Local Headlines

Black Lives Matter march held in Downtown Jackson against police brutality

By China Lee | June 6, 2020 at 3:01 PM CDT – Updated June 6 at 5:51 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi branch of Black Lives Matter is holding a protest this weekend outside of the Governor’s Mansion in Downtown Jackson.

The goal is to make a mark in a movement that for days now has rocked the county.

Thousands of people all over the nation have held protests against police brutality after a black man was killed by police.

George Floyd was killed after an officer kneeled on his neck for more than 8 minutes.

The Mississippi branch of Black Lives Matter says today’s protest will be peaceful and violence will not be tolerated.

They are hopeful that during today’s protest they will be able to connect with more community leaders on creating long lasting solutions to issues plaguing the Black community.

The march began at 3 p.m.

Protestors march through Downtown Jackson – clipped version

Unemployment rate lowers across the country; Americans return back to work

By Chelsey Sellars | June 5, 2020 at 11:33 PM CDT – Updated June 6 at 8:12 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – As Americans head back to work, over two million jobs return to the national economy according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employers in Mississippi are also bringing back their workforce in the opening economy.

Bravo! Italian Restaurant in Jackson is back and running this week. In March, the restaurant and two others were closed for dining when the coronavirus started to spread in Mississippi.

Co-owner Jeff Good described the layoffs.

“March the 18th was the day that we actually had to close our dining rooms and on the 19th, we had to terminate all of our employees and that was an incredibly difficult day. So that was 174 human beings that I had many of them had worked with for 23, 22, 20 years. We’ve been in this business for 26 years,” he said.

Ongoing changes and recommendations from the government and CDC allowed Good to bring back employees little by little.

“…We did what we had to do knowing that that would be the opportunity for our employees to tap into the unemployment insurance. And then of course the government stipend that came after that. So I think that we did the right thing,” said Good.

As of Wednesday, all of Good’s restaurants have reopened. Though functioning at half capacity, most of the staff is back.

“The best security we can give somebody is their job back and we have reached out to every single employee in our family of one-hundred-seventy-four and said we welcome you back….. We have a hundred-and-twenty-two people back on payroll roughly 60% of part-time and 40% full time, which is exactly the percentage that any restaurant is going to have,” said Good.

Good said safety is always on the forefront and hopes the economic growth will continue in Mississippi.

Mayor supports protests expected to converge on the Capital City

By Roslyn Anderson | June 5, 2020 at 9:51 PM CDT – Updated June 5 at 9:51 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Anger, frustration and unrest over the deaths of George Floyd and a black man killed by a white Columbus police officer prompt protests across the nation and here in the Capital City.

Friday, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba spoke on the demonstrations and what he expects when demonstrators walk the city streets.

“Truly a period of awakening in our nation,” said Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba.

As possibly hundreds of people prepare to converge on the Capital City to protest, the city’s top administrator said he is an ally in their right to vocalize their opposition to police brutality.

“I stand in solidarity with them. I’m proud of the young people that are organizing this march,” said Lumumba. “I want it to be clear that it is their march.”

The former criminal defense attorney believes the criminal justice system is in need of deconstruction.

He said nationwide and local protests in response to George Floyd’s death are justifiable among a people who feel oppressed.

“George Floyd is tragic because it represents such a familiar story for people in our communities across the nation,” the mayor reflected. “There have been George Floyd’s historically in Jackson, Mississippi. There have been George Floyd’s throughout the State of Mississippi, and there have been George Floyd’s nationwide.”

Protests in some cities across the country have turned violent, but, according to the mayor, Jackson police will maintain order without acts of aggression.

“We won’t be showing an extreme show of force and it won’t be an intimidating presence hovering over people who have every right to feel the things they feel,” added Lumumba.

The city’s youngest elected mayor plans to attend a Black Lives Matter protest Saturday at the Governor’s Mansion joining the nationwide movement.

Ridgeland police seeking suspects wanted for armed carjacking, kidnapping

By WLBT Digital | June 5, 2020 at 7:17 PM CDT – Updated June 5 at 7:17 PM

RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) – Ridgeland police are looking for two suspects wanted for armed carjacking, kidnapping and home invasion.

Ridgeland Police Chief John Neal says it happened Thursday around 9:40 p.m.

A man said two men had stolen his vehicle and forced their way into his home. Chief Neal said the incident happened on Berkshire Drive.

The two suspects, who were both wearing masks, made their way into the man’s home at gunpoint and forced him into his vehicle to go to an ATM.

The homeowner told the suspects he didn’t have any money and they returned with him to his home, forced him out of vehicle and left with the man’s car.

Chief Neal said the car was recovered abandoned about an hour after the incident at a local apartment complex.

