WCBI NEWS AT SIX - FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2020

WCBI NEWS AT SIX - FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2020

The future of mississippi's state flag is still up in the air.

Our quentin smith speaks with legislators about what needs to happen in order for the flag to come to a vote.

He joins us live from the state capitol with their reaction.

Joey, some lawmakers i spoke with say they want to see the state flag come down by the weekend, but they're not sure where the votes are going to come from to make it happen.

The house and senate need a two- thirds vote in order to suspend the rules that would allow them to take up this matter.

Right now, lawmakers are still trying to convince those who are currently against this issue....to jump on board.

As the state flag wavers in the wind, so does its fate.

In order for lawmakers to vote on whether the flag flies or is furled, they need 81 votes in the house....and 34 votes from senators, giving them the authority to make that decision.

A decision some have mixed views about "i don't really want to suspend the rules.

I am in favor of having a vote by the people, and if we can get that done then that would be good."

" we got to do a little convincing to certain people because they made commitments during their campaigns not to do certain things, so we don't want anybody to go back on their word to their people back home, but we've got to do what sometimes best for the overall state of mississippi."

Some lawmakers still aren't sure the numbers will add up.

"i'm confident that the house of representatives has enough votes to move forward, but i'm not sure about the senate."

" i feel very comfortable saying that if they could bring about a new flag, a majority of members of the house and the majority members of the senate would want that to happen, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll vote that way."

State leaders are still tackling the challenging task of changing hearts and minds..

" i haven't been in on any event, they haven't contacted me, but i think they know where i stand so that may be one of the reasons."

" it's tough because so many of them are thinking, hey i got to get reelected and they don't want to go back on the word they have to their people" "everything is changing so quickly.

I don't know.

I don't know procedurally where we are i don't know where the votes are."

Legislators return to the capitol tomorrow morning.

I spoke with a few lawmakers who remain hopeful that saturday will be the day when all of the votes will be in to suspend the rules and a decision will be made on whether to take down the state flag.

If lawmakers are able to get enough votes to pass a resolution suspending the rules to vote on this matter.

Governor tate reeves said he would not veto that bill.

Reporting live from the state capitol.

Quentin smith.

Wcbi news.

Take developing story stinger a death investigation is underway in columbus.

Columbus police chief fred shelton says a woman was found dead inside an apartment this morning.

Investigators tell wcbi a neighbor found the person at the reserve apartment complex and called 911.

A small child that was inside the apartment was unharmed.

Detectives are investigating the incident.

Lowndes county coroner greg merchant has not released any information at this time, including the person's name and a possible cause of death.

Wipe to gfx a lowndes county man is accused of having child pornography.

39-year-old christopher lance howell is charged with exploitation of a child.

Deputies received a cyber tip from the attorney general's office that a person in lowndes county could have child pornography.

Howell was later arrested.

As of late this morning, his bond has not been set.

Wipe to gfx a lowndes county man on the run is arrested in west alabama.

34-year-old corey mixon is charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault.

He was arrested in millport, alabama.

The investigation started on june 14th after a person told lowndes county deputies that they were held against their will on old yorkville road.

36-year-old kevin parker was also arrested in the case.

He's charged with kidnapping and aggravated domestic assault, along with other charges.

Wipe to gfx a traffic stop in lowndes county ends with a drug arrest// 42-year-old anthony guyton faces drug possession charges including with intent to distribute// guyton was pulled over today on highway 373// investigators say they found about 32 grams of methamphetamine and 24 dosage units of oxycodone// agents with the lowndes county narcotics task force was also involved in the investigation.

Some north mississippi law enforcement receive life-saving equipment thanks to a fundraising event..

Forty officers were measured for new body armor today.

That armor is provided through a benefit 5 k called "blessed are the peacemakers."

The event is organized by "wives of warriors" a support group for wives of officers.

Proceeds from the 5 k and a silent auction pay for the gear// "it's a business for us but it's more than that, it's a pet peeve for me, i think for our guys and ladies who are putting their lives on the line everyday, it's a safety situation, where they can have it on and feel good about it."

"we want to help them so that they can use money in other places, even if it is just one officer a year for a department it's one officer they don't have to worry about anymore and their family doesn't have to worry if they came home safe that night."

The "blessed are the peacemakers 5k" is set for september 26th at fairpark in tupelo.

First look stinger you'll probably want to keep the rain jacket or umbrella on standby for the next several days as chances for pop-up showers and storms continue.

We're not expecting a complete washout, but the chances for rain will be there.

Temperatures will stay hot and humid with highs near 90.

