21 counties damaged during severe weather across Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – 21 counties are reporting damage to homes after severe storms roll across the Magnolia State on Wednesday. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is also reporting three injuries. Two of those occurred in Noxubee County. The other was in Holmes County. MEMA released drone video from Forrest County, near Hattiesburg. In our area, homes were damaged in…

Kemper Co. man indicted in connection to death of Macon woman

KEMPER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Kemper County man is indicted in connection with the death of a Macon woman. The grand jury in Noxubee County indicted Henry Benamon on murder and possession of a weapon charges. State corrections officials also put a hold on Benamon because he was out of prison on probation from a previous conviction. So, that…

Winston Co. deputies searching for man wanted for questioning

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Winston County deputies are moving forward in an armed robbery investigation. 32-year-old Charlie Hemphill, of Louisville, is wanted for questioning. The hold-up happened on March 22nd at Crossroads Store in Winston County. If you know where Hemphill is call Winston County Crime Stoppers. You may remember this surveillance video from the convenience store. Winston County…

College research teams return to Mississippi to study latest wave of severe storms

BROOKSVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The return of severe weather to Mississippi has also brought the return of research teams from the University of Alabama Huntsville and other colleges to collect storm data. “All the ingredients just kind of lined up together to put Mississippi right in the heart of the chance for some severe weather again,” says UAH student Josh…

Volunteers are asking the community to help retrieve stolen bikes

Volunteers with the Community Benefit Committee are outraged after someone stole dozens of brand new bikes

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Volunteers with the Community Benefit Committee are outraged after someone stole dozens of brand new bikes that were supposed to be gifts for children this Christmas. So far three juveniles have been arrested in connection with the burglary. Lt. Rhonda Sanders with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s department is one of the founding members of Community Benefit Committee;…

West Point Police warn parents teen shootings are on the rise

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – The West Point Police Department put out a public service announcement Monday on the increasing number of shootings involving teens and young adults. “We’ve had an uptick of shootings in the community, dealing mainly with juveniles,” says Assistant Police Chief Kennedy Meaders. West Point PD says it recovered an AR-15, a semiautomatic 9 mm and…

MUW baseball team fundraising for field

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi University for Women Owl’s Baseball Team wants a field of its own. MUW Athletic Director Jennifer Claybrook made the pitch Tuesday. to business and community leaders in Columbus. Fundraising for a baseball stadium on The W’s campus was announced in early 2020, but COVID hit before the ball could get rolling. The original proposal…

CMSD working with local organizations to better the community

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Municipal School District is working with faith-based organizations to give areas in their community some much-needed care. CMSD is kicking off an adopt a block program and it wants local churches to join the movement. The program is designed to allow the school system and religious institutes to research problems and find solutions in…

Former Eupora High School teacher to spend next six years in prison

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Eupora High School teacher will spend the next six years in prison. Kayla Tindall pleaded guilty to statutory rape in Webster County Circuit Court. She was arrested in February 2020, shortly after being fired by the school district. The allegations against Tindall involved at least one student. Once released from prison, Tindall must register…

New Toyota dealership coming to Philadelphia, Mississippi

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (WCBI) – Locals in Philadelphia have probably noticed the beginning of new construction off-highway sixteen recently. That location will be the home of the new Toyota dealership. It isn’t just a new business but a $7 million investment in Philadelphia and East Central Mississippi. Dr. Azhar Pasha led the groundbreaking Friday of his brand new Toyota dealership that…

Man wanted in East Columbus found in Noxubee County jail

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man wanted in connection with a shooting in East Columbus in December has been found in the Noxubee County Jail. Columbus Police made the trip down to Macon to pick up Demarcqueis Clark. He is charged with Shooting Into a Business and 2 counts of Domestic Violence/Aggravated Assault. Clark is one of the suspects in…

