WCBI News at Ten - 04/22/2020

WCBI News at Ten - 04/22/2020

A lowndes county home is a total loss after a fire.

Thanks for staying up with us tonight..

The fire happened just before six at home on sand road// you can see here crews working to knock out the smoke and flames// lowndes county fire coordinator neil austin says a father and son lived in the home and were doing some remodeling work to it// the fire is being ruled as accidental// no one was injured// a wreck involving an 18 wheeler in columbus temporarily shuts down one lane of traffic on highway 82.

Witness say the trucker was heading eastbound on the highway when a steel load came off the tractor.

Shortly after, the truck wrecked.

Columbus police and fire departments responded to the scene.

The driver involved was taken to baptist hospital by ambulance.

The accident is under the accident is under investigation.

The weather ámayá make things treacherous out there tonight.

You're áprobablyá going to see some rain, and in some areas things may get stormy.

For the latest on what we can expect we turn things over to chief meteorologist keith gibson.

First look stinger first look summary: a batch of rain and storms will move through the region wednesday night.

Heavy rain and gusty winds appear to be the main threats after midnight.

The overall tornado risk is on the low end of the spectrum.

Another chance of storms will come late friday evening and early saturday morning.

Wednesday night: rain and storms. some severe weather is possible from late in the evening through sunrise.

The main threats tonight will be gusty winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding.

Some hail is possible but the tornado threat is low.

Lows will be in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Winds remain breezy from the s 10-25 mph.

Thursday: variably cloudy with some lingering showers.

One thing we'll have to watch out for is some storm redevelopment along the ms/al border and points east by early afternoon.

There may be some strong storms over in alabama but we think they'll stay just to our east.

Breezy winds from the w 10-25 mph will help to dry things out.

Temperatures are expected to warm into the mid to upper 70 during the afternoon.

Governor tate reeves says it is not likely that he'll extend this shelter in place order in its entirety.

Instead---expect more restrictions to be loosened--in a similar way to what we saw this week with the extension.

Courtney ann jackson explains.

Pkg governor reeves doesn't have a one size fits all answer for what reopening the state's economy will look like.

"we have talked about the potential of a regional approach, for instance or a county by county approach.

We are also looking at industries and making decisions on industries that can quickly get back to work and do so in a safe way."

There's growing confidence in the capacity of the health care system and supply of personal protective equipment.

Both of which are part of the considerations.

"we're not going to be complacent.

But i think a lot of indicators strongly support looking at modest, measured,thought ful mechanisms to move towards normalcy."

Here's what we do know.

Life won't bounce back to normal anytime soon.

"we were slower than most intentionally so and i would argue correctly so in putting the shelter in place order in effect.

And we put measures throughout that process which eased us into it.

And i think you will see over the next 2 to 3 to 4 weeks are measures that will incrementally get us out of it."

Take restaurants for example...reeves noted tuesday that they'll likely be looking at options such as fewer people inside the restaurant or removing every other table.

The mississippi hospitality and restaurant association says their members are still weighing what makes the most sense financially.

"many operators have already stated that they will not entertain dine-in until all restrictions are lifted.

It's simply not cost effective."

Caj wcbi news no decision has been made about those next steps yet.

But the governor says there will be a look at each industry's risks and ability to get back to work.

Small businesses across the nation are facing an unprecedented economic disruption from the coronavirus outbreak.

Many owners are applying for loans to make it through these hard times.

Chip templeton is the director at the small business development center at msu.

He says there are two different loans business owners can apply for-- the paycheck protection plan áandá the economic injury disaster loan.

Sot "i've counseled probably 35 different businesses in the last several weeks.

A lot of those are pretty extensive conversations, so that's a large amount.

It's set record levels for us in a short period of time."

"the main thing you want to do it keep yourself going, and be realistic to know when you should decide that you don't need to be in business anymore."

If you'd like to seek counseling from the small business development center at msu, visit our website, wcbi dot com.

Tonight, the u-n is warning that the pandemic is putting the world at risk of widespread famines of áquoteá biblical proportions."

There are growing concerns about food supplies in this country - especially in america's meat industry.

An explosion of coronavirus cases is forcing some meat packing plants to shut down.

More now from cbs's janet shamlian.

A major pork processing plant is the latest to close... tyson foods in waterloo, iowa -- where 2800 workers process nearly 20- thousand hogs a day... it comes after an outbreak of at least 180 covid-19 cases there& and after iowa lawmakers filed an o-s-h-a complaint& even though the state's governor resisted.

