Testimony begins in murder trial in Lowndes County

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – With a jury selected, testimony began Tuesday morning in a Lowndes County murder trial. Wayne Frasier was accused of killing his wife, Natalie Ryan-Fraser, in December 2021. There was a shooting at the Cedar Street apartment in Caledonia where Wayne Fraser was staying. He had a job in the area and lived here part-time. Deputies…

Lowndes County man, his son face charges after weekend fight

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County man and his son are facing two charges after a fight over the weekend. 32-year-old Dekkar Fleming was charged with aggravated assault and robbery. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said Fleming and the victim got into an argument this past weekend. Hawkins told WCBI the victim was hit so hard they had…

Election workers gear up for Primary Runoff Elections

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Voters in Mississippi will be back at the polls on August 29 for runoffs in the Primary election. Polls will open at 7 a.m. for Runoff Elections. Oktibbeha County circuit clerk Tony Rook said it won’t be as busy but his office is still working to make sure voting runs smoothly. For circuit clerk offices and election…

Amory business owners receive tornado relief from grants

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – Eight small businesses in Amory were selected to receive $20,000 grants to rebuild from the wreckage left by the March tornadoes. These businesses were hit hard but a new opportunity for recovery is shedding new light on the city. “We reached out to several of our partners to see if we could come up with a…

Local facilities look to offer counseling for young adults

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mental Health can be an everyday struggle for people, especially young adults who are learning to navigate life, and while there are several resources available in the area, sometimes the effect of mental health can be too much for a person. According to HopkinsMedicine.org, 26% of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental…

Starkville businesses prepare for upcoming football season

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Bulldogs kicked off the 2024 Football Season this weekend. The first game will be at home, and that has Starkville businesses preparing for big crowds. A football season opener at home is a recipe for large crowds and big business in Starkville. The crowds making their way to campus and Davis Wade Stadium…

Jury selection begins in Lowndes County murder trial

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Jury selection began in a Lowndes County murder trial. Wayne Fraser was accused of killing his wife, Natalie Ryan-Fraser, in December 2021. There was a shooting at the Cedar Street apartment in Caledonia where Wayne Fraser was staying. He had a job in the area and lived here part-time. Deputies also recovered a gun at the…

Some former Hamilton daycare workers sentenced in Monroe County court

HAMILTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Some former Hamilton daycare workers accused of scaring children have been sentenced in the Monroe County Justice Court. Oci-Anna Kilburn, Sierra McCandless, Misty Shyenne Mills, and Jennifer Newman were each charged with five counts of misdemeanor child deprivation of necessities with substantial harm. Traci Hutson, the fifth daycare worker in this case, was charged with failure…

MSU releases new information about student death investigation

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State released new information about the student found dead on campus. 19-year-old Maxwell Curtis Pennebaker was found unresponsive in a vehicle Sunday afternoon. He was a sophomore building construction science major and a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Oktibbeha County Coroner Michael Hunt said foul play was not suspected. University officials have…

Longtime lawmaker from Pontotoc passes away over weekend

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – Services will be held on August 29 for a longtime North Mississippi State Representative. Mac Huddleston of Pontotoc passed away over the weekend. He has been in the State House since 2008. Huddleston was a Mississippi State University alum, a U.S. military veteran, a veterinarian, and a former deputy sheriff. Services will be at West Heights…

Police investigate another arson case in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Another abandoned home in Columbus was set on fire. Now, police are investigating a fourth arson case. Firefighters were called to the 1400 block of Seventh Street North at about 11 a.m. Fire Chief Duane Hughes said damage from the flames was contained to the front porch and front door of the home. Witnesses told investigators…

Alcorn County Tax Collector pleads guilty to fraud-related charges

JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – State Auditor Shad White announced that Former Alcorn County Tax Collector Larry Ross pleaded guilty to false representations to defraud the government. The case was prosecuted Friday in Judge Funderburk’s courtroom, where Ross accepted his plea agreement. Ross is guilty of creating a false bill of sale for a motor vehicle to lower the tax…

Oxford man arrested for allegedly making harassing phone calls, texts

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oxford man was accused of making harassing phone calls and text messages. 27-year-old Tayler Beard was charged with cyberstalking and intimidating a witness. OPD said a report was taken on August 8 about the alleged calls and texts. The charge for intimidating witnesses came later in the investigation. His bond was revoked once that charge…

Democratic nominee for Secretary of State withdraws from race

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Democratic nominee for the Secretary of State race withdrew for medical reasons. Shuwaski Young said he recently suffered a hypertensive crisis. His original intent was to continue campaigning but said he can no longer do that. Young had recently challenged Secretary of State Michael Watson to a debate. Young grew up in Neshoba County. For…

Tupelo teenager charged for shooting into motor vehicle

The arrest comes two months after an incident on North Green Street when police were called to a report of shots fired.

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo teenager is in Lee County Jail charged with shooting into a motor vehicle. Tupelo Police arrested 17-year-old Darmarion Calvin. The arrest comes two months after an incident on North Green Street when police were called to a report of shots fired. Witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene led them to develop Calvin…

MSU students evacuate from residence halls after threat was sent to police

MSU vice president for strategic communications, Sid Salter says safety is one of the top priorities at the university.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Threats at Mississippi State are not taken lightly. Friday, Aug. 25, MSU police received a threat that led to the evacuation of 4 residence halls. MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications, Sid Salter says safety is one of the top priorities at the university. “People make decisions about enrolling in a university with safety and security…

Starkville firefighters take on role of story tellers

Breaking away from their usial rountines, firefighters in Starkville put on a different kind of uniform -- that of story tellers.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Some Starkville firefighters got out of the firehouse and into the community this morning. The Fire Department teamed up with Modern Woodmen of America and the Starkville Area Arts Council,  to read to children from across the Golden Triangle, and let those children meet the people who come to the rescue in emergencies. Breaking away from their usual…

Iconic country music artist arrives in Philadelphia

People were lined up in the street waiting to get into Dolly Parton's Concert

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (WCBI) – An iconic country music artist made their arrival on Aug. 26 in Philadelphia, MS. People were lined up in the street waiting to get into Dolly Parton’s Concert. Parton put on two full performance shows at the historic Ellis Theater as a fundraiser for the Congress of Country Music. For 24/7 news and updates follow us…

Airbus celebrates 20 years in Columbus

Airbus helicopters coming out of the Golden Triangle are making an impact across the globe, but the company's impact at home is just as important.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Twenty years ago, it was a dream. Now, it is a reality. Airbus is celebrating 20 years in Columbus, Mississippi serving first responders, the Emergency Management Agency, Law enforcement, and businesses all over the nation. In Columbus, Airbus manufactures 70-90 helicopters per year for the U.S. Government. The leadership 20 years ago went to Eurocopter in France…

United Way “50K Your way” fundraiser

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Five people were able to win a bunch of money while a local organization received the support to serve their community. The United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee held its annual ‘Campaign Kickoff’ event. The nonprofit has been campaigning for its “50K Your Way” fundraiser. Winners include Lisa Smith from Columbus, Penny Weaver from Columbus, Phyllis Keys…