He said officers are speaking with neighbors to try and see if surveillance video captured the incident.

Ridgeland police are also working with the Jackson Police Department to determine if they are working any similar cases.

The homeowner received superficial injures. He was treated for his injuries.

17,034 cases of coronavirus identified by Miss. Dept. of Health; 811 deaths

By WLBT Digital | March 13, 2020 at 11:42 AM CDT – Updated June 6 at 6:09 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The number of presumed positive coronavirus cases in Mississippi is now at 16,769.

The Mississippi Department of Health confirmed 265 new cases and 8 new deaths on Saaturday. So far, 811 people have died from COVID-19 in Mississippi.

The amount of tests done in the state totals 201,751 as of June 5. This includes MSDH Public Health Laboratory tests and other providers.

There’s also 2,017 reported cases in long-term care facilities in the state.

An estimated 11,203 people have recovered from the virus.

The number of cases per county are (as of June 5):

Adams – 204; 16 deaths
Alcorn – 19; 1 death
Amite – 65; 1 death
Attala – 312; 18 deaths
Benton – 14
Bolivar – 169; 11 deaths
Calhoun – 68; 4 deaths
Carroll – 119; 11 deaths
Chickasaw – 143; 14 deaths
Choctaw – 52; 2 deaths
Claiborne -116; 5 deaths
Clarke – 156; 19 deaths
Clay – 125; 4 deaths
Coahoma – 132; 4 deaths
Copiah – 334; 4 deaths
Covington – 183; 2 deaths
DeSoto – 593; 10 deaths
Forrest – 600; 39 deaths
Franklin – 29; 2 deaths
George – 30; 2 death
Greene – 30; 1 death
Grenada – 110; 4 deaths
Hancock – 90; 12 deaths
Harrison – 268; 7 deaths
Hinds – 1,104; 26 deaths
Holmes – 444; 31 deaths
Humphreys – 64; 7 deaths
Itawamba – 89; 7 deaths
Jackson – 314; 15 deaths
Jasper – 168; 4 deaths
Jefferson – 42; 1 death
Jefferson Davis – 82; 3 deaths
Jones – 709; 33 deaths
Kemper – 156; 11 deaths
Lafayette – 156; 4 deaths
Lamar – 252; 5 deaths
Lauderdale – 765; 69 deaths
Lawrence – 107; 1 death
Leake – 455; 12 deaths
Lee – 197; 7 deaths
Leflore – 282; 38 deaths
Lincoln – 281; 29 deaths
Lowndes – 252; 9 deaths
Madison – 778; 29 deaths
Marion – 116; 9 deaths
Marshall – 89; 3 deaths
Monroe – 269; 25 deaths
Montgomery – 84; 1 death
Neshoba – 739; 45 deaths
Newton – 292; 4 deaths
Noxubee – 195; 6 deaths
Oktibbeha – 283; 14 deaths
Panola – 87; 3 deaths
Pearl River – 212; 31 deaths
Perry – 51; 3 deaths
Pike – 204; 11 deaths
Pontotoc – 49; 3 deaths
Prentiss – 53; 3 deaths
Quitman – 32
Rankin – 463; 9 deaths
Scott – 663; 12 deaths
Sharkey – 7
Simpson – 105
Smith – 156; 11 deaths
Stone – 32
Sunflower – 96; 3 deaths
Tallahatchie – 31; 1 death
Tate – 93; 1 death
Tippah – 76; 11 deaths
Tishomingo – 36
Tunica – 58; 3 deaths
Union – 89; 7 deaths
Walthall – 67
Warren – 199; 10 deaths
Washington – 199; 8 deaths
Wayne – 280; 3 deaths
Webster – 88; 5 deaths
Wilkinson – 85; 9 deaths
Winston – 124; 1 death
Yalobusha – 111; 6 deaths
Yazoo – 298; 5 deaths

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

Laurel, Starkville JCPenney stores among 154 closed across U.S.

Top Story

By Jacob Gallant | June 5, 2020 at 11:08 AM CDT – Updated June 5 at 11:38 AM

LAUREL, Miss. (WLBT) – Two Mississippi stores are among the upcoming JCPenney closings.

The retailer announced 154 stores will be closing after declaring bankruptcy last month.

The store on Sawmill Road in Laurel and on Highway 12 in Starkville are among those that are closing.

All other Mississippi stores are staying put as the chain reopened many of its other locations last week after shuttering for months because of COVID-19.

Click here to see a full list of JCPenney locations that will be closing.

Family-fun facilities reopen under different changes due to COVID-19

By Chelsey Sellars | June 4, 2020 at 10:38 PM CDT – Updated June 4 at 10:38 PM

FLORENCE AND CLINTON, Miss. (WLBT) – Indian Lanes in Clinton was getting remodeled Thursday before customers come back.

