COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – New changes are flying into the Columbus Air Force bade as the agency is facing a 10-year pilot shortage. In December, the base will roll in new technology for students during their training. Despite the history of pilot shortages and the pandemic, CAFB had the highest number of graduates this year since 1985. “COVID affected us…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Occurrences of an ailment known as, blue tongue, are higher in 2021; over previous years. When people think of sick animals they typically don’t want to eat them, but if a deer has what is known as hemorrhagic disease or blue tongue then the consumer doesn’t have to worry. “One big difference is that chronic wasting disease…
LOWNDES / PICKENS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – According to local law enforcement, heroin is finding a place alongside opioids and other drugs along the Mississippi Alabama state line. “What the rest of the nation has been seeing with an opioid crisis, we are now seeing,” Lieutenant Kevin Forrester said. The opioid epidemic has been an issue across the United States…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A historic park in one Monroe County town is getting much needed improvements. For decades, Acker Park was center stage in Aberdeen with its swimming pool and other attractions. But after the pool closed the park was neglected until Aberdeen resident Dwight Stevens, who lives across the street, began having the park mowed regularly. He has also helped with…
MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – They were sending a message of courage and hope on Monday in Macon. Community Counseling Services teams up with leaders in Noxubee County to break the silence surrounding Domestic Violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. People in Macon kicked things off with a balloon release. Dorothy Sanders, the victim advocate coordinator for Lowndes County, says…
OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) -Keeping the community united. A group in Okolona is working to help folks in the area. “We’re just bringing awareness to communities, but it has to start somewhere,” Marsha Gates, a member of ‘Stop the Violence’, said. Violence in the community—Okolona Assistant Police Chief Sherry Hardin said it’s been a growing issue over the last few months….
SUMMARY: A cold front will clear the area Sunday night, but linger nearby with remaining moisture through Wednesday. Scattered showers and storms in the forecast for Monday afternoon, with rain chances ramping up again for Tuesday. Rain chances back off quite a bit for Wednesday, and go away entirely for Thursday and the rest of the week. Highs will be…
MACON, Miss. (WCBI)- The Dancing Rabbit Festival in Macon kicked off Saturday, October 2, 2021. Like many events, the festival wasn’t able to go on in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the town was ready to get things back up and running. “It’s just awesome to come back out here. It’s been a while since people could come and…
SUMMARY: A cold front and associated area of low pressure will be taking their sweet time moving through the southeast, so we have to deal with a few more days of cloudy and rainy weather. Rain chances look highest on Sunday, with less coverage of rain for Monday. Rain chances increase again for Tuesday, before tapering off for Wednesday and…
SUMMARY: Rain chances return to the forecast in the form of scattered showers and storms on Saturday afternoon. As a front approaches the area on Sunday, rain chances become much more widespread. Rain chances drop for Monday, with only scattered showers sticking around through Wednesday. Highs will be in the mid 80s Saturday, low 80s Sunday to Tuesday, and in…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Over the last month, law enforcement officers in the area have seen an increase in arrests connected to meth. Lowndes County Narcotics officers have confiscated more than 30 grams of meth this week. “There is nothing natural about methamphetamines. It will take you places that you wouldn’t normally go,” Lieutenant Kevin Forrester said. Kevin Forrester…
SUMMARY: Rain chances return to the forecast in the form of scattered showers and storms on Saturday afternoon. As a front approaches the area on Sunday, rain chances become much more widespread. Rain chances drop for Monday, with only scattered showers sticking around through Wednesday. Highs will be in the mid 80s Saturday, low 80s Sunday to Tuesday, and in…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The city of Columbus celebrated its 39th annual 7th Avenue Heritage Festival. Historically, 7th Avenue was considered the cornerstone for African American businesses in Columbus. It was also the birthplace of the Queen City Hotel, which housed artists like B.B. King, Duke Ellington, and more when they traveled through the area. Thursday, the festival recognizes one of…
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Stores and businesses across Mississippi and the United States are once again dealing with a shortage of products on their shelves and in their warehouses thanks to the pandemic. The root cause is the disruption of supply chains all over the globe. “They’re telling us they expect this to last through next year, through 2022,” says…
COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) – SUMMARY: We received widespread showers the first half today, but rain has ended this evening across the region. We will remain dry tomorrow and Saturday before rain returns Sunday afternoon. TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy and muggy overnight. Low temperatures will reach the middle 60s. Chance of rain: 10%. FRIDAY: Overcast early with patchy AM fog then becoming…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police continue to search for a gunman after Wednesday night shooting. A juvenile was hit by the gunfire. Police Chief Fred Shelton says that girl was treated and released from the hospital. He declined to give her age. When officers arrived at the shooting on 18th Street North, they found out the victim was driven…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville went to the dogs today! Not the football team but an actual K9 ready to serve. Mayor Lynn Spruill swore in the Starkville police department’s newest officer, Kojack. He was joined by MSU’s mascot bully, along with K9 officers from the MSU police department and Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office. Pups from across town were invited…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – School districts in Mississippi will not receive a letter grade this year for state test results. It’s unclear how or if this will impact schools still under the state’s control, such as the Noxubee County School District. The Mississippi Department of Education is making the scores in each district public. Noxubee Schools have been under…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Three teachers received an A plus for our essay contest and today they received their prize. A 500 dollar check to decorate their classroom. We paid a visit to Delois Mickens, a teacher at Noxubee County High school. Mickens appreciated the voters who supported her and talked about what she plans to do with the…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Julie Heintz of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is one of the winners in the WCBI Back to School Essay Contest. Today, she received a check for 500 dollars from Monroe County Farm Bureau. Teachers were challenged to write an essay about how they would spend the money in their classrooms. Heintz’s plans…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A shooting on Columbus’ Northside sends a child to the hospital. Columbus Police and Emergency crews were called to a reported shooting on 18th Street, near Sim Scott Park around 7:30 Wednesday Night. When they got to the scene, they were told the victim, a child had been taken to the hospital in a personal vehicle….
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday was the day that many tenants of the Catherine Street apartment complex in Starkville have been dreading. For more than a month, residents, many with lower incomes, children and in some cases, disabilities, have faced mass eviction after new owner Ferretti Property Services chose not to renew their leases. “They knew the day was coming,”…