Man gets life for murder

Derrick Bankhead will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of capital murder in the Lowndes County Circuit Court Thursday.

Murder suspect: ‘Wrong place at wrong time’

A Lowndes County jury will likely begin deliberating the capital murder case of a Columbus man today.

State makes case for capital murder

A witness in a Lowndes County capital murder case was cross-examined for about 30 minutes in court Tuesday when his testimony did not match four previous statements he had given to police.

School board accepts resignation of teacher, votes not to discipline administrator

At a meeting of the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees Aug. 22, the board voted to take action on two personnel matters involving an elementary school teacher and administrator during executive session.

Some area third graders retained after retaking reading assessment

Area third graders have up to three times to pass a state-mandated third grade reading summative assessment before districts determine whether to retain them.

Golden Triangle native asks for children’s books to restock Baton Rouge library

On Aug. 18, four days after the rains stopped, librarian Trey Veazey walked through the front doors of his Baton Rouge, Louisiana, elementary school to see if anything could be salvaged.

Alleged Clay County arsonists also charged in Oktibbeha

Oktibbeha County deputies charged two suspects alleged in an ongoing Clay County arson investigation with similar felonies in the last two weeks.

Lowndes County jail administrator talks contraband

When Michael Williams was charged with possessing a controlled substance last week, he was already at the jail.

He was arrested for having methamphetamine in the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center, a crime that carries a felony charge whether possessing the controlled substance outside the jail is a felony or not.

VA reps hold meeting for local veterans

At a town hall meeting at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Columbus Wednesday, local veterans told the director of the Veterans Affairs hospital in Jackson they were angry about the treatment they’d received from staff there.

Students learn computer coding in statewide computer science initiative

In the computer lab at Stokes-Beard Elementary School, fourth graders sat in pairs Tuesday morning with their heads bent toward computer screens.

Suspected burglar arrested at courthouse

A Columbus man was arrested for an Aug. 17 burglary when he arrived at the Lowndes County Courthouse to face indictments for other felony charges, including a previous burglary.

CPD: Two more arrested for online threats

Columbus police have arrested two more suspects in an ongoing cyberstalking case.

MSMS teacher wins national award for math, science teachers

Ever since she began teaching math at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science eight years ago, Lauren Zarandona has been applying for the national Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

CMSD board passes budget for upcoming school year

The Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees approved its 2016-17 budget earlier this week.

Alleged car thief turns himself in

Columbus police have arrested a local man who allegedly stole a vehicle.

Spike strip used to end police chase

An alleged shoplifter who tried to reach the Alabama state line Wednesday to shake law enforcement didn’t quite make it.

Bragg out as Chamber president

Joey Bragg is no longer the president of the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, according to a press release the Golden Triangle Development LINK issued Wednesday.

Fan drives keep locals cool

Lifelong Columbus resident Mary Mullins says she doesn’t need much — but some way to keep cool during the sweltering Mississippi summer heat is something she can’t do without.

Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary sees critical need for donations

It started in the 1987 when Kay McElroy, new to the Caledonia area, learned of a cougar for sale in the area.

Masked man robs Dollar Tree with stun gun

Columbus police officers are searching for a suspect in an armed robbery at the Dollar Tree near the store’s closing time Sunday night. At about