WCBI NEWS at 10 - 10/01/2020

Show open intro you may remember hearing about the 1.25 billion dollars in federal coronavirus relief money that mississippi received.éé the back to business grant program is one of the first things lawmakers set aside.éé 240 million dollars for small businesses.

ééso far, 63 million has been sent out.

Another 85 million under review.éé courtney ann jackson explains.éé pkg: stephanie hall had just opened her business last november when the pandemic hit and forced her business to shut down.

Stephanie hall, sera and soul co- owner-tupelo: "we didn't have a lot of extra money, a lot of extra cash flow just sitting around."

Hall was able to itemize the expenses and receive around 10,000 in grant funding.

"the bouncing back process for us was really hard and this money made such a difference.

I don't know that we would've been able to keep our doors open if it weren't for something like this."

Salons also took a big hit and salon owner courtney goldsmith says the grant helped fill in the gaps that she didn't think she'd be able to fill at all.

Courtney goldsmith, extensions of beauty-moss point: "i was at the point to where it's a possibility that it may even have to shut down and just go ahead and close because it was no way possible.

In the delta, mm and k trucking took a hit when the cases started to surge.

Ebony williams, mm and k trucking- greenville: "it stopped us from going into certain areas.

It's slowed down our carriers from sending loads as well as delivering loads to certain areas that are called hotspots."

With around 20 employees---they ultimately received the max amount allowed in the grant program of 25,000 dollars.

"it kind of secured payroll for us."

But because the full 240 million hasn't been utilized---lawmaker s are working to shift that money to other businesses and areas of need.

Sen.

Dean kirby, senate pro tempore: "hospitals needed a little more.

Veterans needed some more.

Farmers needed some more.

So we're taking some of that money plus some other money from others and we're moving it in there."

Lawmakers are trying to get these reallocations complete because the cares act money has to be spent by the end of the year.éé the governor has said any unused money will go to the drained unemployment trust fund.éé mississippi's covid- 19 cases go up, while hospital numbers continue to go down.

éé the department of health is reporting 696 new cases today, along with 10 fatalities.

éé hospitalization and icu numbers are down at hospitals across the state.

éé in our area, lee county is reporting the most new cases with 32.

éé itawamba has 17, lafayette has 16, monroe has 15, and lowndes county has 13.

éé governor tate reeves may have lifted the mandatory mask mandate in some places, but many cities still have their own restrictions.éé elected leaders in starkville, west point, tupelo, aberdeen and columbus want people to continue to wear masks in public spaces, including stores and restaurants.éé the governor is still requiring masks at all schools and what he calls close contact businesses like salons and barber shops to prevent the spread of covid19.éé local leaders are stressing personal responsibility when it comes to keeping covid numbers from spiking again.éé a lot of businesses in the city of columbus have a notice posted on the door that before entering, you need to wear a mask.

And i would say to any business, if you have a customer who refuses to wear a mask, you don't have to get into any kind of confrontation with the customer.

All you have to do is call the columbus police department to take care of the issue.

And, the mayor says the mandate will stay in place until further notice.éé first look stinger first look summary: our quiet, early fall weather pattern will continue for at least the next week.

The only chance of isolated showers will come sunday with a weak front crossing the area.

Thursday night: clear and cool.

Lows in the mid 40s.

Light nw winds.

Friday: mostly sunny and seasonably cool.

Highs in the upper 60s to around 70.

Winds n 5-15 mph.

High school football weather will be picture perfect but you'll need to pack a jacket with temperatures quickly falling into the 50s after sunset.

Intro the mississippi highway patrol is trying to boost the number of troopers.éé a recruitment drive is underway as applications are being taken for the 2021 trooper class.

éé wcbi's allie martin has the story.

éé the mississippi highway patrol is looking for people with strong moral character who want to protect, serve and make a difference.

A sergeant in troop f says it is a fulfilling career that involves a lot more than traffic stops and ticket writing.

Nats sergeant gary stanton spent part of his thursday morning with fellow troopers at new albany's hillcrest baptist church.

The officers were visiting with teachers and students at the church's day school.

"just to see all these smiling children, and the look on their faces when we turn on the blue lights and sit down and speak to them."

Sergeant stanton enjoys talking to students of all ages about his career as a state trooper.

The 35 year old potts camp native answered the call to become a state trooper when he was 22 years old.

An uncle encouraged him to apply .

"i got in at a very young age, it's been one of the greatest blessings of my life, gotten to see parts of the state and meet people i've never knew existed."

Trooper says the training is tough, expectations high and opportunities for advancement unlimited.

"we have a swat team that services the entire state of mississippi, we have a special operations group, those guys are able to provide riot control presence, they go into prisons sometimes when things are out of order, we have a motorcycle unit, have an mbi division, providing an investigation presence."

In recent years, there has been a shortage of troopers across the state.

Sergeant stanton says the highway patrol is looking for those who have what it takes.

"three of the things someone should possess, a strong moral compass, be physically fit and be willing to serve, so if someone possesses those three qualities and interested in a career in law enforcement, they should ask themselves now, should they apply to the highway patrol?"

October 31st is the deadline for mhp trooper applications.

Class 65 will start early next year.

In new albany, allie martin, wcbi news you can get an application online at dps dot ms dot gov and click on the link to the mhp cadet class 65 application.éé the president and vice president are both on the campaign trail today, while the democrats attend virtual fundraisers.éé the presidential candidates are also weighing-in on possible plans to change up the rules for the next two debates.éé here's more from the white house.éé president trump traveled to his golf club in bedminster, new jersey, for a closed door meeting and fundraiser with his supporters.... but the fallout continues after the president refused to denounce white supremacy at tuesday's presidential debate.

"does he denounce white supremacism and groups that espouse it in all their forms?

