WCBI NEWS at Ten - 08/10/2020

WCBI NEWS at Ten - 08/10/2020

Thank you for staying up with us tonight.... lawmakers are back in session to fix some budget items... the legislature hasn't voted to override a governor's veto since 2002 when ronnie musgrove was governor... that changed today.... and now the education budget originally passed by the legislature is law-- despite that veto.

Courtney ann jackson has a recap of what's happening at the state capitol.

Lawmakers returned to the capitol with safety at the top of mind--temperature checks, lawmakers spacing out and required masks.

But they came back to address an issue that they say left school districts around the state in limbo.

"we are here today to override the governors veto of the education budget, house bill 1700.

And correct the wrongs that was committed against the educators and students across the state."

Governor tate reeves has said he partially vetoed the education budget because it didn't fund the school recognition program.

But the house education chair says there were many of budgets left in jeopardy because of the veto....including parts of the school funding formula, school nurse program and school supply fund.

"the cards were sent to the district but they haven't been turned on by mde.

That's because they can't because of the veto."

Unlike some legislative issues---this one was free of any floor debate.

"the motion passes."

Hours later...the senate agreed to override the veto.

"by a vote of 41-1, the motion passes."

"the fact that the governor vetoed it, there were a lot of school districts concerned about how they were going to be funded."

"the legislature on both ends, including our lt.

Governor and speaker, very much wants to fund education and we're going to do everything we can to make sure our teachers and students are properly provided for."

Now what about the school recognition program?

Instead, they'll work to fix that mistake while they're in this week.

Both chambers suspended the deadlines so they can take up that budget item as well as the department of marine resources budget.

Late tonight... the house passed a bill restoring funding to the school recognition program.

Late tonight... the house passed a bill restoring funding to the school recognition program.

The bill now goes to the senate for consideration.

Several employees in the columbus municipal school district have tested positive for covid-19 since school began thursday.

Superintendent dr. cherie labat confirmed to wcbi.... that several employees have been quarantined after testing positive or having a low grade fever from temperature checks.

In a statement... labat said some employees have tested negative but can not return to school because they have a fever.

Labat says, -quote- "we are being transparent while protecting the medical privacy of our employees" - end quote.

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Internet access in rural areas... like noxubee county.... has been an on- going issue.

And with the school year set to begin next week..... the district has a plan to make sure students and teachers have what they need to for virtual learning.

Our bobby martinez explains... "this is history in the making."

Having little or no internet service is a common reality for rural areas like noxubee county.... terry lewis, principal at earl nash elementary..

Says it was important for the school district to come up with a plan to make sure each student has internet access.

Sot - terry lewis - principal - earl nash elementary "providing them with these hot spots and this internet services will allow them to be able to do the work necessary for them to continue on their trajectory to college and career readiness."

Administrators are taking steps for virtual learning and installing remote internet connections.

Bringing classrooms to the car.

"our school district is purchasing laptops for our students and our teachers.

And our district is also placing hot spots within different various parts of the community so that the people who do not have internet service will be able to drive up to these hot spots and access the internet."

Aarica smith, assistant principal at earl nash elementary... says students and teachers will be using a unique platform for the first few months of school..

Sot - aarica smith - assistant principal - earl smith elementary "our virtual model we will use the microsoft teams platform and that is our primary source for our students the first nine weeks."

Smith said smartphones with internet access will also be available to students.

"we are living in a time of technology if they are unable to have access within their home, we have many smart phones that students and parents have access to and they can use internet with those devices."

The need for virtual capabilities is being noticed.

Dave miller spokesperson for c spire..

Says the demand for internet services in rural areas have skyrocketed in recent months sot - dave miller - spokesperson - c spire "they've seen the demand go out of the roof.

You know we've had probably 50 75 100% increase in the demand for those services people want to be connected.

So it's really important to have a really good internet connection and that's what really c-spire majors in."

Rice says roughly 70 students will be on campus for their hybrid model learning..... but on fridays..

