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Featured, Local News

Tupelo City Council approves changes to development code for medical marijuana businesses

The amendments regulate medical cannabis businesses
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Tupelo City Council members have voted to amend the city’s development code to show where medical cannabis businesses can and can’t locate. Elliot Johnston opened “Hempsters” almost one year ago.  The west Tupelo business is a hemp dispensary, but Johnston plans on cultivating and selling medical marijuana, once the city finalizes its guidelines. “We would most likely…

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Local News

COVID conversation slows down as spring rolls around

Two years ago; COVID-19 began spreading through the south
Joey Barnes,

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI)- Two years ago; COVID-19 began spreading through the south. It was the beginning of masks and quarantine and a strain on hospitals and the people who work there. The spread appears to have slowed, and doctors and nurses say they have learned a lot. Medical researchers say we may always live with some form of coronavirus. Hospital…

Columbus Cfo
Featured, Local News

New Columbus CFO embraces challenge of fixing city’s financial problems

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday was Jim Brigham’s first day on the job as Chief Financial Officer for the City of Columbus. He’s already hitting the ground running. “We’re looking at catching up on some of the accounting that’s behind, some of the account reconciliations, making sure that our payables and receivables are up-to-date, just getting things organized,” Brigham says….

Cpd
Crime, Local News

Video released of Columbus PD appearing to throw handcuffed suspect

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – New video tonight of a Columbus police officer appearing to throw a handcuffed suspect to the ground. Now, the city council will discuss what happened. Through a public records request, WCBI obtained body camera video of a March 19th incident on Waverley Ferry Road. Police were there to arrest an erratic acting man. He was eventually…

Board Of Supers
Local News

Two Lowndes Co. supervisors explain voting against sportsplex

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two Lowndes County supervisors want to set the record straight on why they voted against a 12 million dollar sportsplex plan. Jeff Smith and Leroy Brooks say the proposal should include more options. The District 4 and 5 supervisors also believe whatever the county builds will have a direct impact on recreation in the city…

Mdot Video
Local News

Video released of possible tornado going by MDOT office

MorrisAdmin,

NEWTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Attached is the video of a possible tornado. It was caught on tape by a security camera at the District 5 MDOT office in Newton. No one was injured. And, as soon as the storm passed, MDOT workers from this office were on the road clearing debris on US Highway 80. The highway was closed for several…

Teen Missing
Crime, Featured, Local News

Lee County investigators searching for one missing teen

MorrisAdmin,

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Investigators have located one missing teenager. But they are still searching for the other. The two girls were believed to be runaways. Lee County Youth Court Judge Staci Bevill has released their photographs in hopes of locating them. 16-year-old Serena Beckley was last seen on Anderson Road in Pontotoc on Sunday, April 3rd. She is…

Chieft Justice Rotary
Local News

Chief Justice is promoting intervention program for drug offenders

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Add Mississippi’s top judge to the list of those supporting the expansion of the state’s drug courts. Mike Randolph, Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, was in Columbus Tuesday promoting the intervention program as an alternative to sentencing some drug offenders to prison. The state’s high court hopes to establish 16 new intervention courts in…

Rodrick Johnson
Crime, Local News

Opening arguments begin in Clay County murder trial

Joey Barnes,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Opening arguments begin this morning in a Clay County murder trial. Roderick Johnson is one of three men accused of shooting and killing James White. White was killed in May 2015 at a mobile home on Dixie Road in Clay County. Two others were indicted in connection with the shooting. Raheem Johnson was convicted and…

Chickasaw Co Er
Featured, Local News

Mississippi bill could bring freestanding emergency rooms to Chickasaw County and other rural areas

Joey Barnes,

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday, the Mississippi State Senate followed the House passed a bill that would create freestanding emergency rooms in rural counties that do not have one. Chickasaw County is one them. “In a life or death situation, you have your Golden Hour they taught us that that person needs to get to critical care,” Chickasaw County EMA…

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Local News

Past severe weather helps implement new plan

An EF-5 tornado devastated the small town of Smithville  just over a decade ago
Joey Barnes,

SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Severe weather is all too common this time of year; how people prepare for storms is often influenced by whether or not they been through one. An EF-5 tornado devastated the small town of Smithville  just over a decade ago, and the lessons learned from that experience still affect preparation today Smithville principal Chad O’Brian was the…

Mema Storm
Local News, State News

31 counties reporting damage from March 30th storms

Joey Barnes,

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – 31 counties are now reporting damage from last week’s severe weather that rolled across the state. In our area, 15 homes were damaged in Calhoun County and ten houses were damaged in Yalobusha and Attala Counties. Attala is reporting ten homes and four in Lafayette. Numbers from Noxubee are incomplete. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says…

Shedrick Shanklin
Crime, Local News

Man indicted in connection to Macon shooting

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A man is indicted in connection to a Macon shooting. Shedrick Shanklin is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, shooting into a dwelling, and arson. A Noxubee County grand jury recently returned the indictment. The shooting happened in December 2020 on North Turner Road. Two people were inside the home when the shots were fired….

Tpd Chief
Local News

Kelly Elliott takes the reins as the next Tupelo Fire Chief

Joey Barnes,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Kelly Elliott takes the reins as the next Tupelo Fire Chief. He was sworn in this morning at the BancorpSouth Conference Center. Mayor Todd Jordan made the recommendation last month to the city council. Elliott was the Fire Chief for the 172nd Airlift Wing of the Mississippi National Guard. He has over 30 years of experience…

Sign Drama
Local News

Starkville sign ordinance takes effect in one month

Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The clock is ticking for some businesses in Starkville. Those that haven’t complied with the city’s sign ordinance now only have one month to make the necessary changes. May 5th is the deadline to replace all pole-mounted signs with a lower profile, monument-style signage. The city is in the process of surveying affected areas to see…

Board Of Supers
Local News

Lowndes County Sportsplex one step closer to becoming reality

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The long-awaited Lowndes County Sportsplex is a step closer to reality but many questions remain about the future. Supervisors awarded a $12.3 million bid to West Brothers Construction on Monday. That’s several million dollars below the estimate. Included in the plans are eight baseball fields, a multi-purpose facility, a parking lot, a playground, and a…

Fire 040422
Local News

Lowndes County couple loses house during early morning fire

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County couple loses their home in an early morning fire. Fire Coordinator Neil Austin says the blaze happened on Mason Drive West, just after 3:30 AM. The homeowners reported hearing a noise on the back porch and went to investigate. They found a wall of flames and were able to escape without injury….

Aberdeen Pilgrimage Brings History To Life
Featured, Local News

Aberdeen Pilgrimage brings history to life

Allie Martin,

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – The popular event is back in Aberdeen after a three-year hiatus.  The Aberdeen Pilgrimage began today and there are lots of activities for this year’s event. History comes to life as Pilgrimage visitors step onto the front porch of “The Magnolias”.  The antebellum home was built in 1850 and is one of four homes on the…

Kiddd
Local News

MSU fraternity raises money to give back to kids in the community

MorrisAdmin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) -MSU’S Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity is raising funds for their community members, one dollar at a time. All donations will be given to the Boys and Girls Club of Starkville. Burgers are on the grill and carnival rides are getting started. “It’s really important for us as a chapter to be involved in the Starkville community and…

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Local News

Children in the community get the chance to Touch a truck in Starkville

MorrisAdmin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Sudduth Elementary hosted Touch a Truck this weekend. Students got the opportunity to meet the first responders and learn more about their role in the community. Touch-A-Truck gives area children an opportunity to check out different vehicles and machinery. Coordinators says this event could spark inspiration for children in the future. “They get to meet the…

Gas Sm
Local News

Community of Columbus bans together to clean the city

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -The Friendly City is working together to become a clean city. This weekend the community of Columbus started the ‘Pick it up, possum town’ project The project originated from Mayor Keith Gaskin. While this is just day one of the clean-up efforts. Each person I talked to says they feel it will make a difference. In the…