WCBI New at Six - 10/13/2020

WCBI New at Six - 10/13/2020

Open the mississippi state department of health is reporting a sharp increase in new covid-19 cases.

Today's report shows 713 new positive cases and 14 deaths.

In our area, lee county has the most new cases with 31.

600 people are hospitalized throughout the state with confirmed or suspected coronavirus symptoms. 170 of those patients are in i.c.u.

State health officials report 25-39-year-olds have had the most virus infections of any age group in the state.

Females and african-americans have had the most cases in those demographics.

More than 94 thousand people in the state are presumed recovered from the virus.

Voting is moderate to brisk today for the runoff election.

Voters at this new hope polling place are deciding between lynn wright and david chism.

Both are in the race for state house district 37.

Wright and chism were the top vote getters in the special election for the seat.

Former incumbent gary chism recently retired.

In parts of oktibbeha, choctaw, webster and montgomery, voters will choose between bart williams and joyce meeks yeats for state senator for district 15.

We'll have the results tonight on wcbi news at 9 and 10.

With less than one month until the general election, mississippi senator cindy hyde smith is north mississippi, speaking with local republicans.

The senator visited with members of the lowndes county republican women's group and their guests today.

She was appointed by former governor phil bryant to replace long time senator thad cochran.

Hyde smith is running as a conservative who supports the president's supreme court pick.

And, although she has not committed to a debate with her opponent, former mississippi congressman and us agriculture secretary mike espy, she says she would be willing to face him.

I don't mind it at all, we're just working very hard.

I'll be back in dc on monday.

But i'd probably enjoy it more than i need to enjoy it.

But there's stark contrast differences between the two of us so really we don't what there is to debate but certainly willing to do it.

Senator hyde smith is speaking to the lee county republican women's group at the tupelo country club this evening.

Stinger wcbi continuing coverage stinger it is at the top of the list of things to complain about in 2020.

Students who live along blackjack road in oktibbeha county and their families have argued for a wider road and easier access to the mississippi state campus.

Yesterday we told you about a new road that will connect blackjack and lee boulevard.

The traffic burden will ease and students will find themselves on the opposite side of campus wcbi's bobby martinez looks at how the project will change campus.

A new infrastructure project is underway here on the msu campus.

This 2 mile road called bulldog way aims to ease the amount of traffic.

But also, getting to and from here as a student a bit easier.

--------- traffic... a travelers biggest headache..

"its just been pretty bad the past couple of years."

But change is soon to come.

"it's going to be a game changer- very transformational for the communities attached to the university."

With the rise of the student population over the years..... the increase of traffic along the campus has followed according to chief communications officer sid salter.

Sot - sid salter - chief communications officer/director - msu "so all of that creates not only vehicle traffic, but foot traffic and most of our students want opportunities for walking, running, biking things of that nature.

So the bulldog way concept not only alleviates vehicle traffic issues, but it provides a multi- model transportation corridor."

Bulldog way will connect between blackjack road and the intersection of east lee boulevard and bailey howell drive.

Salter say this project is one of many to come for the university.

As they continue and try to make msu the best experience for current and future students.

Sot - sid salter - chief communications officer/director - msu "as many amenities as we can create that makes the day-to-day college experience easier, more efficient, more convenient... that's a necessary part of holding serve for the competition for students."

And senior carter wood is on board with this new development..

Sot - carter wood - sr. msu "it's great that they are trying to work on that and fix that because there's a lot apartments that live on blackjack a lot of people live on blackjack.

It feels good that they care about us the students and everyone that lives on that road that they're willing to fix that and try to make that better."

On cam tag.

And salter says this project will take roughly two years to be completed.

Reporting on the msu campus.

Bobby martinez wcbi news.

This new road was paid for through a 2017 federal grant.

First look stinger first look summary: pretty nice fall weather is the name of the game through the upcoming weekend.

The only chance of rain in the near term is with a cold front late thursday into friday morning but moisture appears limited at best.

Temperatures will be up and down over the next week and some frost is possible in the region early volunteers are headed back to louisiana.

Tupelo- based eight days of hope will be in jennings, louisiana.

The team recently returned to home base after working in lake charles.

The group deployed more than 700 volunteers at that time to help families who were displaced by hurricane laura.

This time volunteers and team leaders will be assisting families who were affected by hurricane delta.

Eight days of hope plans to be on the ground through early november.

