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Featured, Local News

MHP prepares ICC criminal justice students for trooper academy with new program

The C.O.R.E. program gives students a look at what it takes to be a MHP trooper
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at Itawamba Community College who want a career with the Mississippi Highway Patrol are getting a look at what it takes to prepare for the academy. On an abandoned runway at the Tupelo airport,  Mississippi Highway Patrol driving instructor Master Sergeant Sedrick Jackson is showing ICC criminal justice students how it’s done. The students are…

Truck
Local News

Enrollment rises for commercial truck driving program at EMCC

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Labor shortages and supply chain are economic issues we keep hearing about this year. And there’s one place these two issues come together. Commercial truck drivers, the people who get our goods from their source to the stores, are in short supply. Many companies are struggling to meet demands because there aren’t enough drivers to make…

Guitar
Local News

Students in Starkville spent past month building instruments

MorrisAdmin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s more than a song. It’s a hands-on way to play music. Nine guitar students in the Starkville area spent the past month building their own instruments. The workshop took place at the Idea Shop in downtown Starkville, sponsored by the MSU Department of Business and the School of Human Sciences. Jeffrey Rupp is the Director…

Turkey
Local News

Two local groups hosting a turkey drive are over halfway to their goal

MorrisAdmin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two local groups hosting a turkey drive are over halfway to their goal. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department and the Community Benefit Committee have been accepting turkey donations. They will give away the turkeys to families and individuals in need this Saturday at the soccer complex in Columbus. With just days to go before the…
Local News, State News

District Attorney Scott Colom could be headed to the federal bench

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – District Attorney Scott Colom could be headed to the federal bench. U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson has recommended him for an open position as a federal judge. Thompson confirmed earlier this week that he has sent a letter to President Biden endorsing Colom as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi….

City
Local News

Local military and business leaders hosted a town hall meeting

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Military leaders, the business community, and policymakers come together in Columbus to discuss ways to improve conditions for the area’s military personnel. Columbus Air Force Base and the Department of Defense host a Town Hall style meeting this morning to give community leaders a better understanding of the issues that affect military families. They also drove…

Mclean
Local News

State Representative McLean hopes to bring Equal Pay topic to upcoming legislative session

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An area lawmaker gives a preview of the 2022 Mississippi legislative session. District 39 State Representative Dana McLean briefed Lowndes County business and community leaders on some of the issues that the legislature is getting ready to tackle in January. At the top of that list – Medical Marijuana. Lawmakers have been working on a…

Noise Pic
Featured, Local News

Columbus passes sound ordinance to stop ‘unreasonably loud or disturbing’ noises in city limits

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The city of Columbus is taking new measures to prevent people from making “unreasonably loud or disturbing” noises within city limits. The city council approved the new sound ordinance Tuesday night that lays out specific limits for the decibel level allowed depending on the time of day and specific location in the city limits: If a…

4day City Workers
Featured, Local News, Top Story

Columbus City Council approves four-day workweek, passes pay raise for hourly employees

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Just over a year after moving to a five-day workweek, the city of Columbus will be moving back to a four-day work schedule. The city council made the decision Tuesday night and is something city workers have been hoping for. “When I came on board as mayor and started going through the budgeting process, every department…

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Featured, Local News

Lawhon Elementary students celebrate raffle ticket sales efforts

More than $15,000 raised during Disney raffle ticket sales
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at one Tupelo elementary school have reason to celebrate. They have raised a huge amount of money through raffle ticket sales. For weeks students at historic Lawhon Elementary sold five-dollar raffle tickets, for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Disney World. Those raffle ticket sales raised more than 15 thousand dollars.  Teachers whose classes…

Donovan Prather
Crime, Local News

19 year-old Lowndes Co. man will spend next 35 years in jail

MorrisAdmin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A 19-year-old Lowndes County man will spend the next 35 years in jail for his role in an armed robbery and kidnapping. It didn’t take the jury long at all to find Donavan Prather guilty of multiple charges. Prather was sentenced this morning to 10 years for aggravated assault, 30 years for armed robbery and…

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Featured, Local News

Hotel Tupelo on track to open early next year

The new boutique hotel gives a nod to Tupelo's past
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo’s newest entry in the hospitality business gives a nod to a historic predecessor. Hotel Tupelo is being built in the Fairpark District.  It is named after the original Hotel Tupelo, which, for years, was a popular spot for social gatherings, business meetings, and out-of-town guests. The new Hotel Tupelo is a boutique hotel, built by…

Log Truck
Local News

One man dead after two large trucks collided in Noxubee County

MorrisAdmin,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – One man died Wednesday morning when two big trucks collided on Highway 45 in Noxubee County. The accident happened at the intersection of Highway 45 and Highway 388. One truck was pulling a load of cotton; the other, logs. Witnesses said the driver of the 18 wheeler carrying the cotton was crossing Highway 45, heading…

Kid Edu Pic
Featured, Local News

As kindergarten readiness drops, Mississippi University for Women says early childhood learning is the answer

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – According to the scores for the 2021 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, only 31.8 percent of children in Mississippi are kindergarten-ready, down from nearly 37 percent in 2019. Educators point to the pandemic as the reason why. However, the Pre-K students at the Mississippi University for Women’s Child and Parent Development Center scored extremely high. “Children need engagement…

Img 2808
Local News

How to tell the difference between COVID-19 and the flu

It's difficult to tell the difference because the symptoms of each virus are so similar, but the effects are very different
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Getting sick is never fun especially around the fall months, and sometimes it’s tough to spot the difference between a cold and the flu. When you mix in COVID- 19; that adds to the concern. It’s difficult to tell the difference because the symptoms of each virus are so similar, but the effects are very different. “People…

Mens Health
Local News

Treatment made available for Men’s Health Awareness Month

Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- One local hospital is shedding light on Men’s Health Awareness month. North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point hosted a men’s health event Tuesday. Male patients were able to receive screenings for prostate, PSA, blood pressure, bone density, and testosterone. Dr. Ned Miller says preventative health for men is the goal. “The United States preventative services task force…

Case
Local News

Telemedicine may be revisited at the next legislative session

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Insurance companies are required to reimburse patients in Mississippi who use live telemedicine services the same as if the visits are face to face. Andy Case is the Director of Consumer Services for the Mississippi Insurance Department. As the guest speaker today at the Columbus Rotary Club, Case said the issue of telecare may be revisited…

Walking
Local News

Columbus Mayor is meeting people where they are with new walking campaign

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Meeting people where they are, that’s one of the ideas behind a new initiative by Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin. Gaskin kicked off “Walking with the Mayor” this morning in the North Columbus neighborhood of Northaven Woods. About a dozen residents joined the mayor to discuss issues facing the city and share ideas for the future as…