Meteorologist Dylan Hudler reports tornado damage from Monroe County

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Rain and wind may have awakened you this morning. For most people, thunderstorms rolled through communities across central and north Mississippi. And as WCBI Meteorologist Dylan Hudler reported from Monroe County, there was even tornado damage. Dylan Huddler: Dylan Huddler reporting in Southwestern Monroe County right now, right beside Highway 45 alternate and Highway 25…

Cultivated Wellness Dispensary held medical cannabis educational event

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It was an opportunity for those interested in medical marijuana to see how they can qualify and get other questions answered. Cultivated Wellness Dispensary held a free educational event for those interested in qualifying for medical cannabis. The Tupelo business will sell medical marijuana and hold an open house to let people know how to apply…

Local United Way takes donations to provide supplies to area teachers

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Some teachers in our viewing area won’t be short on supplies when they return to class this semester. The United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee is taking donation supplies and boxing them up to give to over 350 teachers. The donations will be provided to schools in Lowndes, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha Counties. Organizers want educators to…

Mississippi Supreme Court denies rehearing request for Robert Devaull

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – A Mississippi Supreme Court ruling in the Aberdeen Ward One election will stand. The state’s highest court denied Robert Devaull’s request for a rehearing. This past September the court ruled that a special election should not have been ordered by a special judge in the Ward One race. Devaull won that special election against Nicholas Holliday…

Monroe Regional Hospital suffers minor damage from storms

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The storms that rolled through Monroe County this morning also had an impact on emergency services in the area. Monroe County Emergency Management Director reported that Monroe Regional Hospital in Aberdeen suffered roof damage. While the damage was reportedly minor, at least two patients had to be moved. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us…

Federal prosecutors seek to unfreeze Court Square Towers from J5 assets

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to remove Court Square Towers from a list of property and assets frozen after the indictment of Jabari Edwards and Antwann Richardson. The move comes as the building’s original owner seeks to foreclose on the property. According to court documents, J5 Towers LLC, a company formed by Edwards, agreed to…

Lightning strikes tree, damages home in Columbus

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The intense lightning put on quite the show even damaging a home in Columbus. Lowndes County EMA Director Cindy Lawrence shared these photos with us. She said lightning struck a tree and went through a home on Lehmberg Road. Thankfully, no one was hurt. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Categories: Local…

Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley running for governor

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Longtime Northern District Public Service Commissioner, Brandon Presley, is running for governor. He was first elected to the commission in 2007. The Nettleton native also served as mayor of his hometown. Presley said he believes the state government and current Governor Tate Reeves are disconnected from the needs of working people. Gregory Wash will face Presley…

Vandalism blamed for outage with Tombigbee Fiber customers

Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley encourages anyone with information on the crime to come forward

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Vandalism is being blamed for an outage affecting thousands of customers of Tombigbee Fiber. Although the issue was fixed the same day, the search is now on for those responsible. The outage was first reported Tuesday morning and was caused by vandalism. Tombigbee Fiber CEO Scott Hendrix said someone cut through these cables on County…

Fire station in Chickasaw County is thankful for its community

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Firefighters are used to responding to their communities in times of need. Now, in Chickasaw County, the community is returning the favor. Fighting fires and answering other emergency calls is hard enough, but it’s even more of a challenge when you don’t have all the equipment you need close by. That’s what the Thorne Volunteer…

Tupelo Community Theatre Executive Director Tom Booth dies at 68

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A leader in the arts community in Northeast Mississippi has passed away. Tom Booth, executive director of the Tupelo Community Theatre, died from natural causes. Booth, who was 68, began his service as executive director of TCT in 1992. He was prominent in the local, regional and national community theatre family. He led TCT to many…

Governor Reeves issues directive to ban TikTok from all government devices

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi joined a growing number of states where Tik Tok is banned on government-issued devices and the state’s network. Governor Tate Reeves announced the directive this afternoon. The letter was sent to state departments and agency heads. He said this is to safeguard sensitive information and protect critical infrastructure from the Chinese-based app. State employees must…

Pontotoc man in prison for illegally possessing unemployment benefit cards

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – A man from Pontotoc will serve four years in prison for illegal possession of unemployment benefit cards. 28-year-old Deonte Dilworth was sentenced Wednesday in federal court after pleading guilty. In addition to the four-year sentence, Dilworth will be on probation for three years after his release. He was also ordered to pay more than 202,000 in…

Macon Police, Miss. Bureau of Narcotics investigate pharmacy break-in

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Macon Police and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are investigating a pharmacy break-in. Macon Police Chief Davine Beck told WCBI that video surveillance showed that two burglars heaved a cinderblock through the window of City Drug on Jefferson Street between 3 and 4 this morning. A passerby noticed the damage later and alerted the owner, who…

Infant dies from COVID-19 in Mississippi, MSDH confirms

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Another Mississippi infant has died from COVID-19. The Mississippi State Department of Health confirmed the passing today. The child was under the age of one. The agency did not release when the child died or where. Records from MSDH show 14 children under the age of 18 have died from COVID since 2020. Most of the deaths…

Friends, family, colleagues honor life of George Bryan

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Business leader George Bryan is laid to rest today. Bryan was known for his business, charity work, and efforts to help the area grow. The Clay County native had his hand in many projects that improved West Point. He also worked with economic developers to entertain and meet with executives that were thinking about bringing…

MSDH reports deadly fungal outbreak as “serious situation”

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health is calling the outbreaks of a deadly fungus a “rapidly expanding and serious situation”. Candida Auris, or C. Auris, is a fungus that is highly resistant to most major anti-fungal drugs. It can enter the bloodstream and move throughout the body, and it has been causing outbreaks in healthcare facilities. There…

Parents face charges after child is found wandering alone

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The parents of a child found wandering the streets of Columbus are facing charges. Tyler Williams and Elett Lowery are both charged with two counts of misdemeanor child neglect. The three-year-old child was found walking down the railroad tracks near College and 22nd Streets South. He was not harmed but Columbus police did make a push…

GTR Airport Executive Director explains effects of FAA system failure

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds of flights were canceled Wednesday morning after a failure in the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions System. This computer system communicates with pilots and alerts them of safety hazards. GTR Airport Executive Director Matt Dowell explained how it has affected the Golden Triangle and the importance of taking those precautions. “This NOTAM system is…