COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s been a tough start for most schools in Mississippi as the Delta variant sweeps across campuses. State leaders are working to keep infections off school grounds. Statewide, schools are steadily climbing the charts with case numbers. Backpacks, books, and pens are essential in the classroom, but safety is a top priority. One by one, Coronavirus cases…
CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Calhoun County Shreriff Greg Pollan is settling into his role as head of the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association. Sheriffs from all 82 counties voted and Pollan was selected at the group’s conference in June. The organization supports its members with professional development, meetings, and encourages legislative support for law enforcement. Pollan says he proud to lead his…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Delta variant of COVID-19 has been surging all across the state, but in recent weeks the effects have been felt especially sharply in the law enforcement community. 2 sheriffs and 2 deputies in the state have died of complications from COVID, and there have been outbreaks in a number of county jails. In Calhoun…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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, 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…
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,…
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…
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, 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, 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….
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,…
SUMMARY: Wednesday looks like a wet day for many of us, with widespread afternoon showers and storms. Even wetter weather for Thursday and Friday, with cooler temps in the mid to upper 80s. Some low 80s or even upper 70s not out of the question for the wettest spots. Things rapidly dry out by the weekend, and temperatures begin to…