All classes will be virtual while the school completes a deep cleaning..

First look stinger there's not much relief from the heat and humidity coming anytime soon as temperatures stay in the mid to upper 90s with heat index values occasionally over 105.

We will increase rain chances just a bit through the middle of the week but even then, amounts will generally be less than an inch.

Monday night: mostly clear, mild, and muggy.

Temperatures will fall to the mid 70s with a light south- southwesterly wind.

Tonight should be a good night to view the annual perseid meteor shower.

Tuesday: another it was a groundbreaking ceremony today for cornerstone park in starkville.

The estimated four million dollar project will be home to baseball tournaments for teams across the state.

Our stephanie poole visits the park and has more on the impact the park is expected to have..

In two years it'll be time to play ball at cornerstone park.

The new recreational facility allows baseball teams to hold practices and tournaments.

"i expect it to be a regional draw that extends into alabama,louisiana and hopefully tennessee, and points all around the state of mississippi."

Starkville mayor lynn spruill says with large numbers coming in, city revenue will soar.

"sports tourism is a big economic development driver so it is my hope that the activities here at cornerstone will be pretty much constant on the weekends.

From that we'll drive the attention and the heightened interest in starkville as we go forward with msu hand and hand and create a sports tournament facility and create starkville as mississippi baseball capital."

Butt sots " this will be a supplement to what the city is already doing.

Tournament and travel ball is a multibillion dollar sports tourism economic driver.

We anticipate that this will allow the city to put themselves in a position to be a player in that game."

Starkville parks interim director, david d'aquilla says there will be 10 to 12 fields, depending on contractor bids.

With phase 1 of the project underway, deciding finishing touches is last on the check list.

" we're working on the final designs, lighting, turf grass, buildings and gc contract for the overall construction.

Those will go out on the street in late fall."

And they are anticipating up to 30 weekend games per year.

"this is going to be useful for our youth during the weekdays too,this will be a recreational opportunity."

Construction begins in january of 2021.éé the projected finish date is set for the spring of 2022.

éé from the golden triangle to washington.... an area car dealer is elected by his peers to continue representing the state on a national level.

Michael joe cannon....owner of cannon ford- lincoln of starkville.... will serve as the director of mississippi on the national automobile dealers association board.

He'll be in charge of keeping the more than 150 new car dealers in mississippi... informed on legislative regulatory affairs that may be coming up.... as well as any issues or concerns that are happening on the national level.

Cannon has been in the automobile industry for more than three decades and says he's thrilled to represent the state for a third term.

"we feel like you've got to give back.

I've always thought the more you gave, the more you get back, so it's an honor and a privilege to be able to serve and represent all of the great dealers that we have in this great state of mississippi.

I would not be able to do that if it wasn't for great employees being able to take care of things while i was at home, and also taking care of our great customers."

Cannon's new term will officially begin in march 2021, and he will hold that position for the next three years..

Stinger there's not much relief from the heat and humidity coming anytime soon as temperatures stay in the mid to upper 90s with heat index values occasionally over 105.

We will increase rain chances just a bit through the middle of the week but even then, amounts will generally be less than an inch.

Monday night: mostly clear, mild, and muggy.

Temperatures will fall to the mid 70s with a light south- southwesterly wind.

Tonight should be a good night to view the annual perseid meteor shower.

Tuesday: another hot and humid day is in store for tuesday as temperatures once again climb into the mid 90s with heat index values over 100.

Scattered storms will be possible anytime after lunch and into the evening.

Wednesday-friday: afternoon and evening storms will remain a possibility for the middle and end of the week, but not everyone will see rain every single day.

If you happen to get caught in a downpour, it will help to knock your temperature down a few degrees and make it slightly cooler.

Most of us will still see highs in the mid 90s and morning lows in the 70s.

Saturday-monday: pop-up storms will remain in the forecast for the weekend and even into early next week as temperatures remain hot and humid.

Highs will be in the low 90s with heat index values nearing 100.

To get the latest forecast anytime, download the wcbi news app or visit our website at wcbi.com/weather.