Two juveniles were arrested in connection to a Sunday afternoon shooting

A shooting in Ackerman turned deadly Sunday afternoon

ACKERMAN, Miss. (WCBI)- A shooting in Ackerman turned deadly Sunday afternoon. Two juveniles were arrested in connection with the shooting and it leaves people in the community at a loss for words. That Sunday afternoon shooting left 18-year-old Derius Kennedy dead. 14-year-old Detravion Ball and 16-year-old-Cordarius Brown were arrested Sunday shortly after the shooting, and charged with 1st degree murder. …

Truck driver escapes injury in a Lowndes County crash

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A truck driver escapes injury in a Lowndes County crash. The accident happened on Highway 45 South at the Highway 82 exit ramp. State troopers say the big rig was hauling scrap cars that had been smashed. The load on the truck possibly shifted as the driver was turning onto Highway 45. No one was…

Mississippi State University honors Vietnam veterans

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Mississippi State University spent the day honoring Vietnam war veterans. The university held a ceremony at the Center for America’s Veterans on campus. Patriot Guard Riders participated in the event and laid a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The event was an opportunity to celebrate veterans who may not have received the proper recognition when…

26 bicycles taken from Community Benefit Committee storage facility

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The “Grinch” or several “Grinches” came early to Columbus this year. 26 bicycles were taken from a storage facility that’s operated by the “Community Benefit Committee.” Rhonda Sanders with CBC tells WCBI that an alarm alerted Columbus police to the Sunday night break-in. She says three juveniles were arrested. However, not all of the bikes have…

Wings Over Columbus has largest turnout in at least a decade

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – “Wings Over Columbus” soars to new heights this past weekend. The Columbus Air Force Base estimates 60,000 people soaked up the action in the skies. That’s the largest turnout in at least a decade. Saturday saw the most people on base, with an estimated 40,000 people attending. There were about 20,000 on Sunday. 29 schools participated…

Help coming for families in Clay County affected by EF-1 tornado

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Help is coming for Clay County families affected by last week’s EF-1 tornado. Clay County was one of 16 Mississippi counties impacted by a tornado outbreak last Tuesday. The county also reported at least one injury. The Clay County Emergency Management Agency is now taking applications for help with the unmet needs of those who…

Clay county EMA accepting applications for tornado assistance

CLAY COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- Clay County emergency services will start accepting unmet needs applications on March 28th for anyone needing assistance following the EF-1 tornado. Agricultural damage assessment will begin March 28th. If you live in Clay County and have tornado damage or have been affected, to file that application, please contact the West Point Clay County EMA office or fill…

MSMS students hold fundraiser for Ukraine relief efforts

COLUMBUS,Miss.(WCBI)- The Russian Club of the Mississippi School for Math and Science hosted a fundraiser for Ukraine Relief on the MUW campus. The benefit featured silent auctions for international items, including Ukrainian handicrafts and souvenirs, a guitar, Ukrainian beaded jewelry and other goodies up for grabs. Proceeds will go to Operation Ukraine, a Columbus charity that has sent aid to…

18-year-old killed in Ackerman shooting

ACKERMAN,Miss. (WCBI)- A shooting investigation is underway in Ackerman. Police Chief Tim Cook tells WCBI an 18-year-old male was shot around 2:30p.m on Sunday at the Milwood Apartment Complex. He later died at the hospital. Cook says there was an argument between the victim and another man before gun fire rang out. Right now, a person of interest is in…

Columbus Air Force diversity and inclusion task force speak to students

COLUMBUS,Miss. (WCBI)- Wings Over Columbus Airshow and Stem Expo wrapped up Sunday afternoon. Nearly 30,000 people in our area and neighboring counties visited the Columbus Air Force Base. March 26 to 27, community members got the opportunity to learn about military personnel and their duties on base. The Columbus Air Force Diversity and Inclusion Task force was one of many…

Wings over Columbus brought thousands to Columbus air force base

People headed to the Columbus Air Force Base bright and early to secure a spot and participate in the stem expo

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The U-S Air Force Thunderbirds filled the skies in Columbus. People headed to the Columbus Air Force Base bright and early to secure a spot and participate in the stem expo. “It’s nice to see what your country is up to and to check out what they’re doing when they’re away and just to see how far…