WCBI NEWS at 10 - 05/228/2020

WCBI NEWS at 10 - 05/228/2020

Thanks for staying up with us tonight// charges are being dropped against former officer cayon boykin who was charged with manslaughter in the 2015 shooting death of ricky ball// the attorney general's office make the announcement today.

Cayon boykins' attorney released this statement to us today.

He said "there was absolutely no evidence it was anything but self- defense.

It's a tragedy when for anyone to die.

Canyon was doing what he was sent to do and had to defend himself."

That statement can be seen in full on our website// here's what the ag's office had to say about the case// it says in part, they met with ricky ball's family.

"the office did a thorough and independent review of the thousands of documents in this case file and concluded that there is not evidence on which to prosecute the case against officer boykin.

The statement goes on to say the evidence pointed to self defense."

This is a look at former officer boykin as he was in handcuffs.

He was indicted on a manslaughter charge in 2016.

Let's take a look back at october 16th, 2015.

Ricky ball was pulled over in north columbus.

Columbus police said then ball got out of the vehicle and ran.

Boykin gave chase and caught up with ball...allegedly tasing him.

Ball reportedly got up to run again and boykin claimed he saw a gun and shot the columbus man.

Ball was later found by a house.

On scene investigators found a stolen gun that tied back to a columbus police officer.

Boykin was fired from cpd shortly after the shooting in turn suing the city in which a settlement was reached.

We've reached out to ball's family for a comment but haven't heard back.

District attorney scott colom is having a press conference tomorrow morning to address the ag's office decision.

Tensions are still running high in the twin cities, as protests over the death of george floyd moved to st.

Paul today.

The areas of concern are spread out around the capitol city.

Those protests have turned to riots, lootings, and burnings..

Susan-elizabeth littlefield of cbs affiliate w-c-c-o has the latest.

A st paul target parking lot turned into a battleground as tensions boiled.

Officers stood guard - as they became the target - of years of frustration... aaron elling / st.

Paul this is crazy, uncalled for, but this is what happens, it's built up to this.

And what that entailed was looting from shoe store and pawn shops.

Anger over the death of george floyd by a police officer.

Shattered windows and broken hearts.

This is like complete anarchy and carnage.

While some doubled down on their actions others questioned the way they went about it.

This isn't gonna change anything, i don't understand what people think they ... it's not going to resolve anything and as the day wore on, resolution seemed farther and farther away - but amidst what at times seemed like a war - there was still some hope for peace... hopefully out of chaos change can come and we start acting like human beings, we are here to take care of each other that is the hope but the feeling is that this discussion has only just begun.

Officers did block first look stinger first look summary: a few showers and storms are possible again friday before the pattern takes a dry turn for the weekend and a good chunk of next week.

Humidity levels will drop for the saturday and sunday and that bodes well for any outdoor activity or chore you may have planned.

Typical summer heat and humidity is going to return by next tuesday or wednesday.

Thursday night: a few lingering showers and storms are possible.

Lows in the low to mid 60s.

Light wind.

Friday: a 30-40% chance of scattered showers and storms, primarily during the heating of the day.

Highs top out in the low to mid 80s.

Winds sw to nw between 5-15 mph.

Take new at 10 stinger covid-19 may be in all of the headlines, but mississippi is still feeling the effects of the flu.

The mississippi state department of health has reported a second pediatric flu death for 20-20.

The child died in march, but the case had not been reported at the time.

The first pediatric flu death, a child in central mississippi, was reported last week.

Officials say that was the first such death since 20-18.

Some of mississippi's share of the cares act money is getting through to smaller hospitals through the "small rural hospital improvement program",also known as ship éé this grant helps enhance health care for hospitals that have 49 beds or less in their facilities.

éé our stephanie poole explains how one local hospital is spending their money for patient assistance.

éé donut open- tyler holmes memorial hospital in winona is already developing ways to improve patient care through the ship program.

Administration says the grant money will help fund equipment for covid-19 patients.

" we have just never had the funds flowing to be able to purchase things to improve patient care.

Cori bailey is an administrator at the hospital.

She says the ship money will allow the hospital to make needed changes in a shorter timeframe.

"in the past we have always administered our out patients as well as our in patients through one channel.

So with covid, we would like to separate that process for any patients that might be presented with covid symptoms, an xray, covid testing.

We would like to separate from those who are not sick."

Bailey says up to 10 percent of the grant money will cover those costs...other funds with go towards testing equipment.

