WCBI NEWS AT TEN - 12/8/2020

WCBI NEWS AT TEN - 12/8/2020

Show open fewer students fewer students are enrolled in mississippi public schools compared to last year.

Some have moved or gone to private schools but a new enrollment report also notes a jump in homeschoolers.

Courtney ann jackson spoke with one of those families today.

Anna smira considered homeschooling for her only child andrew in years past.

Anna smira, started homeschooling son this year: "what stopped me for so many years was one thing that is fear."

But as she followed the news of restrictions that would be added when he entered his fifth grade year.

She made the decision.

"the final straw was coronavirus.

The whole wearing a mask all day long.

My som has adhd.

So, because of that i was concerned how is he going to wear a mask and do all the test all day."

Andrew was initially hesitant when his mom told him what she was thinking.

Andrew smira: "i thought i would miss all my friends and not be able to play.

I thought that i would not get to play with any friends because half of them are going to be in school but i've noticed i've got to have a social life in homeschool."

Both have noticed it's an option that's been a good fit for andrew.

"ii do much better in homeschool than public school."

"my child's confidence went up.

Also he's not having to compare himself to a student he's got all three a's, on honor roll.

The only competition with him.

Is he better than he was yesterday?

Yes.

If you making progress?

Yes."

Empower mississippi notes that covid has shown that parents want to take ownership of their child's education.

And they're hoping lawmakers take notice.

Elyce marcellino, vp of education empower mississippi says: "i do think the state has to keep up with the demand.

It's clear that parents and families want distance learning options.

Giving them a greater variety by including a virtual public school would be one way to meet more needs in mississippi."

33 other states have a full-time virtual public school option.

Mississippi created a virtual public school several years ago but it's not a full-time option.

School several years ago but it's not a full-time option.

First look stinger temperatures will slowly warm up over the next several days with highs back into the mid 60s for the second half of the week.

Sunshine will continue for now, but showers are likely friday night into saturday before another cool- down.

Tuesday night: mostly clear and cold once again.

Temperatures will fall to the low 30s with a light southerly wind.

Wednesday- thursday: sunshine will continue for wednesday and thursday as temperatures continue to warm up.

Highs will be in the mid 60s, but overnight lows will remain cold with temperatures in the 30s each morning.

Friday-saturday: while most of friday will be dry, showers will begin to move in after sunset and continue overnight friday into saturday.

Most indications are that the bulk of the rain will be gone by lunchtime saturday, but some showers are possible through the rest of the day.

Highs will be firefighters are trying to determine what caused a fire at cooper tire manufacturing plant today.

You can see black smoke filling the sky after the fire broke out late this morning.

Managers there say there are no injuries.

And, all employees were safely evacuated.

The fire appears to be contained to one area of the plant.

Fire fighters have remained on the scene much of the day.

There is no word on how the fire began, or when cooper tire will safely resume work at the plant.

Off top macon police are looking for three suspects in an armed robbery at a hotel this past weekend.

It happened around 4:45 sunday morning at the oak tree inn on highway 45.

Police are looking for lacedric jackson junior and for lacedric jackson junior and darriona webb and another suspect who has not been identified.

Investigator douglas triplett says the suspects kicked in the door to a room at the hotel, pulled a gun, and demanded money from the person in the room.

Triplett says one of the suspects struck the victim on the head several times with his fists.

The struggle ended outside the room where the gun was fired.

No one was hit.

Jackson, webb, and a third suspect are wanted for armed robbery, breaking and entering, and aggravated assault.

If you have any information or know where the suspects are, call macon police.

The mississippi state department of health is reporting a high number of covid-19 deaths, as cases continue to surge.

There are one thousand 732 new positive test results across the state and 56 deaths.

The seven day rolling average in mississippi is above 18 hundred.

One thousand 188 people are hospitalized in mississippi with confirmed or suspected coronavirus symptoms. 287 of those people are in i.c.u.

More than 136 thousand people in the state are presumed recovered from the virus.

This means there are over 27 thousand presumed active cases in the state.

In the wcbi viewing area, lee county has the most new cases today with 81.

