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Featured, Local News

State Auditor releases report on cybersecurity in public schools

Report shows mixed results when it comes to protecting students from harmful online content
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A report on cybersecurity in public school districts across Mississippi shows mixed results, according to the State Auditor. State Auditor Shad White released the report “Cybersecurity in School Districts” on Thursday.   The state auditor was the guest speaker at the Tupelo Kiwanis Club and said the report shows that some school districts are taking appropriate…

Covid Test
Coronavirus Information, Local News

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Columbus

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. Members at Allegro plaza say they’ve seen more people coming in and testing positive for the virus. For about a month they had not seen many patients coming in with symptoms or testing positive but in the last couple of weeks, they’ve seen otherwise. “Most people are presenting…

Albert Dale Chism
Crime, Local News

Clay County deputies arrest a man accused of taking a van

Joey Barnes,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Clay County deputies arrest a man accused of taking a van, with a plan. Albert Dale Chism of West Point is in the Clay County Jail charged with Grand Larceny. According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Chism stole a van out of someone else’s yard, took it to a scrapyard, and sold it for…

Joshua Whitley
Crime, Local News

Lowndes County investigators make an arrest in a deadly shooting

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County investigators make an arrest in a deadly shooting. 26-year-old Joshua Whitley is charged with second-degree murder. He remains in the Lowndes County jail waiting on his initial appearance. The shooting happened Thursday evening on Ben Christopher Road in the New Hope community. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says Whitley and 25-year-old Monique McDonald got into…

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Local News, State News

Alabama’s unemployment rate lowest in the southeast

MorrisAdmin,

ALABAMA (WCBI) – More people have joined Alabama’s workforce, keeping the state with the lowest unemployment rate in the southeast. Governor Kay Ivey announced today Alabama’s May unemployment rate is 2.7%. That’s down from April’s rate of 2.8%. Ivey says the state’s average weekly wages have risen by 20% since May 2019. In our area, Lamar County’s unemployment rate is…

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Local News

Medical members encourage folks to stay try staying cool this summer

The sun is blazing and the temperature isn't expected to cool off anytime soon
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The sun is blazing and the temperature isn’t expected to cool off anytime soon. Summer camps are going on but camp leaders say they’re monitoring kids time outside to try and keep them cool. “Try to limit our outside activity. We were outside yesterday for a kickball game and we had fun with that, but before we…

Fbi Raid
Featured, Local News

FBI raids local Columbus business J5

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Around 9 a.m. federal agencies made their way inside the J5 building in Columbus. State and local law enforcement agencies also assisted going through the building and collecting files. Here’s what we know at this moment. ” It’s bad for the city and it’s bad for J5,” said Gaven. That’s the statement former city council member Bill…

Maurice Howard
Crime, Local News

Former Aberdeen Mayor Maurice Howard charged with embezzlement

Joey Barnes,

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…

Military Town Hall
Local News

Groups in Columbus gathered for Military Town Hall meeting

Eric Lampkin,

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…

Nickolaus Cole
Crime, Local News

Grenada police make an arrest after an explosive device is found

Joey Barnes,

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….

J5
Crime, Featured, Local News

Columbus business raided by Federal Bureau of Investigation

Joey Barnes,

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…

Baby Feet Pic
Featured, Local News

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

Joey Barnes,

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…

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Local News

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
Joey Barnes,

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…

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Featured, Local News

Tek 2 Go camp introduces students to advanced manufacturing

Middle school age students get hands on lessons during unique camp
Allie Martin,

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…

School Lunch
Local News

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

Eric Lampkin,

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 Schools
Local News

Starkville Oktibbeha School District drops uniform policy

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

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…

Thermostat Pic
Featured, Local News

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

Joey Barnes,

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…

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Local News

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
Joey Barnes,

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….

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Featured, Local News

Project ELECT gets grant for its work in the community

Grant money may be used to enhance social media presence
Allie Martin,

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…