"we have purchased more supplies in response to covid.

Part of our process is to test for the flu and strep first.

If both of those test come back negative we will start the process to test for the virus."

The board also decided to purchase a new ventilator.

" we can purchase supplies needed for respiratory and cough etiquette.

Including hand sanitizer and ppe that's supplies for hospital personnel.purcha sing and installing temporary barriers and reconfigure alterations,that's where our renovation activity is coming in."

Bailey says she's grateful patients can get quality treatment closer to home.

"with grants such as the ship grant and cares act we are able to enhance patient care here in our area."

Donut close- hospitals who hare awarded the grant only have 18 months to spend those funds.

Reporting in montgomery county, stephanie poole, wcbi news.

Each ship eligible hospital can receive up to 90- thousand dollars from the grant.

As mississippi inches closer to next week's safe return order taking effect---state leaders are still urging caution to help keep covid-19 numbers from rising.

Courtney ann jackson explains.

"this thing is not even remotely over, sadly."

State health officer dr. thomas dobbs says the healthcare system is taking on the weight of covid-19 for now.

But the number of hospitalizations continues to be monitored closely...especiall y at a regional level.

"every community is one wild weekend from falling off the cliff.

And i don't care how great you've been.

If you're in a northern county and everything's great and say ok, we can go back to normal.

You can't go back to normal.

What you have been doing has been working and keep it up.

Congratulations.

Don't let off your guard."

In wayne county where the case count rose sharply in recent days--dobbs says they're learning folks were ignoring the guidelines and having large gatherings.

"we have evidence that some of those were points of outbreaks where many many more cases are likely to come."

So, i asked the governor...are you anxious that folks will feel more comfortable with large gatherings since they are around more and more people at retail stores and out in public?

"if the question is am i feeling a little bit anxious...the answer today is yes and the answer yesterday was yes.

And i'm fairly certain the answer tomorrow is going to be yes.

I've been anxious since the onset of this virus in doing everything we can to educate mississippians and make sure that we are making the best decisions to not only protect the lives of our fellow mississippians but also protect their livelihoods."

Reeves says it's also one of the reasons he's continued to hold these daily briefings..

"explain in no uncertain terms that the single most important thing in protecting people from this virus is, for individuals to exhibit personal responsibility."

Wipe to vo as we first reported yesterday, a cluster of covid-19 infections is connected to a funeral in north mississippi.

Today, health officials report that funeral was in baldwyn.

So far, seven covid-19 cases have been identified in people who went to the funeral.

Two out-of-state coronavirus cases have also been linked to the gathering, with others still under investigation.

The funeral and after-service gathering were held on may 17th.

We're trying to get a notification out to attendees who are ill so we can backtrack it, kind of like a hepatitis a outbreak we need to figure out who's been there, so we still collecting information.

I'm not aware of anyone who's died or required mechanical ventilation, but we're still gathering information and we going to really expand our investigation because there could be a lot of cases coming out of that."

The health department asks anyone who went to either event to monitor themselves for symptoms. curbside s has become common at restaurants during the covid 19 pandemic, and starting next week, the amory municipal library will be serving up books to go for senior citizens wanting to do some summer reading.

The library isn't open for visitors yet, but people can call during the day to request items. library staff will call that person when items are ready to be picked up.

The books and other items can be picked up at the drive, in back near the outside book drop.

"the elderly and people who are most vulnerable for covid 19 suggested they stay in, we want them to be safe and not have to worry about getting out so this is a service we want to provide for that group of individuals, we miss them and everybody is ready to read and we just wanted to get a little something, we have to do things gradually."

Books can be picked up from noon until 3 on monday and friday, starting monday.

For more information, call the amory library at 662 256 5261 stinger wx open summary: a few showers and storms are possible again friday before the pattern takes a dry turn for the weekend and a good chunk of next week.

Humidity levels will drop for the saturday and sunday and that bodes well for any outdoor activity or chore you may have planned.

Typical summer heat and humidity is going to return by next tuesday or wednesday.

Thursday night: a few lingering showers and storms are possible.

Lows in the low to mid 60s.

Light wind.

Friday: a 30-40% chance of scattered showers and storms, primarily during the heating of the day.

Highs top out in the low to mid 80s.

Winds sw to nw between 5-15 mph.

Friday night: clearing skies and quiet.

Lows in the low 60s.

Saturday: mostly sunny skies and lower humidity.