Wcbi update stinger louisville police have arrested two people in connection to a homicide investigation.

Joseph crawford is charged with second degree murder charge, while sherica smith is being held for accessory after the fact of murder.

Initially, crawford told police a masked robber jumped him and his friend markevius jordan, who was shot and killed in the incident.

Following a polygraph, detectives determined the story was fabricated.

Louisville police say crawford was having suicidal thoughts and the victim, markevius jordan, tried to take the gun away from crawford.

Joseph crawford admitted to throwing a 9 millimeter handgun in a madison county creek.

State troopers later found the gun.

Crawford and smith are being held at winston county corrections.

Off top a reform man is arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled woman.

District attorney andrew hamlin says a pickens county jury indicted 44-year- old james curtis wilson on charges of second degree rape, second degree sexual abuse, and second degree sodomy.

Wilson was arrested friday.

Police say the initial investigation began when the victim's mother contacted the pickens county sheriff's office in april 2018.

The victim was in her early thirties at the time of the assault and lived in a pickens county group home where wilson was employed.

Investigators do not believe any of the other residents were assaulted.

Wilson is being held in the pickens county jail with bond set at $100,000.

Top a tennessee man already in jail for charges with the noxubee county sheriff's department is now facing charges with the macon police department.

21-year-old keith branch is charged with possession of a stolen firearm and one county of auto burglary.

He was arrested last week and jailed on two counts of contributing the to the delinquency of a minor, eight counts of auto burglary, and two county of felony fleeing.

He is in jail on a 50- thousand dollar bond.

Off top a columbus man is facing drug charges after narcotics agents found thousands of dollars worth of marijuana.

47-year-old henry lee mays, junior is charged with trafficking marijuana.

The investigation began eight months ago, but agents with the lowndes county narcotics task force found the drugs during a search of a home on 10th avenue south on october 2nd.

They found around 20 pounds of high- grade marijuana and another 103 grams. the drugs have a street value of about 46-thousand dollars.

Investigators say they could file more charges and make additional arrests in the case.

There is a connection between horses and their people.

That's a bond that sunshine stables in columbus builds, especially with children and adults who have special needs.

Wcbi's stephen pimpo visited and explains what a ride around the corral means a lot to rider and those who volunteer.

"it's just a warm feeling inside that she can be an independent person also and that she will one day be an independent person."

10-year-old nora molina is growing up with low muscle tone.

This can throw her off balance and affect her coordination.

But her father says six months of horseback riding with sunshine stables in columbus has changed her life.

"it helps with their balance, it helps with their coordination, it helps with their core strength."

Anna brown wants to give her students that independence and confidence.

That's why she created an adaptive horseback ridding classes for those with special needs.

"i asked this 1,000 pound animal to do something and they did it and that's cool for anyone but it's especially cool for someone who may feel out of control several times during their life."

During lessons, instructor brown and her volunteers teach students the basics of riding.

Starting with communicating and forming a bond with the horse.

"to get the skills and feel, 'oh i'm good at this, i got this, i can do this.'

To see that kind of confidence come out, that's really just the best thing ever is the confidence."

Standup: after covid-19 shut them down in the spring...sunshine stables is back open and with double the students.

But that has created a new set of challenges.

"because of covid and everybody having different schedules with work and school and hybrid stuff going on, we really need more volunteers to help."

Operating with masks, regularly sanitizing gear...sunshine stables is jumping through extra hoops to make sure students get the most out of the experience.

"forming friendships and connecting.

That's a form of independence.

That's something that you have that you may not have had sitting at home."

And the freedom and empowerment students get from learning to ride is needed now more than ever.

In columbus...stephen pimpo...wcbi if you would like to volunteer with sunshine stables you can find more information on our website, wcbi dot com stinger summary: pretty nice fall weather is the name of the game through the upcoming weekend.

The only chance of rain in the near term is with a cold front late thursday into friday morning but moisture appears limited at best.

Temperatures will be up and down over the next week and some frost is possible in the region early saturday morning.

Tuesday night: clear and cool.

Lows in the mid 40s.

Light wind.

Wednesday: sunny and warmer.

Highs in the low 80s.

Winds sse 5-10 mph.

Wednesday night: mainly clear and quiet.

Lows in the low 50s.

Thursday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the low to possibly mid 80s.

Additional clouds late in the day with a 20% chance of showers during the evening.

