WCBI News at Ten - 06/04/2020

WCBI News at Ten - 06/04/2020

The mississippi legislative black caucus stepped up to voice their concerns for a lack of reforms in the magnolia state// they say they want policies passed that better protect communities and individuals from injustices// courtney ann jackson reports// the mississippi legislative black caucus is pleased to see folks turning chaos into opportunity for change.

Rep.

Cheikh taylor: "the worst thing that could happen is to experience and witness the public lynching of george floyd and do nothing, feel nothing, mourn for nothing and allow silence to grip you and normalize these conditions."

Rep.

Cheikh taylor says that's why he's asking protesters what they'll do when the protests are over.

What are they doing for the long haul?

Caucus chair sen.

Angela turner-ford saying it's important that the focus remains clear.

Sen.

Angela tuner- ford: "the message is important but try not to engage in unnecessary destruction or violent protests.

This is about making sure the message is heard and as well received as possible."

The caucus members say their role will be to put policy changes in place.

Rep.

Zakiya summers; "the clarion call to this body is to create and pass policies that are rooted in fairness, equity and justice."

But their efforts have failed this year and in years past.

Rep.

John faulkner :"it's minnesota now.

It could be mississippi tomorrow.

So, it's very frustrating when we think about we made attempts to put things in place to safeguard us against that.

But we're still hopeful that going forward we can work with the leadership to shape some good policy."

So, they're now asking that their constituents look to local government as a way to get more immediate changes in motion.

Rep.

Kabir karriem: "municipalities really need to investigate looking at body cameras.

They also need to look at their ordinances.

Police departments need to look at their sops, their standard operating procedures and see if there's anything that needs to be addressed as it relates to excessive force."

Some members said those local changes will be the fastest way to start these reforms. roll vo in monitor here at home dozens of people came together in hopes of sending a message// our stephanie poole was there.

She shares how they're using their faith and voices to help us all unite// a little music... a few words of encouragement... and prayer.... this is what congregation members at northside missionary baptist church say is the perfect recipe for worship.

" i believe worship and prayer is a special place to find peace, to find comfort, to find confidence in the midst of trying times.

For our city as a whole, for our nation as a whole, we need prayer.

We need worship, we need direction from the lord on what we need to do."

For tyson cunningham, worship leader of crosspoint baptist church,it's also a way to unify the community.

" i feel like nights like this are great initiators to get our hearts stirred and to just get clarity for lord from what we need to do in our community.

It's a blessing to see people sense the need for this and to be willing to come out even in the midst of all the covid 19 and everything that's going on."

Area pastors were invited to give words of encouragement and offer prayer too.

" it's time for change,it's time for america to wake up and lets do something.

Columbus-lowndes county naacp president lavonne harris says with everything happening across the nation, this is the time to reflect and come together.

" we know the pain is there, the pain is still there it's not going away.

Everybody is hurting and coming so close together.

We got a pandemic,we got rallies going across the country,mr.floyd's funeral was today,then we also have on a local issue the ricky ball case.

We want the people to know and the community to know no one is forgotten."

And hopefully the community can learn to lend on each other.

" we are in the midst of trying times, you need to cast your burdens, cast you cares unto the lord.

Butt sots " trust me baby,god answer prayers.you bring it to him,he'll answer them prayers."

Reporting in lowndes county, stephanie poole, wcbi news.

First look stinger first look summary: scattered storms will remain a possibility on friday as we close out the work week.

Rain chances lower dramatically for the weekend but our area is going to stay plenty warm and humid.

The remnants of cristobal could still affect our area monday & tuesday with heavy rain and perhaps an isolated tornado threat but details remain sparse at this time.

Thursday night: variably cloudy, mild, and muggy.

Lows in the upper 60s to around 70 with light wind.

A few lingering showers or storms are possible.

Friday: a 50% chance of rain and storms with highs in the upper 80s to around 90.

Any storm may produce frequent lightning and torrential downpours.

Winds ssw 5-10 mph.

Wcbi developing oktibbeha county deputies make an arrest in a may homicide.

Now, 27-year-old matthew graves of brandon is charged with capital murder.