We can work with different processing facilities across the state to keep the processing plants up and going.

A u-s-a today investigation found 150 of the nation's largest plants are in counties where the infection rate is spiking... threatening not only workers, but potentially the food supply.

.

Any plant or factory across the country could become the number one hotspot next week.

If they do not take this issue seriously processing plants can be a breeding ground for the virus because many workers spend their day side-by-side.

This man, who recovered from covid-19 and asked we not use his name, works at smithfield foods in south dakota - where almost 900 employees have tested positive.

We are very close..

We can't use a social distance at that place tonight, there is increasing concern about the supply of meat and poultry..

The agriculture department reports beef production is already down 19- percent from a year ago.

0346 j- are going to go through a meat shortage in the united states?

You may not get the exact product when you go to the store i do not expect a protein shortage in the stores to occur overall tag: tonight tyson has just announced the closing of yet another plant - in indiana.

And here in texas..

Health officials are investigating outbreaks at two rural processing plants..

Areas where hospitals and medical resources are thin.

Janet shamlian cbs news here at home the latest numbers from the mississippi state department of health show monroe county with 99 confirmed cases of coronavirus and nine deaths.

Those are among the highest numbers in our viewing area.

Allie martin has more from monroe county.

With the statewide shelter in place order and other mandates limiting the size of public gatherings, enforcement falls to police or sheriff departments.

Monroe county sheriff kevin crook says his deputies are doing the best they can to keep the public safe and also dealing with new issues because of the coronavirus.

"traffic went down for a week or two at the beginning but been pretty much normal here for the last two to three weeks."

The sheriff is concerned about the high number of cases in monroe county.

That concern runs throughout the community.

Shelly bowen runs "the blue owl" a gift and home decor store in downtown aberdeen.

She also lives in monroe county and says the higher than expected covid 19 cases are concerning.

"everyone i know is trying to stay at home and not get out as much and do what we are supposed to be doing, but i know there are some that are, you know.

Aren't taking it as serious as others maybe."

The sheriff recently took to facebook , encouraging people to follow cdc guidelines and he also asked the public to let his office know if someone with the coronavirus was not practicing self quarantine.

Still, there is limited information for his deputies.

"when we do get a call about somebody supposedly infected with the virus that's out in the public, because we just don't have access to that information so really we are going on their word and hopefully they are honest with us , if they do of course we would offer to escort them back to their home wherever they are supposed to be quarantined and if they fail to comply with that it would be failing to comply with a lawful order and we would bring them here and house them."

The sheriff is hopeful that even after the shelter in place order is lifted, folks in monroe county will be vigilant, cautious and use common sense.

In aberdeen, allie martin, wcbi news the sheriff has not had to arrest anyone with covid 19 for refusing to self isolate.

Wipe to gfx the university of mississippi medical center and the state department of health will have two local sites for covid-19 testing.

On friday april 24 the they will be set up at the oxford conference center.

A second one-day testing site will be saturday april 25th at fairview baptist church in columbus.

Pre-screening áis requiredá ..

The fastest way to get screened is through the c spire health app or you can call 601-496-7200.

Stinger wx open summary: a batch of rain and storms will move through the region wednesday night.

Heavy rain and gusty winds appear to be the main threats after midnight.

The overall tornado risk is on the low end of the spectrum.

Another chance of storms will come late friday evening and early saturday morning.

Wednesday night: rain and storms. some severe weather is possible from late in the evening through sunrise.

The main threats tonight will be gusty winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding.

Some hail is possible but the tornado threat is low.

Lows will be in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Winds remain breezy from the s 10-25 mph.

Thursday: variably cloudy with some lingering showers.

One thing we'll have to watch out for is some storm redevelopment along the ms/al border and points east by early afternoon.

There may be some strong storms over in alabama but we think they'll stay just to our east.

Breezy winds from the w 10-25 mph will help to dry things out.

Temperatures are expected to warm into the mid to upper 70 during the afternoon.

Thursday night: partly cloudy and quiet.

Lows in the low 50s.

Friday: mostly sunny and warm.

Highs in the upper 70s to around 80.

Friday evening/night: scattered showers and storms. some could be strong with gusty winds and hail.

Lows in the upper 50s.

Saturday: some showers in the morning with developing sunshine as the day wears on.

Highs in the low 70s.

Saturday night: mainly clear.

Lows in the upper 40s.

