An early morning fire left one Starkville home destroyed

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – An early morning fire destroys a Starkville home. Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough says the home was engulfed when firefighters arrived, just after 6 AM. No one was at the Butler Road mobile home at the time of the fire. No firemen were injured in the blaze. Yarbrough tells WCBI the cause of the fire remains…

Nettie Davis’ Attorney Asks A Circuit Court To Rule An Election Law Unenforceable

Davis is accused of violating a state law banning raffles, or contests offering cash prizes to encourage people to vote

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The attorney for a Tupelo City Councilwoman says the district attorney will seek an indictment against his client, accused of violating state election law. The attorney for Councilwoman Nettie Davis is also asking a circuit court to rule that same election law unconstitutional and unenforceable. ‘What we will do is give this money away the day…

Columbus Police have installed new Neighborhood Watch Cameras

The goal for officers is to have an extra investigative tool for when a crime is committed in the area of the camera.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus leaders move forward with installing Neighborhood Watch Cameras. The cameras are going up across the city. The casings that houses the dual cameras are put on poles and have blue lights. Police are not releasing the location of the recording devices. The goal for officers is to have an extra investigative tool for when a…

Starkville is ready for visitors after hosting annual “Get Swept Up” event

Starkville businesses, civic groups, and volunteers hit the streets to spruce up the town before the Mississippi State football season kicks off.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The annual “Get Swept Up” event is in the bag. Starkville businesses, civic groups, and volunteers hit the streets to spruce up the town before the Mississippi State football season kicks off. Work started early this morning and lasted until noon. Volunteers picked up trash, weeded, and even trimmed shrubs. Participants received t-shirts and water bottles….

Starkville apartment residents have just days to find new homes amid mass evictions from low-income housing

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Residents at Starkville’s Catherine Street Apartment Complex claim property owners went door-to-door with police on Friday, telling them they had one hour to vacate the premises. “How can we pack up and go in an hour?” asked tenant Lenell Scales. “We don’t have money, we don’t have nothing.” Ferretti Property Services bought the complex in May…

Columbus fire and rescue are in search for firefighters to complete their team

Being a Firefighter was at the top of the list for several kids growing up

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The guys in the big red truck are set to help people no matter the circumstance, but when there aren’t enough of them to do that job it typically causes issues. Being a Firefighter was at the top of the list for several kids growing up but that has slowly become less interesting over the years.  Columbus…

A record month of COVID-19 cases, amidst Hurricane Ida aftermath

While Hurricane Ida impacts take effect, Mississippi recorded it highest rate of COVID-19 cases

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- The Mississippi State Department of Health addressed the state of pandemic following Hurricane Ida’s arrival and the most infectious month yet. Over 85 thousand cases were recorded during the month of March which is the highest Mississippi has witnessed so far. As of Wednesday, cases and hospital numbers are stable according to health leaders from MSDH. People…

Columbus to host two events in September to help those who have fallen behind on rent

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Help is out there. That’s the message from the Mississippi Home Corporation and the City of Columbus. The city is hosting 2 events in September to help people who have fallen behind on their rent because of issues related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Federal Government has made money available through the Rental Assistance for Mississippians…

4-County Electric Power Association sent two crews to south Mississippi to help restore electricity

The 11 men left early this morning to assist Magnolia Electric Power Association in Summit.

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – 4-County Electric Power Association sent two crews to south Mississippi to help restore electricity. The 11 men left early this morning to assist Magnolia Electric Power Association in Summit. Thousands of customers remain without power after Hurricane Ida broke poles and downed power lines. 4-County sent three bucket trucks, two digger trucks, and two crew…

Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting 2,900 new COVID-19 cases

The numbers were released this morning...2,900 new cases and 81 deaths are being reported.

