Local Headlines

Brookhaven police seeks help in identifying suspects in connection with weekend burglaries

By WLBT Digital | November 23, 2020 at 2:23 PM CST – Updated November 23 at 2:23 PM

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (WLBT) – The Brookhaven Police Department say they need help in identifying the suspects they believe to be connected to string of burglaries that occurred over the weekend.

The department took the images from video footage taken during a series of burglaries that occurred between November 20 and November 22.

The video gave authorities fairly clear images of at least two suspects.

Brookhaven police are looking for information on this individual in connection with weekend burgarlies. (Source: Brookhaven Police Department)

Anyone with information is being asked to call the department at (601) 833-2424 or Crime Stoppers at (601) 823-0150.

COVID-19 in Mississippi: 143,879 cases, 3,676 deaths reported by health dept.

Protecting Yourself from Coronavirus (May 2020)

By WLBT Digital | March 13, 2020 at 11:42 AM CDT – Updated November 23 at 9:29 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The number of presumed positive coronavirus cases in Mississippi is now at 143,879.

The Mississippi Department of Health confirmed 699 new cases and 0 new deaths Monday.

So far, 3,676 people have died from COVID-19 in Mississippi.

The number of tests administered in the state totals 1,287,816 as of November 21. This includes MSDH Public Health Laboratory tests and other providers.

An estimated 121,637 people have recovered from the virus.

Mississippi Department of Health has a hotline open 24 hours, 7 days a week for any coronavirus-related questions: 877-978-6453.

COVID-19 in Mississippi: 143,180 cases, 3,676 deaths reported by health dept.

Protecting Yourself from Coronavirus (May 2020)

By WLBT Digital | March 13, 2020 at 11:42 AM CDT – Updated November 22 at 8:54 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The number of presumed positive coronavirus cases in Mississippi is now at 143,180.

The Mississippi Department of Health confirmed 779 new cases and 19 new deaths Sunday.

So far, 3,676 people have died from COVID-19 in Mississippi.

The number of tests administered in the state totals 1,213,935 as of November 15. This includes MSDH Public Health Laboratory tests and other providers.

An estimated 116,683 people have recovered from the virus.

Mississippi Department of Health has a hotline open 24 hours, 7 days a week for any coronavirus-related questions: 877-978-6453.

Person dead after fiery crash in Hinds County

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One person dead after fiery crash in Hinds County

By WLBT Digital | November 22, 2020 at 6:26 AM CST – Updated November 22 at 6:26 AM

HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – A person died in a single-car crash in Hinds County on Saturday night.

Hinds County Sheriff’s Department says the crash happened on Lebanon Pine Grove Rd.

Deputies say a Toyota Camry traveling west, ran off the road and landed into a wooded area ending in a fiery crash.

The person in the vehicle was pronounced dead on the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Holiday pictures with Santa are modified for coronavirus safety

By Chelsey Sellars | November 21, 2020 at 10:22 PM CST – Updated November 22 at 6:22 AM

RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) – Santa Claus has come to town and he’s meeting children in Ridgeland.

Northpark Mall bringing back the tradition of taking Christmas pictures with the man in red, with a twist.

“Well our primary goal this year was keeping Santa safe. So we have a Plexi in place and everybody is asked to wear a mask,” said Christy Pender, Northpark’s marketing manager

Yes, even Old Saint Nick is being careful in this pandemic. Children their families got to meet him on the other side of the glass to take pictures.

Pender said Santa’s elves were helping too.

“..We have a Santa safety Squad this year. So in between every visit with Santa the area is completely santa-sized,” or sanitized, said Pender.

Javaris McDaniel and his family posed for some pictures today.

“It’s still good to at least try to have some Christmas spirit going on through all of this,” said McDaniel.

Santa Claus admits it’s not the way he would have wanted this visit to go. He is still happy with the outcome.

“I’ve actually seen some of the pictures they took, they actually look really really good. You can hardly see I’m not holding them. So I think it’s working out real good and it beats not having it and I love it,” said Santa.s

You can come meet Santa and take pictures with him until Christmas eve.

MRA downs Jackson Academy, defends MAIS 6A title

By Trey Mongrue | November 21, 2020 at 6:52 PM CST – Updated November 21 at 7:00 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Madison-Ridgeland Academy seems to be getting used to winning championships.

After finally getting over the hump a year ago, the Patriots were back in a similar position this season and once again finished the job, beating Jackson Academy, 41-14, to win its second consecutive MAIS Class 6A Championship.

The win marked the first time in program history that MRA completed a perfect season, having not lost in either the regular season or playoffs.