The underlying charge of the crime is arson.

Graves was denied bond at his first court appearance this week.

60-year-old joyce bostick was found dead at her sykes road home back on may 13th.

Deputies were originally called to the house to check on bostick.

The home was partially burned inside.

Investigators are still trying to figure out a motive// off top aliceville police continue to investigate a weekend homicide.

Police chief tonnie jones says officers were called to a home on jasper road early sunday morning.

That's where they found the body of 28-year-old brandon peoples.

Jones did not release how the man died.

Investigators do have a person of interest in the case but no arrest has been made.

Aliceville police and pickens county deputies are investigating the homicide.

Columbus mayor robert smith says justice wasn't served in the case of ricky ball's death that centers around a former columbus police officer.

It's been three days since a judge dismissed the manslaughter charge against canyon boykin... that decision that continues to send shockwaves throughout the community... smith says he was disappointed when he found out the case was being dismissed with prejudice..

And would like to have seen the case settled in a courtroom.... the mayor also questions the timing in which the dismissal was made... "how can justice prevail when it's tossed like an old newspaper, it's just expired.

For the new attorney general to just dismiss it with prejudice, that's the end of it, and the citizens of columbus deserve to know what happened, why was dismissed, i would like to know personally myself."

For the next few weeks... the mayor is asking all pastors in the friendly city to hold prayer vigils following the recent events in columbus and minnesota.

Next tuesday..

The city will have a town hall meeting at 5-30 to address issues such as use of excessive force..

And the importance of officers wearing body cameras..

Social media// it allows us to express ourselves and connect with people from all over// but when using social media you've got to be careful/// misusing the mediums could cost you a criminal consequence// our quentin smith explains// nat whether your timeline is popping on twitter..

Or facebook, snapchat, instagram and now tik tok... social media is a popular tool used by millions of people.... " social media is great because it allows people to connect to folks that they otherwise wouldn't get a chance to see."

However... there are posts out there some would consider threatening and distasteful.... " sometimes somebody will have their phone sitting at a computer and behind the screen so they feel more distant from the things that they are saying, and so they will say things that they would normally say."

Dr. barry smith is a professor and chair of the communication department at mississippi university for women.

He says those posts can come with backlash.

" if you say something hateful and then your boss sees it well your boss might fire you, or your neighbors might say, we don't want you coming over to the birthday party."

Many people use social media as a way to exercise their freedom of speech... but that right can have consequences.

" the way the law is written, if you get on social media and you insult somebody or harm their personal character or threaten to hurt them, then you very well could be charged with a crime even though you claim it's your first amendment right.

At that point then you have to to go to court and defend yourself and hope the courts agree that you are within your first amendment right."

Wcbi legal analyst jeff hosford says if a person is caught making a threatening post they can be charged with cyberstalking, which is a felony.

" without a restraining order which means basically you've done it and you've been arrested, it carries up to two years in jail or two years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

If there is a restraining order that's been issued against you for such activity and you continue to do it, then it carries up to five years and up to a $10,000 fine."

Hosford says anyone..

Young or old... can be charged with cyberstalking... if a juvenile is charged their case will be handled in youth court... stinger 2-shot wx open summary: scattered storms will remain a possibility on friday as we close out the work week.

Rain chances lower dramatically for the weekend but our area is going to stay plenty warm and humid.

The remnants of cristobal could still affect our area monday & tuesday with heavy rain and perhaps an isolated tornado threat but details remain sparse at this time.

Thursday night: variably cloudy, mild, and muggy.

Lows in the upper 60s to around 70 with light wind.

A few lingering showers or storms are possible.

Friday: a 50% chance of rain and storms with highs in the upper 80s to around 90.

Any storm may produce frequent lightning and torrential downpours.

Winds ssw 5-10 mph.

Friday night: partly cloudy and muggy.

Lows around 70.

Weekend: a mix of sun and clouds.

While a few spotty storms or showers can't be ruled out most locations will stay dry.

Look for warm highs in the low 90s with mild overnight lows in the low 70s.

Monday-tuesday: the remnant low of cristobal will likely track to the west of the mississippi river.

That would put us on the eastern, wetter, and generally more active side.