Thursday night: mostly cloudy with a few showers possible.

Lows around 50.

Friday: morning clouds and isolated showers.

Turning sunny as the day goes on.

Breezy northerly winds along with highs in the low to mid 60s will keep a fall chill going all day long.

Jackets will be needed for high school football in the evening.

Friday night: clear and cold.

Lows in the upper 30s.

Some patchy frost can't be ruled out at this point.

Saturday: bright sunshine.

A chilly start with morning temperatures possibly in the upper 30s.

Afternoon highs in the upper 60s.

Sunday: mostly summary: pretty nice fall weather is the name of the game through the upcoming weekend.

The only chance of rain in the near term is with a cold front late thursday into friday morning but moisture appears limited at best.

Temperatures will be up and down over the next week and some frost is possible in the region early saturday morning.

Tuesday night: clear and cool.

Lows in the mid 40s.

Light wind.

Wednesday: sunny and warmer.

Highs in the low 80s.

Winds sse 5-10 mph.

Wednesday night: mainly clear and quiet.

Lows in the low 50s.

Thursday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the low to possibly mid 80s.

Additional clouds late in the day with a 20% chance of showers during the evening.

Thursday night: mostly cloudy with a few showers possible.

Lows around 50.

Friday: morning clouds and isolated showers.

Turning sunny as the day goes on.

Breezy northerly winds along with highs in the low to mid 60s will keep a fall chill going all stinger mississippi state football with another tough test... next in sports mike leach on what makes texas a&m so dangerous the path to get back to the win column isn't much easier for mississippi state football this weekend number 11 texas a&m is coming to starkville for a matchup at 3 this saturday... and those aggies certainly have some confidence after last week..

Jimbo fisher's club was down by double digits in the second half against number 5 florida... however his team rallied back to defeat the gators thanks to a seth small field goal as time expired... state's defense is second in the sec when it comes to yards given up per game..

But mike leach knows his team will have it's hands full... ,.

00-05 i think they're real physical upfront on their defensive line.

I think they run to the ball well.

Not as much intimidating as they are solid.

I don't see any holes which is just about the biggest compliment that i can give a unit.

I don't see any weaknesses that they are working around ya know?

Despite falling to #2 alabama at home in what was the highest scoring non overtime game in sec history... ole miss head c oach lane kiffin has seen a lot of positives through the first few weeks..

One of those... quarterback matt corral..

Through three games this season he's thrown for almost 1100 yards... 9 touchdowns and only one interception... he's second in the s-e-c in completion percentage and qbr only behind alabama quarterback mac jones... head coach lane kiffin has been pleased with his progress i don't want to rat poison the guy but he's been a plus.

He's made so many plays, bailed us out of so many things him and mac i am sure are 1 and 2 in quarterback proficiency.

He has played lights out and i don't know too many people who have expected that having no spring.

It's not like he's an established starter in a system, this is all new for him friday will mark week 7 of endzone...that's right lucky number 7!!

Our game of the week features a couple of class 3-a foes who are 17 minutes apart.....the amory panthers and the nettleton tigers!

Under the direction of head coach allen glenn, the panthers enter the game with only one loss.

Four year starting quarterback hunter jones leads amory's offense as they look to knockoff the undefeated tigers.

Both teams bring plenty of playmakers to the field making for a battle come friday night.

"they got a few guys who can really run.

The quarterback is a duel threat guy.

He throws it well.

Runs it well.

He's a physical runner himself with a good tailback in the backfield.

It's hard to simulate that in practice throughout the week.

It is amory nettleton.

We're close to each other.

A lot of the kids know each other so both teams will be ready to play."

We'll hear more from the nettleton tigers ready to play."

We'll hear more from the nettleton tigers later this week as they prepare for the showdown.

After another exciting slate of games thursday night... we have this week's lineman of the week..

ááátake gfxááá the choctaw county chargers have taken home the honors for week 6... they took down houston thanks to an offensive explosion... jeff roberts' linemen had quite the night... helping lead the team to a 59-36 win... the chargers had 485 rushings yards... four touchdowns on the ground and four through the air as well... football is a game that is won in the trenches and choctaw county certainly got that job done and that's why they're lineman of the week for week 6... when we return...chief meteorologist keith gibson will have a last look at your forecast.

You are watching wcbi news at six.

Last look stinger last look last look last look last look last look last look