Mississippi State News

Free COVID-19 testing for child care workers in Mississippi

Child care facility workers in Mississippi can now receive free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at selected Mississippi State Department of Health Community testing locations conducted at many county health departments and the West Street Farmers Market in Jackson. K-12 teachers, staff,…

Medical Marijuana on the 2020 ballot

Today, the Medical Marijuana Campaign of 2020 with Initiative 65 met in Gulfport for a briefing on the upcoming options for the November election. Initiative 65 proposes to amend the Mississippi Constitution to allow qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions,…

Reeves says virus conversations are “overly political”

Shifting his focus to the national stage, Governor Reeves said it is “unfortunate” that the coronavirus pandemic broke out during an election year. He believes the upcoming election has made conversations about the virus overly political. Reeves said initiating those…

Autopsies set after 2 central Mississippi inmates die

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Corrections says autopsies have been set for two inmates who died in custody in the last week. Albert Smith, a 69-year-old inmate at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County, was…

Hurricane Laura's Louisiana death toll up to 26

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana's death toll from Hurricane Laura has risen to 26. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the latest death attributed to the Aug. 27 hurricane at a news conference Tuesday. The health department and the state fire…

MHP wrote more than 9,400 tickets over Labor Day weekend

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – It was a deadly Labor Day weekend across Mississippi, with seven deadly accidents and over 9,400 tickets written. The Mississippi Highway Patrol says there were 184 DUI arrests in the state. 519 of the tickets were for a seat belt violation. Troopers investigated 121 accidents. In our area, a head-on crash in […]

Kanye West makes presidential ballot in Mississippi

By LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press/ Report for America JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Kanye West will appear as a presidential candidate on Mississippi's ballot in November, after being approved as a qualified candidate by the State Board of Election Commissioners. The…

MBI issues state-wide alert asking for help in death investigation

CLARKE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation issues a state-wide alert asking for help in a death investigation. Clarke County deputies and MBI investigators found a cross on a silver chain on an unidentified man’s neck. Law enforcement hope someone will recognize the cross because no one has been able to identify […]

Hot air balloon festival takes to the skies over Tupelo, Mississippi

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Hot air balloon pilots from across the southeast spent their Labor Day weekend in the All America City for a high flying festival. Before the balloons take flight, crew members unfurl the balloon, also called an envelope, , attach the wicker basket, with propane canisters, and fill the balloon with cool […]

Former education head, contractors accused of fudging bids

By LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press/ Mississippi JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A former top official at the Mississippi Department of Education and three contractors who worked with the agency are being accused by the federal government of stealing thousands of dollars…