Columbus city council holding proposed budget meeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday night Columbus city council’s proposed budget hearing will have a number of surprises and changes. Right now, the $24.4 million dollar budget recommendation includes reducing the size of the police force but raising salaries. Other highlights include raising the city worker minimum wage to $12.50 cents an hour and giving elected officials a pay raise….

Mississippi State University’s Music Department under one roof

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University’s Music Department is now under one roof. A new, 37,000 square foot building off Hardy Road is just north of the former band and choral rehearsal hall. The new facility features classrooms, a choral rehearsal hall, sound-proof practice rooms, a recital hall, and even a recording studio, along with faculty and administration offices…

FEMA gives money to families for funeral expenses

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -An unexpected death can bring heartbreak to those left behind. And in the days following, it can also bring unexpected debt. It has happened to families who have lost loved ones to Covid19. But if you are eligible, FEMA can help. The federal agency is reimbursing families for funeral costs – if they are citizens, the death…

MSU North Parking Garage officially open

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State students and staff are finding more parking spaces this semester. The $14 million MSU golf course and you will need to pay. It will cost you $1.50 to park there for one hour and $2.50 for each additional hour. The daily maximum charge is $25 dollars. There are 500 parking spaces in the garage….

MSU golf course open after summer refurbishment project

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – If plan to hit the links at the MSU golf course it will have new look and feel. The course closed back on May second for a refurbishment. New grass was installed on the greens and the old ones were stripped. The approach to the 9th hole was also renovated. Now, the five hundred thousand dollar…

Fundraisers help West Point library put inclusive books on the shelves

Fundraisers help West Point library put inclusive books on the shelves

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)-  The Bryan Public Library in West Point is adding to its book collection thanks to the help of community members–and complete strangers from across the nation. You’ve likely noticed the PRIDE display inside the Bryan Public Library. Michael Williams spearheaded a fundraiser to get more LGBTQ+ books at the library. “In our small town, I know…

New firetruck increases safety at GTRA

  LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – “It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it”. The Golden Triangle Regional Airport is taking that saying to heart. The airport recently took delivery of a second Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Truck. The state of the art Striker 4 x 4 truck can carry up to 1,700…

Noxubee County third grade reading scores are up

It's been a long summer for some third graders, waiting to see if they passed the state reading test that

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s been a long summer for some third graders, waiting to see if they passed the state reading test that allows them to go to the fourth grade. Teachers and administrators weren’t pleased with scores initially but have since worked to improve them. Some students excel on the first try while others improved on the second…

Columbus Businesses suffer from car break-ins in the area

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -There has been a rise in auto burglaries in Columbus lately, and police want car owners and businesses to remember the basics. It isn’t unusual to see a rise in crime during the summer as more people have more downtime. But during this time of the year car burglaries seem to be more frequent, but in some…

The shopping center in Starkville is almost open for the public

Many people have passed it on highway 12 in Starkville watching and waiting

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Many people have passed it on highway 12 in Starkville watching and waiting. Triangle Crossing is almost ready to open; some stores are closer to Opening Day than others. Triangle Crossing will open soon, and developers expect the parking lot, and highway 12 to be full. The center will include Aldi, Rack Room Shoes, Marshalls, and more….

Truck caught on fire due to electrical issues, no injuries reported

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A vehicle fire on Highway 82 near the Communiversity and the GTR airport exit could have been worst for a truck driver hauling a load. A man headed east attempted to extinguish this truck when black smoke erupted. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department says it was an electrical issue. The truck looks were heavily damaged…

International Paper is celebrating forty years in Lowndes County

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It was a celebration forty years in the making. The staff of International Paper is celebrating forty years in Lowndes County. International’s Columbus Mill opened in 1982. It was originally operated by Weyerhaeuser and joined the International family in 2016. The mill produces fluff, paper grade, and specialty products that are shipped to manufacturers around the…