In his final high school game, Rayf Vinson made the most of it. The senior running back led the way with three touchdowns and 197 rushing yards as MRA dug itself out of an early 7-0 hole, scoring 34 unanswered points to decide the outcome.

Zach Beasley also solid in his last game at MRA, throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

With star receiver Deion Smith out due to injury, the Jackson Academy offense relied even more on Marcus Harris. The Raiders running back totaled 124 yards and accounted for both of JA’s touchdowns, including a 17-yard touchdown reception for the game’s first score.

COVID-19 in Mississippi: 142,401 cases, 3,657 deaths reported by health dept.

Protecting Yourself from Coronavirus (May 2020)

By WLBT Digital | March 13, 2020 at 11:42 AM CDT – Updated November 21 at 9:05 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The number of presumed positive coronavirus cases in Mississippi is now at 142,401.

The Mississippi Department of Health confirmed 1,972 new cases and 15 new deaths Saturday.

So far, 3,657 people have died from COVID-19 in Mississippi.

The number of tests administered in the state totals 1,213,935 as of November 15. This includes MSDH Public Health Laboratory tests and other providers.

An estimated 116,683 people have recovered from the virus.

Mississippi Department of Health has a hotline open 24 hours, 7 days a week for any coronavirus-related questions: 877-978-6453.

Community leaders say real-time command center isn’t a cure for Jackson’s violent crime

By Chelsey Sellars | November 20, 2020 at 11:13 PM CST – Updated November 21 at 6:41 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – John Knight says he was let down by the launch of the Jackson Police Department’s real-time command center.

”The command center, what it’s going to do is going to catch crime as it happens. So it’s not going to stop anything,” he said.

Knight is a member of a Strong Arms of JXN, a group of violence interrupters. He said the virtual policing system does little for their mission.

“My job is to try to come in and stop it before it turns to a murder in the family. We’re not crime fighters, we try to stop it before it happens,” said Knight. “[The command center] is not going to stop any murders. No cameras, nowhere in the world, save lives.”

Knight said he would have liked to see the money used for the center go towards other community needs. He grew up here and was once caught up in some trouble too.

With Strong Arms of Jxn and others, Knight wants to help the youth make the changes necessary to stop the violence.

“What is the root of all this violence in our city. Is it drugs? Is it poverty? Is it lack of education? Is it mental health issues? Yes, it’s all of that, but we don’t want to talk about those things. We want to look for the easy way out,” said Knight.

Amtrak train hits 18-wheeler in Summit, Miss.; No injuries reported

By WLBT Digital | November 20, 2020 at 9:49 PM CST – Updated November 20 at 9:49 PM

SUMMIT, Miss. (WLBT) – An 18-wheeler was hit by an Amtrak train in Summit, Mississippi Friday afternoon.

According to Amtrak, the Amtrak City of New Orleans was on its way from New Orleans to Chicago at 4:30 p.m. when it came into contact with the vehicle.

There were no reported injuries to the 48 passengers onboard.

Richard Coghlan, the Pike County Emergency Management Director, said two 18-wheelers were crossing the tracks and when the second 18-wheeler was almost across, the Amtrak struck its rear bumper.

Coghlan said there was only minor damage to the 18-wheeler.

The train was delayed for 4 hours and 15 minutes. Amtrak Police are now cooperating with the McComb Police Department to investigate the incident.

Lynyrd Skynyrd memorial gets road signs in Pike County

Lynrd Skynd memorial gets road signs in Pike County

By David Kenney | November 20, 2020 at 7:28 PM CST – Updated November 20 at 9:40 PM

GILLSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – They were atop the rock and roll charts when tragedy struck the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Three band members, a road manager and two pilots died in a fatal plane crash in south Mississippi in 1977.

In recent weeks, the Mississippi Department of Transportation put up the signs along I-55 directing people to the Lynyrd Skynyrd memorial in Pike County.

The monument, located near Gillsburg, was constructed last year and is off the beaten path near the site where the band’s plane went down.

Jamie Wall and Dewayne Easley both helped rescue the crash survivors.

Jamie Wall said, “The plane was upside down and there was a crack in the plane and I had a hatchet and I used that hatchet to make the hole bigger to pull them out.”

Since the memorial was built last year, about 10,000 people have come through. Those who put up the memorial believe the highway signs will attract even more visitors.

Dewayne Easleysaid, “The real diehard fans of course they already know it’s here. As far as tourist, general population… it’s a tourist attraction for a state.”

Greg Stillwell and his wife came all the way from Jonesboro, Arkansas to pay their respects. Lynyrd Skynyrd was the first concert he ever saw.

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