Eupora officers will have new guns for patrol soon

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Eupora police department will soon have new guns for officers to take out on patrol. Eight new handguns will soon be in the hands of patrolmen. City leaders applied for a grant back in June, with help from the state and the U.S. Justice Department. After winning the $5,000 grant and submitting a hardship request,…

Search for next Columbus police chief continues

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The search for the next Columbus police chief is moving forward. A list of more than 60 candidates has been narrowed down to eight. Next week, four candidates will be interviewed on Tuesday and the other four will interview next Friday. No timeline has been set on when a recommendation could be made to the city…

Prominent Lowndes County figure, Roger Short, dies

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Recreation Director Roger Short passed away early this morning. Short has spearheaded the agency for several years, leading thousands of youth into their first sporting experience. Before that, he lead the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority for 15 years. Short was active in area recreation serving as an official at high school sporting events for…

Finding hope: Tupelo Salvation Army helps single mom follow her dreams

Shelter provides space for office and homeschool for mom and daughter

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The area’s only homeless shelter provides basics such as food and housing for thousands every year. But the Tupelo Salvation Army is also helping a single mom develop and launch a business while living in the shelter. The Salvation Army is helping a determined mother and her young daughter follow their dreams. It is just after…

WCBI Job Fair is happening tomorrow

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Job seekers can meet area employers tomorrow in one place. Dozens of businesses and companies will set up booths to meet potential job candidates and accept resumes at the WCBI Job Fair. It’s going on tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lyceum at Lee in Columbus. Vendors will be there from a variety…

Baptist Memorial Hospital GT hosts annual flu shot drive

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Health officials are making it a point of emphasis to get your flu shots so you don’t find yourself contracting the virus. Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle is hosting its Baptist Annual Flu Shot drive. Free shots are available for anyone 18 and older while supplies last. It’s not too late to get your vaccine. The…

Missing man last seen in Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)-Investigators need your help to find a missing man last seen in Tupelo. Anthony Ross Powell has been missing since August 3rd. The last time he was seen was near the Barnes Crossing Mall area. He also frequents the cross-town area of Tupelo. Powell is 5’6″, 115 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a…

Oxford murder suspect files lawsuit for illegal imprisonment

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Tim Herrington has filed a lawsuit against the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department for illegal imprisonment. This reporting is according to Memphis CBS affiliate WREG-TV. Herrington is charged with the first-degree murder of the University of Mississippi graduate Jimmie “Jay” Lee. Lee disappeared on July 8th. He was last seen leaving Campus Walk Apartments in Oxford. Investigators…

ICC hosts conference to discuss future of higher education in Miss.

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Itawamba Community College has been playing host to representatives from colleges and universities across Mississippi discussing the future of higher education. Nearly 200 college presidents and administrators attended the Mississippi Association of Colleges, also known as MAC, annual conference at the ICC Belden campus. Topics such as mental health, spotting signs of human trafficking and…

WCBI Job Fair will be Thursday at the Lyceum at Lee

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – If you’re ready to make a career move or looking for a job, get your resumes ready and come to the WCBI Job Fair. It’s going on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lyceum at Lee in Columbus. Vendors will be there from a variety of fields, including industry, education, healthcare, and the…

MSU gears up for SEC Nation coming to Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The SEC Nation Television Program is coming to Starkville this week. That means thousands of fans will be in town and on campus. They are coming for the game and to be a part of the early morning show. That is extra hours for MSU police and others on campus. It is a big week for…

EMCC holds district-wide college fair for students

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WCBI) – It’s time for the next step. EMCC’S Communiversity held a district-wide college fair that invited about 1,200 students to attend from the six surrounding counties. The fair highlighted the different programs and careers that the universities and colleges have to offer in the state. Students were able to meet with each station to learn…

West Point schools announce security measures for football games

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – The West Point Consolidated School District is stepping up security at football games starting this Friday night. The district announced Monday everyone will go through a security checkpoint before entering the game. All students in K-7th grade must be supervised by an adult. There will also be a clear bag policy in place. Only certain-sized…

Two people steal truck after test driving

PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Prentiss County investigators say two people were test driving a truck and later returned to steal it. This is the truck investigators say a man and woman stole. It is a gray/tan 2008 GMC Sierra Denali, king cab, 4×4 truck. The victim told deputies a man and woman came to his home in Jumpertown to…

Leaders attend conference at MSU to talk about World Hunger

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Tonight, 1 in 6 people in the state of Mississippi will go to bed hungry. Not knowing where your next meal is coming from is called food insecurity. It’s a huge problem. And one that scientists at Mississippi State talked about today with elected leaders, farm managers, educators, and the business community Imagine rationing your food. Being…

Fire experts warn North Mississippi residents about burn ban

NORTH MISSISSIPPI, Miss. (WCBI) – Fall is definitely in the air, which means cooler temps in the morning and late at night. But you need to think twice before using fire to warm up outdoors. “As fun as that sound that sounds with campfires and warming up and s’mores and all the good stuff that comes with fall but with…

Lowndes County Supervisors review areas to use federal funds

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Local governments continue to develop spending plans for American Rescue Plan Act money. At today’s meeting, Lowndes County Supervisors reviewed a number of areas where they plan to use the federal funds. Some are closer to being finalized than others. An incentive pay plan for county workers is just waiting on signatures and paperwork. Those…

Changes in SNAP benefits, deductions, and income requirements

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- You may have noticed some changes if you live in Mississippi and receive SNAP benefits. Starting October 1st, USDA increased benefits for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program due to the annual SNAP cost of living adjustment and inflation. More people with higher levels of income may be eligible for the SNAP program because of the…