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Local News

Third grade reading scores are improving for students in Noxubee County

Scores from the third grade reading assessment show that 74 % of the state's 31,000 third graders have passed the test
Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE, Miss. (WCBI)- Reading comes easy for some, but not for everybody. Scores from the third grade reading assessment show that 74 % of the state’s 31,000 third graders have passed the test. Mississippi put the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA)  in place in 2013 to help improve reading skills for kids kindergarten through third grade. The test requires students to…

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Local News

Community Organizations are helping more people after rise in prices

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Rising prices for everyday staples like food and gas have more people than usual turning to community organizations for help. But even with the increase in requests, most are still trying to fill the needs of those who come to them. At the gas station, the grocery store, and clothing stores, prices are rising everywhere you…

Ashley N Mccoy
Crime, Local News, News Team

Woman arrested on vandalism and cyberstalking charges in Noxubee

Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- The Noxubee County Sheriff’s Department arrested a woman for alleged burglary and vandalizing church property. Investigators say Ashley McCoy of Brooksville vandalized a grave at Bigbee Valley Church among other crimes on Wednesday. McCoy is charged with Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, Cyberstalking with an Electronic Device, And Vandalism. Her bond is set at $27 thousand….

Derrick Dewayne Davis
Crime, Local News

Monroe Co. Sheriff’s office makes arrest in ongoing scam investigation

Eric Lampkin,

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office makes another arrest in an ongoing scam investigation involving identity theft and big ticket fraudulent purchases. 23-year-old Derrick Dewayne Davis, Junior of Prairie is charged with Possession of Stolen Property. Davis turned himself in. The charges are in connection with the purchase of a 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle valued between…

Greentree Apartments
Crime, Local News

Lowndes Co. deputies are investigating shooting at Greentree Apartments

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are investigating a shooting at the Greentree Apartment complex. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says a security guard was walking around patrolling the complex when he found someone inside his vehicle. That complex is just off Lehmberg Road. The security guard told deputies that he confronted the person in his vehicle. A short time…

Doc Heda
Featured, Local News

Mississippi University for Women professor researching new treatment methods for cystic fibrosis

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Dr. Ghanshyam Heda, a biology professor at the Mississippi University for Women, has spent 25 years researching treatment methods for cystic fibrosis. The disorder causes serious damage to a person’s lungs, digestive system, and other organs. According to the Mayo Clinic, the life expectancy for someone with CF is 30 to 40 (sometimes 50) years. “They…

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Local News

Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition urges volunteers to help at cooling shelters

Temperatures are blazing and that's not good for folks who have to deal with the heat all day long
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Temperatures are blazing and that’s not good for folks who have to deal with the heat all day long. Community organizations are doing what they can to help people that are homeless try and stay cool by opening cooling shelters. Homelessness is a problem everywhere, even in the golden triangle area. The Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition saw…

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Featured, Local News

Winona pd look into viral video of an officer tasing a man while handcuffed

This video has been shared nearly 800 times on Facebook. 
Joey Barnes,

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI)- Winona Police said they are “looking into” a viral video showing two of their officers arresting a man over the weekend. Witnesses believe excessive force was used, along with a taser while a person was being taken into custody. This video has been shared nearly 800 times on Facebook. Now, folks in the Montgomery County town are…

Priscilla
Featured, Local News

Tupelo is well represented in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis”

Stars and those who knew Elvis talk about the movie, and the entertainer's influence during Graceland screening
Allie Martin,

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WCBI) – The long-awaited movie about the life of Tupelo’s own Elvis Presley opens nationwide Friday.  The movie, by director Baz Luhrmann, has received critical acclaim from reviewers, and those closest to Elvis. As much as he enjoyed playing Colonel Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann’s “ELVIS’ Tom Hanks says he looked forward to seeing Austin Butler make a…

columbus police department
Local News

Columbus Police Department to receive new vehicles

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Police Department will be getting some new wheels, and the move could save money down the road. At this week’s meeting, the City Council voted to enter into a lease agreement with Enterprise to replace the Police Department’s aging cruisers. The city had figured the cost of buying some new vehicles into this year’s…