Lowndes has 67, pontotoc has 59, monroe has 51, union has 43, and oktibbeha is reporting 29 north mississippi medical center opened its doors to the media and local elected officials for a first-hand look at the ways the hospital is taking care of their covid-19 patients.

Wcbi news's stephen pimpo joined them on that tour and has the story.

"this is a world class facility.

We're lucky to have a facility like this in northeast mississippi."

North mississippi medical center is the largest rural hospital center in the united states, serving 24 counties in north mississippi and northwest alabama.

The 44 beds at the facility designated for covid patients stay full nearly every day.

"as you know, our hospital systems across mississippi, it's my understanding they're at full capacity so this hospital has tremendous flexability.

They can add capacity if needed."

The hospital has received 76 million dollars in federal funding and about 6 million dollars from the state of mississippi through the cares act to respond to the pandemic.

"we're looking for every clinical resource we can find to help support our healthcare team and the capacity needs we have within our healthcare system."

Some of the money bought equipment, such as have today to fight this pandemic."

In tupelo....stephen pimpo...wcbi news.

North mississippi medical center currently has 41 coronavirus patients, including 9 in icu.

So far...hospital officials say none of their staff have contracted the virus from working in their covid ward.

The first vaccine is expected in mississippi next week.

In the first round of doses, there will be enough vaccine for 25,000 people.

All of these are expected to go front line, critical care workers at acute care hospitals across the state.

Dr. thomas dobbs, the head of mississippi's department of health says he plans to take the first dose.

Plans to take the first dose.

State health care administrators have a plan to provide doses to every acute care hospital - that is every hospital with critical care and trauma units.

The amount each hospital receives is based on the number of people that each hospital has reported as critical care workers.

The vaccine, developed by pfizer, is given in two stages and requires a specific storing temperature.

In week two, dobbs says they hope to add additional health care workers and make the vaccine available at long term care facilities.

They are also planning drive through vaccination locations for health care workers who do not receive the shots at their jobs.

It will be spring of 2021 before there are enough doses available for wider spread inoculation.

Thanks to a local church and a few good samaritans, more than 230 families in the starkville area have food on their tables tonight.

Earlier today, peter's rock church in starkville hosted a grocery giveaway.

Pastor joseph hawkins says it's the church's mission to impact and make a difference in the community.

Church members say they want families to unite and enjoy a warm meal during difficult times.

Stinger wx open temperatures will slowly warm up over the next several days with highs back into the mid 60s for the second half of the week.

Sunshine will continue for now, but showers are likely friday night temperatures will slowly warm up over the next several days with highs back into the mid 60s for the second half of the week.

Sunshine will continue for now, but showers are likely friday night into saturday before another cool- down.

Tuesday night: mostly clear and cold once again.

Temperatures will fall to the low 30s with a light southerly wind.

Wednesday- thursday: sunshine will continue for wednesday and thursday as temperatures continue to warm up.

Highs will be in the mid 60s, but overnight lows will remain cold with temperatures in the 30s each morning.

Friday-saturday: while most of friday will be dry, showers will begin to move in after sunset and continue overnight friday into saturday.

Most indications are that the bulk of the rain will be gone by lunchtime saturday, but some showers are possible through the rest of the day.

Highs will be in the mid 60s each afternoon with morning lows in the 40s and 50s.

Sunday-tuesday: the forecast is still a bit up in the air for the second half of the weekend and early next week.

While most models have us dry for sunday, monday, and tuesday, there are some indications that we could see some leftover rain on those days.

For now, we're going to bet on being dry, but the forecast could change.

We will see cooler air move in regardless with highs back into the low 50s.

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 stinger new developments with the long term effects of coronavirus.

That story coming up after the break, stay with us.

Cash 3 lottery gfx goes here doctors are still learning about the long term effects patients can face weeks and months after having the coronavirus.

Now a first of its kind study highlights the neurological problems for many covid survivors.

Laura podesta has more.

Maria manfredini and her fiance were planning their dream wedding in italy when the pandemic hit.

Forced to cancel, they took a quick trip to arizona in june, and came home with covid-19.

No smell, no taste, horrible body aches.

And it really attacked my legs.

Horrible leg pains.

Six months later, the 35 year old is still not feeling well.

