25 people arrested in Lowndes County drug bust

A 15 month sting operation comes to an end

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department arrest 25 suspects during a drug bust. Here is a press release of the investigation sent to WCBI by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department: Clean Sweep “Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office 527 MLK Jr. Drive South Columbus, MS 39701 Phone: 662-328-6788 Fax: 662-328-1136 Media Release from Sheriff Eddie Hawkins “Clean Sweep” Lowndes…

Antibody treatment could help keep COVID patients out of the ICU

Winston Medical Center has admintered Monoclonal Regeneron Antibody treatments

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A positive test COVID-19 doesn’t mean hospitalization for every patient with a new treatment. “I don’t know that it kept me out of the hospital, but I’d rather not take that chance and find out,” Matt Woodward said. Matt Woodward is an employee at Winston Medical Center in Louisville. After testing positive for COVID, he chose…

Another Stormy Saturday Ahead

  SATURDAY: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible at any point through the day. A few storms could contain frequent lightning and gusty winds during the afternoon. Highs will range from the upper-80s to the low-90s. Chance of rain: 60%. SATURDAY NIGHT: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will give way to a mostly cloudy sky overnight. Overnight lows in the…

A couple more rainy days; Drying out but heating up next week

SUMMARY: We will continue seeing widespread chances of showers & storms as we end of the workweek into the weekend. The summer heat and humidity will be making a comeback this weekend into next week as we dry out. Highs will be in the 90s with heat indices likely 100+ degrees. Take precautions to stay cool and hydrated! FRIDAY: It’s…

NMHS forms coalition for COVID-19 vaccination for area physicians to share vaccine facts and the personal toll the pandemic has taken on them

"You're worth a shot"

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take an emotional and physical toll on doctors and nurses in Mississippi as the state’s number of cases rise and its vaccination rate remains low. “It is tragic for us to hear (patients) say before they pass, ‘if only I’d been vaccinated,’” says North Mississippi Health Services Chief Medical Officer Dr….

Nursing homes push to vaccinate more staff members

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Nursing homes continue to work tirelessly to protect patients. The surge in Coronavirus numbers is pushing facilities to vaccinate staff members. One facility here in Columbus is approaching complete vaccination to keep workers and patients safe. 180 is the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities across Mississippi. There’s been a total of 266 cases in…

Mini pantries across Lowndes County helping families

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County charity is helping feed families in need. The Community Benefit Committee’s Blessed Boxes program  has 16 boxes throughout the county for people to leave non-perishable foods and other essentials. Anyone can stop by and take what they need for themselves or their families. Group members say they need the community’s help to keep…

Stormy Friday Then Warmer Next Week

SUMMARY: Showers and thunderstorms are possible the rest of the evening, with localized flooding in the strongest storms. Rain chances will decrease as we reach the weekend, but temperatures will be on the increase to start the work week. FRIDAY: Isolated showers and thunderstorms will become more numerous through the afternoon. Rain may be heavy at times with localized flooding…

Another unsettled rainy day ahead for our Thursday

  SUMMARY: We have been dealing with a few rounds of rain overnight and another round is moving in this Thursday morning. It’s just the beginning of another unsettled day across the region. We will continue seeing widespread chances of showers & storms as we end of the workweek. The summer heat and humidity will be making a comeback this…

Mississippi Highway Patrol reminding drivers to stop for buses

School buses are back on the roads; it's time to slow down

  STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – State troopers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol are asking drivers to slow down and follow the rules of the road – especially when it comes to buses. State law says you must stop for a school bus. It doesn’t matter which direction you are headed. If the bus is stopped, you need to stop as…

Scooters rolling again in Starkville

After a bumpy road Bird is back in Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – After hitting a few bumps in the road, Bird Scooters are back in Starkville. Earlier this Summer, the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to ban scooters in the city. Mayor Lynn Spruill vetoed that move, and the outgoing Board voted to override that veto. Last month, the newly elected Board of Aldermen reinstated the city’s contract…