"the president was asked this, he said sure three times.

Yesterday he was point blank asked "do you denounce white supremacy" and he said i've always denounced any form of that."

"the white house says the president plans to participate in the next debate -- in two weeks -- but he's opposed to potential changes to debate rules -- following tuesday's chaotic broadcast."

"he wants the rules to be fair and wants a fair exchange and doesn't want rules that cover for a certain candidate's inability to perform well."

An informed source tells cbs news the commission on presidential debates is considering cutting off a candidate's microphone.

2020 presidential candidate "is that something you could support?

"as long as we have an opportunity to respond to the questions of the people in the audience."

The vice presidential candidates will hit the debate stage next week.

Vice president mike pence campaigned in iowa thursday.

"iowa and american stinger wx open summary: our quiet, early fall weather pattern will continue for at least the next week.

The only chance of isolated showers will come sunday with a weak front crossing the area.

Thursday night: clear and cool.

Lows in the mid 40s.

Light nw winds.

Friday: mostly sunny and seasonably cool.

Highs in the upper 60s to around 70.

Winds n 5-15 mph.

High school football weather will be picturecture perfect but you'll need to pack a jacket with temperatures quickly falling into the 50s after sunset.

Friday night: clear, quiet, and cool.

Lows in the mid to low 40s.

Saturday: mostly sunny.

Highs in the low 70s.

Conditions look great for the football games in tuscaloosa and starkville.

Saturday night: variably cloudy.

Lows in the upper 40s to around 50.

Sunday: variably cloudy.

A 10-20% chance of isolated showers.

Highs in the mid 70s.

Next week: mostly sunny and quiet weather looks to hold on through at least thursday.

Plan on mild days with highs in the 70s and 80s.

Cool nights with lows in the 50s continue.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger newborn screening is a vital part to monitor your child's development .éé health talk with summary: our quiet, early fall weather pattern will continue for at least the next week.

The only chance of isolated showers will come sunday with a weak front crossing the area.

Thursday night: clear and cool.

Lows in the mid 40s.

Light nw winds.

Friday: mostly sunny and seasonably cool.

Highs in the upper 60s to around 70.

Winds n 5-15 mph.

High school football weather will be picture perfect but you'll need to pack a jacket with temperatures quickly falling into the 50s after sunset.

Friday night: clear, quiet, and cool.

Lows in the mid to low 40s.

Saturday: mostly sunny.

Highs in the low 70s.

Conditions look great for the football games in tuscaloosa and starkville.

Stinger tonight we continue our discussion on newborn screening and it's important to have them done.

éé here's health talk with baptist .éé no script attached stinger open long awaited long awaited thursday night juco action has finally returned to northeast missisisppi let's head over to fulton, as i-c-c football finally opens the season hosting coahoma 1st quarter...qb av smith hands the ball off to jamarcus quarles....who takes it right up the middle..

Later on, the indians working their way down field...smith connects with collin woods....bulldozin g his way through the defenders for some yardage indians in the red zone...smith finds davis for the score...i-c-c would miss the extra point...indians up 6- nothing 2nd quarter...followin g a coahoma score rj wilson takes the kickoff...and breaks clear...moving the indians into great field position later in the 2nd, smith connects with davis...sets icc up at 1st and goal...can't capitalize on the drive and would miss the field goal... indians fall in the home opener 37-23 to coahoma next up, icc heads to holmes october 8th once again it's smith to davis....setting them up 1st and goal but they northeast missisisppi football opening the tigers season tonight against holmes the tigers with a strong showing in game one of the season getting the win 35-10 next up, nemcc heads to mississippi delta, next saturday on october 10th over in nanih waiya.....the cross creek rivalry.....noxapate r taking on the warriors.

1st quarter, warriors ball....tyquan mc- cully big run up the middle...tigers force a fumble....rashad hornesbuger on the recovery....noxapa ter unable to score off the turnover warriors ball again.....mc-cully this time finishes the drive with a td run....warriors 7-0 then right before the end of the quarter....mc-cully with a huge gain and a td!!

Warriors up 13-0 nanih waiya wins big 47-6 our wcbi endzone game of the week for week five of the season will feature a 4a- region 2 match between south pontotoc and itawamba ahs itawamba returns home after two b ack-to-back losses in need of a win now that the indians are sitting with a 1-2 record while for south pontotoc, the cougars head to fulton with the taste of winning still on the team's tongue rocking a 3-1 record joins us at five and six friday as we get you ready for the these two teams to battle it out east webster announcing that due to covid-19 protocols this friday's night match-up against calhoun city has officially been canceled the wolverines next week away game at j.z.

George is also canceled east webster is expected to resume play hosting eupora on oct.

23rd over in new hope...trojans volleyball hosting caledonia for the 4th annual dig pink event set 1...trojans serving -- caledonia's alexa lindsey goes for the spike butsenior middle blocker michaela hudgins gets the huge block and the point for new hope -- trojans starting off on an 8-0 run later in the first set --- after a short rally, megan chandler goes up for the spike...point goes to caledonia..

First set...set point new hope.... -- trojans with the set....caledonia can't handle it and new hope takes set one second set of evening -- after a long rally, trojans set the ball for a spike and madyson mcbrayer taps it over..caledonia leading 8-7 later in the second set -- caledonia goes for the -- caledonia goes for the spike....trojans ready for it...new hope with the set...and daylyn nettles there with the response...trojans up 15-10 -- caledonia looking to answer back....lindsey there for the spike and the score for caledonia, however new hope wins the second set 25-16 third set -- caledonia serving...annie woolbright with the set and hudgins spikes it down for a point new hope goes on to win set three, 25-14 and get the 3-0 sweep against caledonia still to come..

Chief meteorologist keith gibson returns with tonights last look.

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