COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Leigh Mall in Columbus is preparing for a grand opening nearly 50 years in the making. No, it’s not a new store. It’s a glimpse at the past. Just over 49 years ago, in August of 1972, Sears opened its doors as the first store in Leigh Mall. At the Grand Opening ceremony, store managers invited…
PITTSBORO, MISS. (WCBI) – More than three hundred juniors and seniors in Calhoun County schools were able to talk with professionals from various careers during a field trip. The Calhoun County Career and Technical Center hosted the high school college and career fair. Representatives from area companies, industries, colleges, military, and law enforcement were set up to talk to students…
JACKSON, MISS. (WCBI) – Mississippi’s governor says a special session dealing with medical marijuana could be finalized in a few days. Negotiators in the House and Senate have agreed to a draft bill for a medical marijuana program. That program would replace one approved by voters last November but canceled by the state Supreme Court. Governor Reeves says he wants to…
EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – On September 21, five suspects were arrested in connection with a rash of car burglaries spanning across Webster and Grenada counties, as well as the city of Eupora. On September 18th, Webster County Sheriff David Gore says three guns and some other items were stolen during five burglaries on the north end of Martin Luther King…
JACKSON, MISS. (WCBI) – A Northeast Mississippi florist will get to decorate the Governor’s Mansion for Christmas. Allison Siddall and Hannah Krapac Wamsley had seen photos of the rooms in the Governor’s Mansion, but being there in person gave them a better idea of how they will decorate each room. Siddall is the owner of the Starkville-based “State Floral,” which was…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- People who live in Lowndes County say local roads need some improvements. Those repairs are expected to be underway soon as the county was approved for a $5 million loan. The city of Columbus and Lowndes County receive sizeable amounts of money twice a year through the Mississippi Department of Revenue, but in addition to that,…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a startling statistic for a Representative Democracy, but according to the 2020 Census, one out of every 4 people that is eligible to vote isn’t registered. Some students at Mississippi State University were out today trying to improve those numbers. Today is National Voter Registration Day. Every year people miss deadlines or simply don’t know…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The founders of a Golden Triangle start-up are looking at a bright future. Columbus native Hagan Walker and his business partner Anna Barker briefed a hometown crowd on the growth of their Starkville-based business Glo. Since its founding as a project for a class at Mississippi State, Glo has experienced steady growth, moving from a business…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Having a credit history allows us to make investments or big purchases when we don’t have the money to buy. When you’re making payments on time and keeping your balance low, your score increases which opens up opportunities to be approved for a loan and pay less money in the long run with lower interest rates. You…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- COVID-19 case numbers have eased up in Mississippi in the last couple of weeks. Meaning hospitals have been able to free up beds and ICU rooms. In August 2021, patients were overflowing the rooms at hospitals around the state. Since the beginning of September 2021, the number of COVID-19 patients in Mississippi hospitals has dropped by half,…
WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – In June, a Winona family had to leave their home after they say it was flooded with both water and sewage and have been in temporary housing while repairs are being made. But now, with over six weeks of repairs still left to be done, they say the insurance company will no longer pay for that…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Fire Department is looking to add a language requirement for some of their employees. The Starkville Fire Department responded to a construction accident last Friday and was immediately on the scene. But despite their skill and teamwork, the department realized they had a communication challenge. Since the incident, Starkville’s Fire Chief said he has…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Two people are in the hospital following a car wreck. It happened around 6 p.m at the intersection of Horseshoe Circle and Highway 12. Several vehicles were involved in the crash and two OCH ambulances took victims to the hospital for treatment. WCBI will have more information as it’s released. Categories: Featured, Local News Tags: car accident,…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Each year, more families are moving to Mississippi. A Tupelo-based organization called El Centro is helping students in language transition. Since 2006, Leticia Gassaway, a Chairwoman for the non-profit organization El Centro, has been helping international students academically. She said it’s important that people help young students in language transition. “Our main purpose is has been…
SUMMARY: Dry air looks to hang around for one more day, before humidity is on the increase as we head into the middle of the week. Highs will be increasing into the upper 80s through the end of the work week. It was originally looking like rain would stay to our west, but now it’s looking more likely we see…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- A Columbus organization provides free lunch to law enforcement officers in our area. The Bluprint Foundation put on a fish fry to honor the men and women who fight to keep the community safe and thank them for their many contributions. To show their appreciation members gave officers fish, drinks, and dessert. Founder Marcus Stokes says change…
HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI)- Rides, booths, and tractors were all a part of the Flywheel Festival in Houston. For 50 years, folks young and old celebrated in the community. Since the pandemic canceled festivities last year, they’re ready to be back in the full swing of things. “I enjoy talking to the people and normally I enjoy the antique cars, but…
SUMMARY: Finally, after a very wet summer and a very wet last couple weeks, a beautiful and calm week of weather is in store. Skies will be sunny to partly cloudy each day, with highs slowly warming into the mid to upper 80s later on the week. No rain chances the next 7 days, and humidity should be fairly low…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- From the classroom to the workforce, skilled laborers are essential for area businesses. Benefits, opportunities, and quality of life are what it takes when it comes to retaining workers. Laborers need to have those options. But it’s also vital for businesses to have qualified workers. ” Everyone needs workers right now. Restaurants need workers and hospitals need…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Two brothers were injured in a roofing construction accident Friday afternoon in Starkville. The incident happened at Aldersgate United Methodist Church about two o’clock. Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough says the men were part of a crew replacing a roof at the church. A lift they were using overturned. One of the men was thrown from…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – For the first time since 2018, Starkville held its Art Walk event. “Shop local. I mean that’s how Starkville thrives and that’s something we should all be proud of,” new local artist Danielle Atchley said. After a three-year wait, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership brought back the Art Walk. And for up-and-coming artists like Danielle Atchley,…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- On a national scale, Mississippi ranks last in a lot of categories but the Magnolia State is number one in obesity rates. 2020 data from the CDC shows Mississippi with an obesity rate of 39.7% compared to Colorado’s 24.2% which ranks at the bottom of the list. The CDC’s study says that no state was over 25%…
JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – Mississippians receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see their benefits increase twenty-one percent (21%) over pre-pandemic benefit levels effective October 1, 2021. SNAP serves over 421,000 individuals in Mississippi each month, providing food assistance to financially eligible households. This increase in SNAP benefits is separate from the additional pandemic supplementary benefits…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Friday, the Board of Trustees for Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning voted to prohibit the state’s public universities from requiring their students and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine, except in clinical settings. This comes exactly one week after the Mississippi State Faculty Senate voted in favor of a vaccine mandate at the school. “That a board…