Fight erupts in the back of Columbus school bus that ends with eighth grade girl getting dragged out by her hair

Three students were arrested and suspended from school

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, a fight broke out in the back of a Columbus school bus that ended with a girl being dragged out by her hair and three students being arrested. An Instagram video shows the fight that erupted on the bus as it drove down Bluecutt Road to bring students home from class. Jessica Mccaa says her…

Masks making a comeback in Columbus

Masking to be required in city-owned buildings

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Masks are back in place in all city owned buildings in Columbus. City council members voted for the mandate Tuesday night. Mayor Keith Gaskin says the council will discuss the possibility of returning to a city-wide mask ordinance when they meet on August 26th. Gaskin says there are a lot of opinions out there. He says…

Columbus grocery stores are filled with cleaning supplies and toiletries

Last year many things were bought out because of people buying in bulks

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Aside from college students coming back to school and clearing out stores;  shelves have been pretty full recently. That’s a big difference from last year when panic buying left many of those same shelves bare. “Last year I know we’d come in the store looking for like tissue, paper towel, Lysol and it was just hard to…

New Fulton Mayor Lays Out Goals For Next Four Years

FULTON, MISS. (WCBI) – The new mayor of Fulton is settling into her new role and has some big plans for the growing city. Emily Quinn was sworn into office as Fulton’s newest mayor about six weeks ago, and apart from a calm first day, has been busy ever since. “I can remember the first day, sitting here and thinking,…

Rain & storm chances for the rest of the workweek

SUMMARY: Showers and a few thundershowers are pushing through the far NW sections of the WCBI Viewing Area. We will be seeing increased chances of showers & storms as we head into the second half of the workweek. The summer heat and humidity will be making a comeback this weekend into next week as we dry out. WEDNESDAY: Keep the umbrella…

Manslaughter indictments for cousins involved in fatal wreck

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Two cousins are indicted after an investigation into a deadly Columbus accident. Joseph and Dustin Gwathney were both indicted by a Lowndes County grand jury. Joseph Gwathney is charged with culpable negligence manslaughter and his bond is $65,000.00. Dustin Gwathney is charged with manslaughter. His bond is $150,000.00. They are scheduled to go to trial in…

Columbus Police arrest second suspect in connection with deadly neighborhood shootout, murder investigation far from over

Investigators still searching for two persons of interest

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday night, the Columbus Police Department announced a second arrest in connection with a deadly shootout in Columbus’s Southside in December. “If we could’ve arrested a person that night for this murder, that would have been better,” says Police Chief Fred Shelton. But CPD says the ongoing investigation into the murder of 20-year-old Frank Edwards is…

Aberdeen Main Street Looks To Move Forward With Historic Hotel Renovation

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – Aberdeen Main Street is trying to find the best path forward when it comes to renovating a historic hotel. Over the past twenty years or so, Chris Chain has helped develop more than two hundred apartments in downtown Columbus. That is one reason the developer was brought in as a consultant for the Parkway Hotel Project….

COVID-19 testing sites are becoming more available for people in Columbus

COVID-19 testing is back in full swing in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- As COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise, health care officials are doing whatever it takes to keep workers and patients safe. The Baptist Memorial Group started a drive-through testing site for people who may feel they’re having symptoms. The surge in the Delta Variant of COVID-19 is causing a comeback of sorts. After months focused on vaccinations,…

Fred staying to our east but rain chances stick around

SUMMARY: We are starting off the new workweek on a rainy note with increased chances as we’re also watching Tropical Storm Fred as it’s hours away from landfall. We’ll be on the weaker side with minimal impacts. Rain & storm chances will stick around through the second half of the workweek into the weekend. TROPICS: All eyes are on the…

Family and community members hold a vigil for judy baxter

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI)- Friends, family, and community members came together for a vigil of Judy Baxter. Baxter is known for her productive role in the community and touched so many lives in the county. Monroe County Sheriff’s office has asked for prayer for the Baxter family. This comes after Amory Police Department release a statement saying a homicide occurred on…