Just about perfect with a northerly breeze.

Highs in the low 80s.

Saturday night: clear, calm, and comfy.

Lows in the mid to upper 50s.

Sunday: bright sunshine along with relatively low levels of humidity.

Highs in the low 80s.

Next week: mostly sunny to partly cloudy conditions can be expected for the entire week.

Humidity ticks back up starting tuesday and that could spell a few spotty showers or storms at some point by the end of the week.

Highs look to be around 90 from tuesday onward.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger class may be out, but there are still coaching changes in the high scool ranks..

Courtney has the latest a little later reentry cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in ms, accounting for over a third of all deaths in the state.

Mississippi's cvd mortality rate remains the highest in the nation// we learn more in tonights health talk with baptist// hi, i'm belinda sanderson, director of quality at baptist memorial hospital, golden triangle.

Tonight i want to talk to you about ways to lower your risk of having a stroke.

Older age and family history of strokes are among the things that make you more likely to have a stroke.

You can't turn back the clock or change your relatives.

Still, experts say 80% of strokes can be prevented.

A quarter of americans who have strokes have had one before.

So how can you tilt the odds in your favor?

Lower your blood pressure high blood pressure is the no.

1 cause of strokes.

It's the reason for more than half of them.

A normal blood pressure reading is lower than 120/80.

If yours is regularly above 130/80, you might have high blood pressure or hypertension.

If it's not managed well, high blood pressure can make you 4-6 times more likely to have a stroke.

Stay away from smoking you double your risk of strokes if you use tobacco.

Nicotine in cigarettes raises blood pressure, and carbon monoxide in smoke lowers the amount of oxygen your blood can carry.

Even breathing secondhand smoke can raise your chances of a stroke.

Cut the booze too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and your triglycerides.

Limit yourself to no more than two drinks a day if you're a man and one drink if you're a woman.

Join us next time for health talk with baptist.

Stinger one houston native is a dual threat, whether that's up to bat or on the mound...meet the gatorade player of the year next in one houston native is a dual threat, whether that's up to bat or on the mound...meet the gatorade player of the year next in sports for the first time in the history of the award, a mississippi gatorade player of the year lives in houston, mississippi junior softball player paige kilgore is named the state's top softball player kilgore was dominant before the season was shut down.....posting a 7- 0 record from the mound, with a .43 e- r-a and 94 strikeouts....along with a 438 batting average and 2 home runs kilgore says winning the award was a surprise, however she's thankful the work she's put in is paying off "i'm just blessed honestly, because i don't know, i've put in the work, but if it wasn't for my teammates, the coaches, and the good lord, i wouldn't have done it or couldn't have done it.

I just hope the younger girls, they see that if they put the work in, and if they set goals, then they can achieve them."

"i was sitting there, i woke up, and walked to my recliner, which is my normal ritual, i checked my phone and the first thing i saw was, congratulations, your player just won the gatorade player of the year man.

That's exciting as a coach.

To see one of your players have that kind of success.

It's a testament to her hard work, her folks, the team, all that into it, it's a testament to all of that.

To see one of them get the award basically for the state of mississippi.

It's a proud moment as a coach."

Kilgore will be a finalist for the gatorade national softball player of the year award that'll be announced in june.

Smithville has found its newest head football coach...welcoming back a familiar face chad collums is returning to coach the seminoles after a three-year stint as head coach of raleigh collums was the head coach of smithville from 2014 through 2016....posting a record of 32-9 with back to back north half final appearances in 2015 and 2016 once again, the n-c- a-a has extended the recruiting dead period now that period will run through july 31st this directly means no official visits for football until the end of july, and no on campus visits for men's or women's basketball as well as many division i sports however, in terms of other changes being made, strength and conditioning coaches may observe workouts virtually observations have to come from the student-athlete the committee extended the recruiting period originally through the end of june basketball season might be months away planning for the 2020 season still goes on as match- ups have been announced for the sec big 12 challenge one familiar team won't be making an appearance this year...missisippi state the 10-team format includes many teams from each conference, however the bulldogs aren't one of them the match-ups are as follows -- baylor at arkansas // south carolina at iowa state // kansas at ole miss kentucky at k- state // oklahoma at georgia // alabama at oklahoma state // tcu at missouri // texas a&m at texas former m-s-u head coach vic schaefer matching up with his former bulldog team, it will be a student against the master situation // texas tech at vanderbilt tennessee at west virginia game dates and times will be released