Friday night: light another 550 mississippians test positive for covid- 19.

That's the latest numbers from the state department of health.

In our region, pontotoc county had the most new cases with 14.

Chickasaw had 10.

Oktibbeha and lowndes recorded nine new cases.

Health officials report minor decreases in patients, patients on ventilators and patients in icu.

75 percent of the cases do not require hospitalization.

Across the state line, lamar county records its first death.

964 new cases were reported in alabama today.

A local nonprofit makes sure its most vunerable clients have an adequate food supply.

Prairie opportunity community action agency gave out food bags to elderly and disabled clients this morning in macon.

Case managers gave out bags of chicken, vegetables, non- perishables, and bottles of water.

" we're dealing with families that has always had two jobs and had income and now their furloughed.

It's unpredicatable nobody really knows what to expect, how to handle it, or how to approach it."

The agencies helped around 50 families today// while many food giveaways are happening every week, food uncertainty is a growing concern for many families.

Our stephanie poole joins us live in studio with what some groups are doing to help neighbors put food on the table that's right joey, in the midst of the pandemic, community organizations are coming together to make sure no one goes unnoticed.

On friday, several cars line the streets for life church of columbus's food distribution event.

The event's coordinator, dr. t.j.

Bradford says nearly 850 meal boxes have been prepared.

" through society of st.

Andrew, they're an organization in jackson,ms and so they have a relationship with them and they have a relationship with farmers.

As they have excess produce or excess food, they'll call society of st.andrew and then in return gets in touch with food banks, food distribution hubs."

And this is more than just canned goods..

"one week we had gallons of milk, we gave out over a thousand gallons of milk.

Some of the dairy boxes have an assortment of dairy product.

Some of the protein boxes have bacon, sausage, ham, chicken, different things of that nature."

However, for families in more rural areas, 'finding' help can be the hard part..

" we're dealing with individuals that have never had to ask for assistance."

Renee sanders is the executive director for united way in lowndes and noxubee county.

She says her agency is forming partnerships to help feed other needs during this time of uncertainty.

" noxubee county diabetes coalition is stepping up to help assist individuals in noxubee county with other needs outside of food too.

Now food is a big need, but you also need rent assistance, utility assistance, and things of that nature.

" sanders says it's their mission to lend a helping hand.

" we're dealing with families that has always had two jobs and had income and now their furloughed.

It's unpredictable nobody really knows what to expect, how to handle it, or how to approach it."

Assistance details through the noxubee county diabetes coalition will be announced at a later date.

Stinger business is back in downtown fulton and across the area.

We'll have that story coming up an itawamba county city is seeing an upswing in commercial development, despite recent covid 19 related shutdowns.

Wcbi's allie martin has more on what is helping drive the economic resurgence in the town.

Several years ago, downtown fulton had a lot of empty buildings.

Much of the commercial development had left, but recently there has been a revitalization of sorts and it's led mostly by locals who want to see the area prosper.

"we wanted to give a nod to history and give a nod to the growth of fulton."

Brittany moore and her husband corey purchased the old "gaither " building on fulton's town square.

Original plans called for their boutique called "chasing portland" to occupy the space, but other vendors now rent space at the historic building, as sort of a retail business incubator.

"hopefully those businesses can grow large enough to fill some of our empty buildings and keep growing in itawamba county."

"chasing portland" was open for one week before covid 19 related shutdowns took effect.

But since those restrictions were lifted, business has been booming.

"when we opened the doors everybody was raring to go, downtown has been hustling and bustling , ready to get in here.

Just northeast of the square, jimmie wilson put new life into an old gas station and auto parts store when he opened "porch swing pickings."

He sells farmhouse decor and artificial flowers.

He also rents space to vendors who sell everything from food, arts and crafts and antiques.

Wilson is glad many of the old landmarks are homes to new businesses.

"i kept coming by and seeing this building and it was always special to me, when we came into town, it was like the gateway to fulton , i wanted to do something that would clean it up and bring more people in, i think we've succeeded."

Nats bell at restaurant several miles away, the lunch rush is in full swing at 'guy's place' jason beacham took over the restaurant earlier this year.

The setting on the midway marina provides a unique atmosphere for lunch and dinner.

Beacham says people support local businesses because those businesses give back to the community.

"people really appreciate a local business, and we have great support and love from our community and we try and give that back in many ways as well, for instance, when the schools, for a brief period weren't giving lunches to kids who may have relied on that everyday during school, we gave away almost 200 school lunches to kids."