You can also get the latest weather updates on facebook, twitter, and instagram.

There's not much relief from the heat and humidity coming anytime soon as temperatures stay in the mid to upper 90s with heat index values occasionally over 105.

We will increase rain chances just a bit through the middle of the week but even then, amounts will generally be less than an inch.

Monday night: mostly clear, mild, and muggy.

Temperatures will fall to the mid 70s with a light south- southwesterly wind.

Tonight should be a good night to view the annual perseid meteor shower.

Tuesday: another hot and humid day is in store for tuesday as temperatures once again climb into the mid 90s with heat index values over 100.

Scattered storms will be possible anytime after lunch and into the evening.

Wednesday-friday: afternoon and evening storms will remain a possibility for the middle and end of the week, but not everyone will see rain every single day.

If you happen to get caught in a downpour, it will help to knock your temperature down a few degrees and make it slightly cooler.

Most of us will still see highs in the mid 90s and morning lows in the 70s.

Saturday-monday: pop-up storms will remain in the forecast for the weekend and even into early next week as temperatures remain hot and humid.

Highs will be in the low 90s with heat index values nearing 100.

To get the latest forecast anytime, download the wcbi news app or visit our website at wcbi.com/weather.

You can also get it's summer time and the perfect time to fire up that grill.... if you enjoy grilling.... baptist has a few tips to make sure what your eating is clear of any bacteria.

No script some students in tupelo will start school a cut above the rest... that's right..

Two organizations are teaming up to give away free haircuts and school supplies..

We'll have the story after the break... as students get ready to return to school across the area, there are some essentials and those can add up.

Our allie martin tells us about two organizations teaming up with a local barbershop to help with some of the expenses of starting a new school year.

With each haircut nats barbers at "b-n- style' barbershop are helping students get ready to return to school.

They provided free haircuts monday morning at their tupelo barbershop.

"it is a big deal especially right now, you want to give these kids some sense of normalcy, so it's not so chaotic, and they can focus and concentrate more on learning than on everything else that's going on."

The outreach was called "youth make a difference day" and it was organized by two groups, "jewell's mentoring" and the "millennial outreach foundation."

Along with the haircuts, backpacks of school supplies were also provided, while they lasted.

Organizers say they were looking for a way to help families with school age children.

"i want to be influential and send out a message to be encouraging, and let the community know there's someone thinking about them, and they don't have to fight any battles alone."

"a lot of times to be honest, a lot of people can't afford a back to school haircut or school supplies, these events are very much needed , even aside from money aspect, showing we do care."

Parents and students appreciated the outreach.

"it means a lot to me and for the community, it's a big deal" "we hadn't had a haircut in a long time, this is a good thing to do for us, we are going back to school and really need it" with school supplies and haircuts taken care of, chrishton and his brother leonard are now ready to shop for back to school fashions.

In tupelo, allie martin, wcbi news there were also bags filled with personal hygiene items for those there were also bags filled with personal hygiene items for those who are heading off to college.

Stinger the high school football begins to wind down with stop number 50...the tour checks-in with the new hope trojans next in sports open are you you dragons return in 2020 baltimore wci sports 24 high school football is my you want to go to full term allowing which is closer to games short take that really get all really good break is taking that into the season is to with an one of his go to the you recently got the best women i was directing when we work hard will be rewarded for your here for more on the ball to our defense or salsa right now going on were still very a very young about this kind of saw me out there like commerce so as a like a role at a famous different focus is different drive that everything is right now you will you you you have a lot of players on this team that have a lot of snaps on the belt now so we have to have a lot of senior leadership we have a lot of senior leadership likes it a lot easy with these kids so these guys know right i still like ball is something we haven't had five years in the heart worked at the that is you are not for you baltimore wci sports 2020 high school football to google by h&r and our columbus baltimore ashley began remaining lines will help me or when the chance for i will close out the only meaning we waited and a chance to meet kenny go for another one year and in last look last look last look last look