Her worst symptoms ..

Leg pain and brain fog.

It's extremely frustrating because everybody, the first thing they tell me is, well, you look great.

You can't be sick// at the end of the day, i'm exhausted, i'm in pain neurological symptoms can be common with covid- 19.

New research from a northwestern medicine study looked at more than 500 hospitalized patients and found 82 percent had neurological issues while they were sick.

Treatments like vitamin infusions and diet and says some of her symptoms are improving.

Laura podesta, cbs news the study also found hospitalized patients had more serious neurological problems such as stroke, seizures, and movement disorders, but they were less common.

Stinger ole miss mens hoops finally hitting the hardwood... next in sports kermit davis on how the setback impacted his team bb prescription health goes here spx open mississippi state basketball got a much needed boost last week when iverson molinar returned to the lineup against u-n- t... they hosted jackson state and he did not disappoint bulldogs looking good early on offense especially iverson molinar....pullup j good molinar 2 dribbles then the floater molinar again...this time from 3...molinar would have 10 points to start the game for the bulldogs molinar coming off a handoff in the corner knocks down another trey ball!!

Msu up 5 but the tigers are staying close early...fastbreak leads to this calvin temple 3....tigers ahead by 1 msu 1 msu ball...freshman deivon smith pull up jumper at the elbow.... smith again hits molinar in the corner for an open 3....buckets!!!

He finished with 21 and he was five for seven from beyond the arc... bulldogs lead 34-30 at halftime and won big 82-59 over in oxford, ole miss women's basketball looking to start 3-0 hosting alcorn state 1st quarter, under 6 remaining -- rebels out in transition...guard tiya douglas open from downtown...drains it...ole miss leading 11-1 1st quarter, 3-30 and change -- if it's not broke don't fix it....douglas from the corner for three...drains it...the rebels commanding 20-6 against the lady braves 2nd quarter, 5:16 to go -- guard donnetta johnson fights her way inside, left hand off the glass...gets the deuce...ole miss up 37-22 right before halftime jaccoriah bracey in the corner for three...bottoms...t he rebels shooting 57-percent from deep in the first half rebels would maintain control and go on to get the win 104 to 48 00-05 mcphee-mccuin: "i'm really trying to get our players to embrace these moments and focus on what we need to focus on.

At the end of the day we play at the end of december at the end of this month we play the number five team in the country.

That's how we open up s- e-c play.

So these games are extremely important for us and i hope it allows us to get the balance that we need."

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It's been over three weeks since ole miss head men's basketball coach kermit davis tested positive for covid-19... since then the team had to either postpone or cancel it's first four matchups... now the rebels will be the last power five program to tipoff this season... but tipoff is finally here for kermit davis' crew... they'll be hosting jackson state thursday at 7 in the opener..

The last few weeks were tough for ole miss... davis was watching practices on zoom and after he recovered he was able to work out each player individually... he says his guys are ready to go... his players have been making the most out of their situation... and despite missing a lot of time they're looking ahead and will get the most out of it but it was a bit of a tough adjustment... 00-05 :33-:38 davis says: 21 days for me not coaching our team is 21 days and it's this time of year when you're trying to open up and trying to play.

There's a lot of things you're trying to go through and then on top of that for 14 days you're in a pause.

Their energy is good and they're excited to playa nd i am excited for them.

Knock on wood hoping everyone is good on thursday.

Vaughn says: i don't think it set anyone back really.

Gave us rest action on the legs and i don't think anyone has memory loss and we know what we're doing with scouts.

It's time to get to it.

Mississippi state football with two remaining games of the 2020 slate... they host auburn this weekend followed by missouri on the 19th..

Head coach mike leach's objective this season is clear... to play in as many games as possible to get these young guys as much experience as he can... he also mentioned that he's hoping for a bowl game bid..

Leach has played a lot of freshman this year... one of those has been quarterback will rogers... he stepped in a few weeks ago after kj costello got hurt and he's been pleased with his progress... 00-05 leach says: he;s gotten progressively better and he has to keep improving.

Really just overall there's not just one big thing he just needs to be more polished, quicker smoother and precise and do it more times in a row really and he's played quite courageous for a guy his age.