The owner of guy's place on the water says he expects business to continue picking up throughout the summer, with traffic from the marina and people coming in from the town and surrounding areas.

In fulton, allie martin, wcbi news several years ago, downtown fulton had a lot of empty buildings.

Much of the commercial development had left, but recently there has been a revitalization of sorts and it's led mostly by locals who want to see the area prosper.

"we wanted to give a nod to history and give a nod to the growth of fulton."

Brittany moore and her husband corey purchased the old "gaither " building on fulton's town square.

Original plans called for their boutique called "chasing portland" to occupy the space, but other vendors now rent space at the historic building, as sort of a retail business incubator.

"hopefully those businesses can grow large enough to fill some of our empty buildings and keep growing in itawamba county."

"chasing portland" was open for one week before covid 19 related shutdowns took effect.

But since those restrictions were lifted, 'porch swing pickings' owner jimmie wilson says sales this past may broke all previous records for the same month over a three year period.

Stinger baby in the lake and not have to worry about getting the umbrella rejected what i did coming into i the weekend to build on the dryer only thing is probably so will tracking your partly cloudy the most part did, shower storm possible for the weekend but that does little bit otherwise a warm and humid for the ... wx open you'll probably want to keep the rain jacket or umbrella on standby for the next several days as chances for pop-up showers and storms continue.

We're not expecting a complete washout, but the chances for rain will be there.

Temperatures will stay hot and humid with highs near 90.

Friday night: light showers will remain possible overnight, otherwise we'll stay mostly cloudy and mild.

Lows will be near 70 with light southerly winds.

Saturday: we're expecting that most of the day saturday will be dry.

We'll have a brief round of showers early in the morning and the chance for some very isolated pop-up storms in the afternoon hours.

Most of us will see a mix of sun and clouds with highs in the mid to upper 80s.

While rain chances are minimal, keep an eye on the weather just in case one of those downpours happens to pop up near your location.

Sunday: much like saturday, most if not all of the day will be dry, but we'll keep a 20% chance for a rogue pop-up shower or storm in the afternoon.

Any shower or storm will be very brief.

Highs near 90.

Monday: we'll see some peeks of sunshine with a few afternoon clouds for monday.

Again, we'll keep the chance for some afternoon pop-up storms in play, but most of us won't see rainfall.

Stinger t-c-p-s and its high flying offense will be back and better than ever in 2020... our preview with the eagles, next in sports... spx stop number five on the high school football tour takes us to belden, mississippi....previe wing the tcps eagles after reaching the postseason for the third straight year...just getting there isn't enough for the eagles a talented team returns, and has its sights set on making a deep postseason run.

"we're gonna go get a ring."

The tcps eagles look to soar over the competition as they head into the 2020 season.

Head coach shaune holiday brings back an experienced bunch....featuring 20 seniors who all believe this year is their year.

"my kids have really been working hard on their own and it shows when we were able to start getting back together a couple of weeks ago.

This year, we made it to the playoffs last year.

This year we're hoping to get in and win a few games in the playoffs."

"it'll probably be the best year we've had so far since i've been here so it should be a really great year."

Last season, the eagles fell short against some of the top teams in the division, but believe the experience they've gained will take their game to new heights.

"i'm going to depend on that experience and that leadership and those guys that have been in those battles that hopefully this year that'll help us get through those tough games."

Leading the flock is the dynamic duo of, khi holiday and noah foster.

Holiday had just shy of 4700 total yards last season and 58 total tds.

Foster hauled in 19 of those td passes.

The two credit their on field chemistry to their off field friendship.

"we've been playing baseball since we were like five.

We really got great chemistry.

Last year it was just football.

It clicked like that so it should click again this year."

"we've been best friends since we were nine years old playing baseball and stuff together.

We were always throwing the ball in the backyard so i already know what he's going to do when he's running a route and he knows where i'm going to throw it."

When it's crunch time, the eagles know they can turn to khi to make with hamilton farm in sync with one a school myrtle baldwin before jumping in the way at the end of next week is union attaching bruce major league baseball clubs continue to lock up the traffic earlier this month for ole miss rebel mississippi state commit initially signed the big mississippi state commit boston hendrick will be making k signing with the to start cincinnati reds on a 4-million dolalr contract--will littlelikely play outfield in the pros former ole miss third baseman tyler keenan signs with the seattle on thursday the weekend overall not looking too bad for them under the chance for isolated shower or storm the next number of days better chances for rain and storms are coming here to stay through the end of the week i stayed around 90 with overnight lows in the avenues of joy i mentioned but it just heading that way you can get mad as a marine