Co-owner Greg Cronin closed the entertainment space 2 months ago because of COVID-19 concerns. He said the reopening won’t be very different.

“I do feel like we can stay open in America and we can do it responsibly and I think that there are good opportunities just to put practices in place to keep it clean sanitized. We already, you know, we’d use Lysol. We said it’s awesome. Sanitize the shoes the balls, things like that,” said Cronin.

Sections like the arcade and inflatable play area will also return. Cronin said it’s up to the public to decide if they want to follow the safety recommendations.

“If you are comfortable being here, be here until you feel like there’s too many people or something. We just invite you to come back in another time,” said Cronin.

Other bowling alleys, like Spinners in Florence, are embracing the CDC regulations.

Terence Lott owns the bowling alley. His staff is required to wear masks and get checked for a fever before working.

“I’ve always had a little pride in keeping our facilities nice and clean. So there’s really not a whole lot more being done. Now other than just more sanitized stations, more signs and trying to encourage customers for social distancing,” said Lott.

Apart from lots of signage, Lott has set up sanitizing stations while keeping the facility at half capacity.

“Now what we do is we only are opening up one lane. Skip a lane, open a lane, skip a lane. And then on top of that we leave the shoes. These rental shoes are getting left at the station of the couch,” said Lott.

Both facilities expect to be open Saturday.

Mission Mississippi holds prayer gathering, unity walk at state capitol

Mission Mississippi leads peaceful protest at state capitol

By David Kenney | June 4, 2020 at 10:12 PM CDT – Updated June 5 at 7:17 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Local churches are joining forces to protest peacefully in Jackson.

Thursday, Mission Mississippi held a prayer gathering and unity walk at the state Capitol. The event was designed to bring together those in the Christian community to pray for leaders and racial harmony across the state.

About 100 people took part, listening as local church, community and political leaders said prayers and gave commentary in the current state of our country.

Nettie Winters, President of Mission Mississippi said, “Pray that God will help those do this the right way. Peaceful protesting but also remove that element of looting and violence, those kind of things. So that’s what we will be praying today for and pray for the families of course that were impacted by this.”

The event was capped off with a walk around the state capitol.

Those in attendance say they also wanted to serve as an example on how to hold a peaceful protest, to effect change.

Metro area cities distribute masks to fight the COVID-19 spread

By Roslyn Anderson | June 4, 2020 at 9:21 PM CDT – Updated June 4 at 9:21 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – As coronavirus numbers continue to rise, metro area citizens are getting a much needed tool to combat the spread.

Residents in Jackson and Ridgeland are getting free masks provided by the state, MEMA and county officials.

“It’s important that we’re trying to fight this virus,” said Melvin Tillis of Jackson.

The 76-year-old was one of the hundreds of Jackson residents to receive a free mask Thursday at the Westside Community Center on Wiggins Road.

The City of Jackson received 70,000 masks which will be distributed at six locations Thursday through Saturday. Each resident can receive one mask.

“A lot of people don’t believe it’s a killer thing here, but it is,” said Tillis. “All they’ve got to do is just look at the TV, they’ll see it.”

Brenda Alexander of Jackson was also among those grateful for the protective gear.

“God is in control of this coronavirus, not man. And when God gets ready for this to go away, it’s gonna go away but we’ve got to wear the masks and the gloves to protect us,” said Alexander.

Ted Arich went to the Ridgeland Central Fire Station to get masks for his wife and himself. The respiratory virus has impacted his family.

“I think everybody ought to wear a mask,” said Arich. “My uncle in New York has COVID-19. So that’s one of the reasons I have this. He’s on oxygen, and he’s in bed.”

Ridgeland residents can get free masks by stopping by the fire station. Fire Chief Matt Bailey urges residents to follow health guidelines and not let their guards down now.

“A lot of them are having problems getting masks just for personal use and now that they’re able to make them available we can easily distribute them out to the citizens.”

They are available by calling Ridgeland City Hall in advance and parking at the front door. Someone will bring it to your vehicle. You can also go to the Ridgeland Police Department.

Ridgeland has been given 8,000 masks which will be donated from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. through 5 p.m. while supplies last.

Employee at Riverwalk Casino tests positive for COVID-19

By Jacob Gallant | June 4, 2020 at 5:09 PM CDT – Updated June 4 at 11:21 PM

VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – An employee at Riverwalk Casino and Hotel tested positive for COVID-19.

Casino officials say the employee last worked on May 25 and was frequently on the casino floor.

They say the employee did not make close contact with any other team members in the two days before developing stems, however.

The casino has done additional cleanings in common areas where the employee worked as a precaution.

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