Mark Smith
Local News, State News

Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board has a new director

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board has a new director. Mark Smith was appointed to the post Thursday. Smith has been serving as the agency’s interim director since May when he replaced Stacey Pickering. Pickering served as director from 2018 until his sudden resignation in May. Smith has 40 years of combined Military experience serving in both the…

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Local News, News Team

Columbus Arts Council introduces the arts to children

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- In an economy struggling with unemployment and inflation amongst other things, it makes it difficult to raise money for the arts. Donations are key to keeping the Columbus Arts Council afloat, let alone thriving. COVID-19 was also a major wrench being thrown into the Art Council’s plans. The non-profit like many other facets of the arts was…

Grenada Growth Pic
Featured, Local News

Grenada County gets $5.3 million grant for industrial park road to continue manufacturing growth

Joey Barnes,

GRENADA, Miss. (WCBI) – The Greater Grenada Partnership announced June 14th that the county is getting a $5.3 million grant that will go towards creating a four-lane road into its industrial park. It’s the latest in a series of major investments into the county’s growing manufacturing sector. “This total access road that’s going to be built for the citizens in…

Billy B
Featured, Local News

Aberdeen native Billy B is having a living estate sale

Chance for the public to own some eclectic items from the make up artist to the stars
Allie Martin,

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – An Aberdeen native, known as the make-up to the stars, is downsizing, and now you could buy from his personal collection. John Beard has organized a lot of estate sales, but none quite like this one. “This is by far, the biggest estate sale we’ve ever done. There are thousands of items for sale,” Beard said….

Columbus's Plans To Spend Its Share Of American Rescue Plan Act Money
Local News

Columbus’s plans to spend its share of American Rescue Plan Act money

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus’s plans to spend its share of American Rescue Plan Act money continue to take shape. At a press conference Wednesday morning, Mayor Keith Gaskin discussed how the ARPA Funds have been earmarked so far. Originally, $1.3 million was set aside for incentive pay for city workers. Only about 700,000 of that will…

Genesee And Wyoming Railroad Hosted A Job Fair
Local News

Columbus and Greenville Railroad hosted a job fair

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Several area residents came out today to explore a new career track. Columbus and Greenville Railroad hosted a job fair in an effort to attract some new talent. The 100-year-old line is looking for locomotive conductors. To some, it may sound like an old-fashioned job, but modern conductors are responsible for the many operation and safety…

Lowndes County Supervisors Will Be Getting A Raise
Local News

Lowndes County Supervisors will be getting a raise

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Supervisors will be getting a raise, just not immediately. Senate Bill 27-19 passed during this year’s legislative session and increased the maximum amount County Supervisors across the State can be paid. Boards only have to vote to approve the raise and spread it on the minutes of the meeting. Lowndes County Supervisors approved…

Duane Hughes
Local News

Chief Duane Hughes is the new chief for Columbus Fire and Rescue

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The search for a new chief for Columbus Fire and Rescue is complete. Interim Chief Duane Hughes can now drop the “Interim” from that title. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Columbus City Council voted to promote Hughes to Chief on a full-time basis. Hughes replaces Chief Martin Andrews, who retired in March after 30 years in…

Operations Center1
Featured, Local News

Starkville Utilities debuts new Operations Center to expand water, electric and other services to customers

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday afternoon, Starkville Utilities held an official opening ceremony to debut its new state-of-the-art Operations Center. They invested nearly $2 million to unite their water, electric and other services in one place. “Having everybody in one location, utilizing shared facilities, shared resources, will help us and make us more efficient and make us more responsive to…

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Local News

Drone competition is underway in Starkville and its going to be essential for law enforcement

Teams from across the nation competed in the third stage of the First Responders U.A.S Triple Challenge in Starkiville
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Teams from across the nation competed in the third stage of the First Responders U.A.S Triple Challenge in Starkiville on Tuesday June 21, 2022. The competition was hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology; it featured the advances in drone technology. Competitors put their best bot forward to try and capture…