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Even with many Mississippi State Department of Health facilities closed on Tuesday, the agency is reporting a high number of COVID-19 cases. The numbers were released this morning…2,900 new cases and 81 deaths are being reported. Per capita, Webster County has seen the second-highest amount of cases in the state over the past two weeks. More…

Scattered afternoon storms today, then less humid end of week

  SUMMARY: One last disturbance will bring isolated to scattered showers and storms today before some much improved, drier weather moves in to end the work week. A string of really nice days is in store! WEDNESDAY: Morning sunshine will destabilize the air into the afternoon with highs reaching well into the upper 80s. Isolated to scattered storms are likely to fire…

Local Couple Plays Role Helping People Flee Afghanistan

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, MISS.. (WCBI) –  A Northeast Mississippi couple has helped coordinate safe passage out of Afghanistan for Americans and civilians who helped the US during the war effort. The plight of the refugees was a personal mission for the Itawamba County couple. As a Marine embedded with a training team in Afghanistan, Dr. Greg Yarbrough knew the vital role…

Some Louisiana residents are still in Mississippi waiting for effects of Hurricane Ida to ease

For those along the coast of Mississippi and in Louisiana there are several problems after the storm that are continuing

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Hurricane Ida didn’t cause much if any damage in the Golden Triangle area however, for those along the coast of Mississippi and in Louisiana there were several problems after the storm that are continuing. Maxine and Don Friendly have prepared to make the drive back home to Slidell Louisiana. The couple had stayed at the Hampton Inn…

Mississippi State assembles team of student Vaccine Ambassadors to help answer questions, share personal experience with COVID-19 vaccination

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State has assembled a team of students they are calling vaccine ambassadors who are tasked with helping spread information and answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine among their classmates. MSU’s Office of Student Affairs says it’s all about putting a human face on all of the facts and data behind the shots as well as…

Eviction of Starkville residents put on hold

Chancery Court Judge Studdard granted a restraining order against Ferretti Property Services, saving low income residents from eviction -for now

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The Vollor Law Firm is stepping in to prevent some Starkville residents from being kicked out on the street. Attorney Austin Vollor says he got word from the NAACP and other organizations that Ferretti Property Services plans to evict low-income and minority tenants on Catherine street. Tuesday, the law firm filed an injunction and held an emergency…

COVID-19 related supply chain issues still causing problems for local manufacturers

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) The economy is improving, but COVID-19 related supply chain issues are still plaguing area manufacturers. That was one of the messages from Golden Triangle Development LINK C-E-O Joe Max Higgins today in Columbus. Higgins says that while most local companies have weathered the pandemic, and the LINK has about 600 million dollars worth of projects in…

Remnants of Ida moving out, gradually improving weather in store

SUMMARY: The remnants of Ida will be exiting Mississippi today, leaving a cloudy sky much of the day. Warm but LESS HUMID air is in store later in the week. TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered showers with highs in the 70s to near 80 degrees toward I-55. Winds will stay breezy and shift to the northwest behind Ida’s remnants. WEDNESDAY: Expect a mix of…

Chickasaw County officials are prepared for what Hurricane Ida could bring to the table

Hurricane Ida got residents in the area prepared for the worst

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Hurricane Ida got residents in the area prepared for the worst. The Chickasaw County EMA director and fire chief agree that they did their best to over-prepare for what Hurricane Ida would do. While there was no damage or flooding, during the day, they still want to keep their community safe. If damage does occur around…

Tupelo Hair Stylist Takes Top Honors At Worldwide Competition

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A Northeast Mississippi hairdresser takes top honors in a global award show that those in the business say is equivalent to winning an Oscar, Grammy, or a Heisman Trophy. Every day, Amber Moyer creates works of art at “Shear Envy” Salon, on North Gloster Street. The Tupelo salon owner began her career nearly twenty years ago…

Choctaw County braces for possible falling trees and flooding in fallout from Ida

ACKERMAN, Miss. (WCBI) – While not as severe as originally feared, emergency crews in Choctaw County stand at the ready for the impact from Ida. “Wind, wet ground is a bad mixture for trees to fall,” says Choctaw County Emergency Management Director Brent McKnight. “Culverts could stop up and flood the roadway and you wouldn’t even know it.” The Ackerman…

City leaders discuss a vaccination mandate for Starkville city employees

Starkville city leaders are considering the possibility of a vaccination mandate for all city employees.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville may become the second city in Mississippi, after Jackson, to require vaccinations for all city employees. A vaccination policy will soon come before the board of aldermen in Starkville. “It is important for us to be available to the public and do our job,” Mayor Lynn Spruill said. City leaders said they are listening to…

Ida to bring heavy rain, wind to northeast Mississippi

SUMMARY: Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday as a category 4 storm in Louisiana, and while it continues to weaken as it moves inland, impacts are likely across north MS and west AL today and Tuesday. Conditions will improve by Wednesday. MONDAY: Conditions will gradually deteriorate as steady rain becomes heavier in the afternoon and evening hours. A spin-up tornado or two will…