financial advisers offer tips to those that are worried

Retirement funds have been taking a hit lately, and that has some retirees and those thinking about making that move concerned
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Investing in stocks is never a guarantee. Sometimes that can be a hard lesson. Retirement funds have been taking a hit lately, and that has some retirees and those thinking about making that move concerned. When some people think of retirement they think of that money they’ve set aside for their relaxing years; however when the market…

Johnathan Slaughter
Crime, Local News

Columbus police make arrest in connection to deadly shooting

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police make an arrest in connection to a deadly shooting. 20-year-old Johnathan Slaughter is charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault. Bond has not been set. Slaughter turned himself in this afternoon to Columbus police. He’s accused of shooting and killing Amarcus McMillian at a Waterworks Road apartment this past…

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Crime, Local News

Law enforcement investigating shooting death in Lamar County

Joey Barnes,

LAMAR COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – Law enforcement is investigating a shooting death in Lamar County, Alabama. District Attorney Andy Hamlin says Lamar County deputies were called to a home on Steedley Road on Monday morning. 40-year-old Andrew Patrick Cunningham died at the home from gunshot wounds. Right now, they are calling the case a death investigation. The Lamar County Sheriff’s…

Crime
Crime, Local News

Columbus City Council discuss crime prevention for summer break

Eric Lampkin,

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…
Local News

CMSD Superintendent took proposal for modified school calendar to council

Eric Lampkin,

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…

Sim Scott Park
Crime, Local News

Columbus police are investigating a shooting at Sim Scott Park

Joey Barnes,

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…

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Crime, Local News, News Team, State News

Mississippi state auditor says crime rate contributes to “brain drain”

Joey Barnes,

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…

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Featured, Local News

Winston County high school seniors honor friend’s legacy by spreading life-saving message on organ donors

Joey Barnes,

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…

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Local News

Gas prices are surging throughout the Magnolia State

Gas prices are climbing to new levels here in Mississippi
Joey Barnes,

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…

Joyner
Featured, Local News

Students complete Joyner mural

Second graders worked months on the mural with help from Kit Stafford
Allie Martin,

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…

Paid Parking
Local News

Starkville alderman is considering a different type of paid parking

Joey Barnes,

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…

Chs Academics
Local News

Columbus High Students held annual signing day for graduating seniors

Aundrea Self,

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…