Kratom concerns rise in Mississippi

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Recently, two students at the University of Mississippi passed away from an overdose, with the first report showing kratom being a possible cause. Kratom is a highly addictive drug that gives users the same effects as an opioid with pain relief. However, there are also synthetic products claiming to contain it. These are non-regulated products that…

Pleasant Start to the Weekend

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) — No more brutally hot nineties or triple digits this weekend! Just sunshine, some clouds, and temperatures in the eighties. Almost makes you want to grab a pumpkin spice latte on your way to a high school football game this evening… FRIDAY: Temperatures will be in the sixties and seventies through the morning hours. During the afternoon,…

Seasonable Conditions Through the End of the Week

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) — Seasonable fall temperatures are here, with highs staying below 90° and lows in the 60s. This is certainly a change from the hot summer conditions of the past several weeks. THURSDAY: Today’s high temperature will be around 86° — very seasonable for this time of year. The average high for Columbus is actually 86° as well,…

Elvis Presley Birthplace on a mission to attract more locals with special community centered events

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – On a recent weekend, parents and their kids were taking a guided stroll around the “Reflections”  pond at the Elvis Presley Birthplace. And inside, group activities led by instructors at the Tupelo Music Academy. While the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually to the historic 15 acre site, the birthplace staff…

The 80’s Are Here!

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) – After a passing cold front, temps have finally gotten out of the 90’s and into the 80’s for the afternoon highs! TONIGHT – Tonight the lows will cool all the way into the mid-60’s for the first time since early June. Low temps plus drier air will make a comfortable evening to be outdoors. TOMORROW AND…

Breezy Fall Day

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) — As we get into the first full day of fall, plenty of sunshine and breezy conditions will be a welcome change for many from the blistering heat and humidity of the past several weeks. WEDNESDAY: The high temperature for the Golden Triangle and areas south of Highway 8 will be around 92°. However, there is a…

Mississippi Business Alliance makes a stop in Columbus for Business Forward Tour

COLUMBUS, MS – The Mississippi Business Alliance made a stop in Columbus today for their Business Forward Tour. MBSA is taking from August until October to travel statewide to speak with industry leaders about what their businesses need. The meeting features live polling where individuals can point out some of the issues and concerns, they think need to be addressed…

Webster County man arrested in Arkansas after early morning shooting

MABEN, Miss. (WCBI) – A man wanted for a shooting in Oktibbeha County has been arrested in Arkansas. Police from McGehee and Dumas, Arkansas arrested Jonathan Frost of Webster County after a short chase. Frost was wanted for a shooting that happened early Tuesday morning at a Maben gas station. Around 5:20 AM, Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a…

Area author talks about his work and his process

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a saying, “Everybody has one book in them”. A Starkville man has proven that four times over – so far. Stephen Palmer was talking about those books and his process to the Starkville Rotary Club Monday. Palmer, a lawyer by training, has completed four books and is working on a fifth. He describes his writing…

Volunteer firefighters sell sweet treats for vital gear

PONTOTOC COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – Volunteer Fire Department Chiefs from across Pontotoc County are making sure cases of shortbread cookies are ready to sell. A shipment of ten thousand boxes of “Firemen Cookies” has just arrived.   The shortbread cookies will be sold,  for eight dollars a box.   District 5 Supervisor Randy Ray came up with the unique fundraising idea, …

City of Aliceville opens temporary Community Dumpster for residents

ALICEVILLE, Ala. – The city of Aliceville has placed a community dumpster available to residents in the city limits. The dumpster is located at the Aliceville compound at 315 Alabama Street Southwest. This gives residents an opportunity to dispose of some things in their yards or around their house that otherwise might require a trip to the landfill. Aliceville City…

Fall (Finally) Got the Memo

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) — With the autumnal equinox marking the start of fall today at 7:05 p.m., temperatures will finally start to become more seasonable, not even reaching the 90s by the end of the week. However, those slightly cooler temps are still a couple of days away — things will still be very warm outside for today. TUESDAY: The…

Dip in temperatures

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) – Fall begins Tuesday evening and a dip in temperatures is on the way! MONDAY NIGHT: There will be a continued chance for isolated showers and storms through the overnight hours. Temperatures will drop into the upper 60s. There will also be a chance for some patchy fog into the earliest hours of the morning. Stay aware…

Relief on the Horizon?

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) – A front passing early this week will allow temps to finally cool into the upper 80’s. TODAY – This Monday will still feel the effects of the heat dome as temps continue to climb into the upper 90’s and a heat index up to 102. Storms will also manage to sweep through the corner later this…

Amory Police make 3 arrests in August shooting death

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – Amory Police have made three arrests in last month’s fatal shooting. Officers arrested 22-year-old Omorion Ja’Norice Nelson, 19-year-old Caleb James Whitfield, and 22-year-old Ahkeemus Buckner. All three men are facing one charge each of murder and two charges each of aggravated assault. Police responded to reports of a shooting on East Avenue on the night of…

2 injured in Macon shooting

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Two men are injured after a shooting in Macon, now police are searching for the shooter. Thursday, Macon Police were called to the Sanco Store on the South end of town. There they found two victims with gunshot wounds. One of them was taken to a hospital by helicopter. The other was taken by ambulance. Their…

Hot and Sunny Weekend

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) – The September Heat Wave continues this weekend bringing more unbearable temps. FRIDAY NIGHT – Another night of uncomfortable evening conditions are expected. Friday night football games will be clear for rain, but not from the low 80’s. Eventually, temps will cool into the low 70’s overnight. THIS WEEKEND – Saturday continues the hot streak with air…

Hot Today, Hot Tomorrow, Hot on Sunday, Too

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) — Plenty of sunshine will keep us feeling very hot through the weekend, with temperatures expected to get into the triple digits every day through Sunday. FRIDAY: Today’s high temperature will be around 100°. Maximum heat index values will get up to around 104° in the southern half of our area, and over 105° in our northern…

Mississippi University for Women making The Constitution fun and accessible on Constitution Day

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi University for Women recognized Constitution and Citizenship Day with special activities, including helping students register to vote. The Department of History, Political Science, and Geography at MUW hosted a Constitution and Citizenship Day celebration in front of Fant Library Thursday morning. The event featured some yard games, Constitutional trivia,a nd a patriotic photo boot, The…

City of Aberdeen celebrates the nation’s most important document

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Monroe County residents gathered in Aberdeen today to celebrate what many consider the nation’s most important document, The United States Constitution. This year marks the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution Members of the Tombigbee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with members of the Cotton Gin Port Chapter DAR from…

MUW hosts annual Golden Triangle Regional College Fair

COLUMBUS, MS – The Mississippi University for Women hosted the Golden Triangle Regional College Fair today on campus at Pohl Gym. The event hosted 17 different high schools from the GTR, along with a bunch of different colleges and universities, along with different military options. Associate Director of Recruitment for the MUW Office of Admissions Sidney Stewart was at the…

State Senator throws his hat in the ring for Transportation Commissioner

Sen. Chuck Younger wants to take Transportation Committe experience to the Commissioner's post

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – There will be some changes coming in state government in Mississippi next year. Besides the races at the top of the ticket, there will definitely be some new faces down-ticket. Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell has decided not to run for re-election, leaving that position wide open. And that race already has its first…