Many questions still remain as to the extent of what we may experience but heavy rain and even a small tornado risk can't be totally ruled out at this time.

Stay tuned for updates during the course of the weekend.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: scattered storms will remain a possibility on friday as we close out the work week.

Rain chances lower dramatically for the weekend but our area is going to stay plenty warm and humid.

The remnants of cristobal could still affect our area monday & tuesday with heavy rain and perhaps an isolated tornado threat but details remain sparse at this time.

Thursday night: variably cloudy, mild, and muggy.

Lows in the upper 60s to around 70 with light wind.

A video in monitor a calhoun county woman is doing her part to help us all smile// our allie martin shows us how she's doing it with rocks and a little paint// a few years ago, a calhoun county woman was looking for a simple way to spread joy and share her christian faith.

So, she picked up some rocks and started painting.

She leaves them in public places and since then her rocks have gone around the world.

"i love painting rocks and i'm always looking for an unique one."

Brenda poteete is on a mission, one rock at a time.

It started on a family vacation in arkansas when her grandkids were finding and hiding painted rocks others left behind.

"we went to wal mart that afternoon and bought paint, went to the motel and painted a bunch of rocks, that was our start, on my rocks i try and put smile, god loves you on each one of them" she also puts her phone number on the back of the larger rocks and has heard from people near and far.

"my grandson, we went on a school trip, we all painted rocks and i gave each child a rock to hide while we were in washington dc and it was so much fun seeing them hide them around the places, children would get response and one of the rocks ended up in ireland."

"i got a text, i don't know who it was, but they had been doubting god and when they saw this it was an uplift, they said i needed that, there is a god and he loves me."

She even delivers the rock art in person nats áááshortened sotááá "we get stuff like this and we have kids all the time, wrecks, this makes a world of difference, hand them a rock and let them know you are thinking about them."

"this is a great ministry and i want the lord to get the glory."

If you ever meet brenda poteete in person, she will make sure you get your own bag of rocks.

All she asks is that you keep one or two and give the rest away.

In bruce, allie martin, wcbi news.

Poteete has a neighbor who has a near endless supply of rocks of all sizes, so be on the lookout.

Hailstate hoops adding to the roster... the latest on nikki mccray-penson's pickups...next in sports..

Strokes can be deadly.

The cardiovascular disease mortality rate in our state is the highest in the nation.

We we learn more in tonights health talk with baptist// no script spx open new head coach nikki mccray- penson and mississippi state women's basketball continuing to add talent to the roster... the bulldogs adding an experienced guard in grad transfer caterrion thompson from bowling green...thompson averaging almost 14 points per game and 5 rebounds this past season hailstate hoops also adding the size....6 foot five frehsman center charlotte kohl of germany..

Kohl competing with germany's national teams for the under-16 and under-18 tournaments the two join mcdonalds all american madison hayes to make up the 2020 signing class ole miss men's basketball give us something to look forward to later this year the rebels releasing its full nonconference schedule for this upcoming season highlighting the big matchups....novemb er 18th....ole miss hosting charleston southern...former pontotoc warrior ty jones returning to north mississippi to face the rebels rivalry matchup december fifth with memphis at the pavilion rebels with its first true road test, going to dayton on december 19th and ole miss' turn for the home and home matchup with wichita state to end nonconference play the nba is back.... the board of governor's approving set dates and information on what the restart nba season will look like nba basketball is back july 31st....the season running through october 12th 22 teams will compete at the espn wide world of sports complex in orlando florida 13 from the western conference, 9 from the east...teams that were still in playoff contention before the season was cut short each team playing eight games, to determine seeding, and if the eight seed is 4-games up..they win the spot...but at the end of the reuglar season and the final spot is up for grabs....the possibility of a play-in game for the final seed exists taking a look at the teams that will be competing in orlando.... the nba also making decisions outside of returning to play...the league has set august 25th as the date for the nba draft lottery....and october 15th as the draft date the ncaa has set to withdrawal date for college eligible players to 10 days after the nba draft combine, or august 3, whichever comes first free agency will begin october 18th...and the new nba season tipping off on december first of this year