Columbus police are investigating an early morning shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police are investigating an early morning shooting. The gunfire happened in the 1500 block of 22nd Street North at about 2 a.m. Police Chief Fred Shelton says shots were fired at a home. No one was injured and no one has been arrested. Shelton hopes a CPD camera posted near the crime scene will help…

Mississippi State Athlete Engineering Summit brings latest in sports science to pros on and off the field

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday, Mississippi State launched its inaugural Athlete Engineering Summit on the latest developments in technology meant to advance the field of athletics and beyond. The goal of the summit hosted at East Mississippi Community College’s Communiversity, was to bring together experts in professional sports, medicine, the military and manufacturing to discuss how the same data…

NEWMS recognizes women who are making a difference

"Women of Distinction" awards ceremony honors trailblazers

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Women who are making a positive impact on their communities were recognized today in Tupelo. New Expectations for Women in Mississippi, also known as NEW MS, held its “Women of Distinction” Awards at the Bancorpsouth Conference Center. Five women and one organization were recognized for their efforts , with various non profit groups throughout the region….

Youth crime spikes, community leaders urge more parental involvement

Community leaders say that's one of the keys to keeping kids out of trouble. 

LOWNDES COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- “It starts at home.” Community leaders say that’s one of the keys to keeping kids out of trouble. When school dismisses for summertime in a couple of weeks, leaders urges parents to know where their children are when they are away from home. Around the area, there have been numerous incidents involving minors since the beginning of…

Houston High School Seniors ready to perform end of year play

Proceeds from the play go back into the school's drama department

HOUSTON, MISS. (WCBI) – Seniors at Houston High School have not only been preparing for graduation but have also been busy rehearsing for an end-of-the-year play. “Every year the senior play goes on I’ve always came and watched, and I’m like ‘yeah man, I can’t wait until I’m a senior and it’s my turn,” said Trinity Buggs, who is part…

Shopping Center in Starkville is estimated to open in September

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Get ready to shop until you drop. A new shopping center is under construction on Highway 12 in Starkville. If you’ve been driving through Starkville, you have probably noticed the construction on Highway 12. “It’s called triangle crossing and we refer to it as power centers and it’s going to have tenants such as marshals, Ulta,…

Local community members wrote a song to honor Mother Goose

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – She is a Columbus treasure and now there’s a song celebrating Mother Goose. Local guitarist Hoot Wilder and former school board member Glenn Lautzenhiser teamed up to write “Ode to Mother G.” Today they debut the song at Zachary’s restaurant. Mayor Keith Gaskin sang while Wilder played. Mother Goose is the longtime children’s librarian at the…

Starkville High School seniors visit local elementary schools

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a trip down memory lane. The senior class at Starkville High School spent the morning making a final stop at all the elementary schools in the district. The annual “Senior Walk” gives the soon-to-be graduates a chance to see some of their former teachers and get well wishes from the current students. The first stop…

Columbus city leaders get the ball rolling on a redistricting plan

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus city leaders get the ball rolling on a redistricting plan. At a work session, the mayor and city council heard a preliminary redistricting report from Chris Watson of Bridge and Watson Consultants in Oxford. After each census, cities, and counties have to redraw ward and district lines to adjust for changes in population and to…

Winston County jurors return not guilty verdict for Ru-Shaka Cobb

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Winston County jurors returned a not guilty verdict in a murder trial. The verdict was read to Ru-shaka Cobb in Winston County Circuit Court this afternoon. Cobb was arrested in December 2019. He was accused of shooting and killing Lee Andrew Hughes Junior. The trial started yesterday. Cobb could face charges related to alleged assaults…

Golden Triangle Regional Airport receives $1 million for improvements

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi’s Congressional delegation announces $15 million in grants for 29 airports in the state. The money comes from a Federal Aviation Administration program. Golden Triangle Regional Airport will receive $1 million to improve the contract tower, terminal building, and install lighting and fencing. The Columbus-Lowndes County airport will also get money to fix the taxiway. Airports…

Local splash pads and parks opening as school year ends

STARKVILLE/AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – School is almost out and the heat is here which means it is time for the parks to open. The J.L King Senior Memorial Park in Starkville and the Frisco Park in Amory have both opened their splash pads. Moncrief Pool in Starkville is scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend. Community members may enjoy the splash…

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades received A grades in Tupelo and Amory

TUPELO AND AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – North Mississippi Health Services’ hospitals in Tupelo and Amory are recognized by a national safety organization. The Tupelo and Amory locations recently received an “A” from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Grades reflect the hospital’s efforts to protect patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. Leapfrog is an independent national watchdog organization that…

Man accused of taking car in jail, vehicle not found

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man accused of taking a car is in jail but the vehicle hasn’t been found. Nathan Cotton was arrested in Neshoba County on Wednesday night. Winston County deputies believe he took a white Dodge car earlier this week. Sheriff Jason Pugh says the vehicle was taken from a home on Highway 397. The car’s…

Golden Triangle NAACP leaders call on judges to grant more parole hearings for nonviolent inmates

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday, members of the Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha county branches of the NAACP held a demonstration calling on judges to grant more parole requests for nonviolent offenders. Many held pictures of some of the people who are now eligible for parole, who have spent anywhere from 10 to 30 years behind bars. “You got a…

Former Starkville Fire Department employee charged with embezzlement

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Starkville Fire Department employee is accused of misusing city equipment. 45-year-old Clarence Parks is charged with embezzlement: fraud committed in public office. Starkville police say the investigation started after internal and external complaints. He was an employee at SFD at the time of the complaints. Investigators did not release specific allegations against Parks but…

Remains of dead dogs were found in Noxubee County

NOXUBEE CO, Miss. (WCBI) – Remains of dead dogs were found in Noxubee County, and police are looking for the people who dumped them there. The Noxubee County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the person or people who did this. Right now they don’t know how or why the dogs ended up there, but one theory is that it may…

Students wrapped up training in Milam Elementary Girls Leadership Academy

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) –  It was a room full of girl power! More than 30 students in Tupelo wrapped up months of training in the Milam Elementary Girls Leadership Academy. The school club for female students fosters characteristics like courage, confidence, and goal-setting. The girls have been participating in programs and activities that help them not only build leadership skills,…

Two Alabama residents accused of home repair fraud

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two Alabama residents are accused of taking payments for a pool, and leaving their prospective customers in the hole. Investigators with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office have arrested Amanda Remer and Kirk Lewis of Aliceville for Home Repair Fraud. The pair are accused of taking an$8,000 pre-payment to install a swimming pool for a resident,…

Columbus Mayor visits MUW’s Speech and Hearing center

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The next time Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin goes on a listening tour he should be able to hear what folks have to say. Gaskin visited the Speech and Hearing Center on the campus of Mississippi University for Women for a hearing screening Wednesday morning. May is National Better Hearing and Speech Month. It’s a time to…

17 year sentence for Lamar County man for child sex crime

LAMAR COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI)- A Lamar County man will serve 17 years in prison for child sex crimes. 51-year-old Byron Keith McCalpin was arrested for sexually abusing a child under 12-years-old. The victim reported the abuse in March 2020. McCalpin will not be eligible for parole for good time release based on the nature of his conviction. McCalpin will have…