Sunday: mostly sunny.

Highs near 70.

Next week: another round of storms may come our way tuesday night into wednesday.

We'll continue to monitor that.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app fans of a tupelo culinary favorite will have a chance to make history this year - for the first time ever, you will be able to get a dudie's burger in a drive- thru.

Covid-19 precautions have forced tupelo's oren dunn city museum to cancel this year's dudie's burger festival, but they're still cooking up something special.

Saturday may 9th the museum is hosting the dudie's burgers drive-by.

The staff is taking pre-orders for the special meals.

For 8 bucks you can get 2 dudie's burgers , chips, a moon pie, candy and a drink.

Between 10-30am and 1-30pm you can drive in and pick them up.

You can call the oren dunn museum to get information on how to order.

You don't have to pre-order, but if you wait until the day of, the cost goes up to 10 dollars.

The dudie's burger festival is the museum's biggest fundraiser of the year.

Wipe to vo covid precautions are also changing up tupelo's elvis fest it's going virtual.

Event organizers announce today that due to covid- 19, all public events are cancelled.

Instead, attendees can visit tupelo virtually each day of the fest by visiting the event's website.

The event will still be held june 3rd through 7th.

A schedule is expected in the through 7th.

A schedule is expected in the upcoming weeks.

Stinger trees are leafing out - flowers are in bloom - spring is a beautiful time of year áunlessá you have allergies..

We find out more about the sneezing and wheezing of the season when we scott's reentry if you're sniffling or sneezing it could be spring allergies// we learn about some of the triggers in our health talk with baptist// what is the cause of most sprin allergies?

The biggest spring allergy trigger is pollen - tiny grains released into the air by trees, grass and weeds for the purpose of fertilizing other plants.

When pollen grains get in the nose of someone who's allergic, they send the immune system into overdrive.

As trees start to bloom and pollen is released into the atmosphere, allergy sufferers begin their annual ritual of sniffing and sneezing.

Each year, 58 million americans fall prey to seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever.

Pollen can travel for miles, spreading a path of misery for allergy sufferers along the way.

The higher the pollen count, the greater the misery.

The pollen count measures the amount of allergens in the aire in grains per cubic meter.

You can find out the daily pollen count in your area by watching your local weather forecast.

Here are some of the biggest spring allergy offendors.

Trees including oak, pine, willow, elm, hickory, and cedar.

Grasses and weeds including bermuda, fescue, johnson, perennial rye, timothy and ragweed.

Allergy symptoms tend to be particularly high on breezy days when the wind picks up pollen and carries it through the air.

Rainy days on the other hand cause a drop in the pollen counts because the rain washer away the allergens.

Join us next time for health talk with baptist when we will discuss treatments for spring allergies.

Mail your topic suggestions to health talk at wcbi dot com.

Health talk has been brought to you by baptist memorial hospital golden triangle.

Stinger believe it or not - there is an upside to sheltering at home and self- qaurantining..

It's making things better for your mother - mother earth that is..

We explain after the today marks the 50th anniversary of earth day, and this year's theme is "climate action."

And as nancy chen reports, climate experts say those stay-at-home orders across the country are having a positive effect on the environment.

Pkg: with half the world's population staying at home, these cloudy days are bringing clearer skies.

"this is wonderful - places like new york, los angeles, denver, all cities around the world are seeing the best air quality they've seen in a long time."

The 50th anniversary of earth day comes as global carbon dioxide emissions are expected to fall to their lowest levels since world war two... water is clearer in many areas and animal sightings are up.

Even rare wildflowers and a declining bee population could benefit as roadside fields aren't cleared as often.

"we've probably got about - i should say - three weeks worth of growth that we wouldn't have had already 0355 and this is such an exciting time of year, nancy, because in britain, all these plants are gearing up with loads of energy to start flowering."

Organizers say more than a billion people typically participate in earth day activities.& and this year, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the outdoors - from inside.

Earth-day-dot-org has an interactive map with virtual events all over the country - and the world - from teach-ins to film screenings.

And while large- scale cleanups won't be happening, there are lots of practical things you can do from your home: -consider a no- plastic buy challenge&startin g with one item - reduce meat and dairy consumption -cut back on water use -start a backyard compost pile -build a birdhouse or feeder -make crafts with recycled items climate watchers also say to brainstorm about the future.

"think about what you can do when we emerge from this crisis to help the environment."

Activists say every little bit really does help.

Nancy chen, cbs news, new york.

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