WCBI NEWS AT TEN - APRIL 3, 2020

WCBI NEWS AT TEN - APRIL 3, 2020

Thanks for staying up with us tonight.

Your weekend walmart run is going to look áveryá different starting tomorrow.

Starting saturday, walmart will limit the number of customers who can be in a store at once.

Stores will allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20 percent of a store's capacity.

Associates will mark a queue at a single-entry door - most likely the grocery side.

Customers will be admitted one by one and counted.

Once inside, expect one way movement through the aisles.

Floor markers will be used and associates will direct customers to avoid close contact with others.

Once a store reaches its capacity, customers will be admitted on a "1- out-1-in" basis.

Walmart is asking customers to bring the fewest number of people per family to shop.

After checking out, customers will exit through a separate door.

Some stores will test selling what they deem as essential items - groceries, toiletries and access to pharmacy.

President trump says he won't follow a new voluntary cdc recommendation, meant to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, a major component of the phase 3 stimulus bill went online today.

Cbs's skyler henry has the latest from the white house..

The c-d-c now recommends all americans wear fabric face coverings or masks in public... "please, please leave the n95 mask, the medical supplies for the medical professionals, health care workers, and front line workers.

Know that this is not a substitute for social distancing."

"i won't be doing it personally.

It's a recommendation."

The president has invoked the defense production act against 3m and others to stop the export of personal protection equipment from the u-s.

3m pushed back in a statement, saying the order could have "significant humanitarian implications" and that other countries could be compelled to retaliate.

"they can push back if they want.

We're not happy with 3m."

The administration also announced that hospitals will be reimbursed at medicare rates for providing care for uninsured americans infected with the coronavirus.

"getting the uninsured access to the health care they need is a top priority for president trump."

"the 350-billion- dollar paycheck protection program rolled out friday -- to help small business owners and their employees weather the fallout from the pandemic."

"more than 3.5 billion dollars in guaranteed loans have been processed."

The white house issued a new policy that a rapid covid- 19 test be given to any one who comes into close proximity to the president or vice president.

Skyler henry, cbs news, the white house.

President trump also said he'll continue to leave stay-at-home orders up to individual state governors.

Alabama is now among those states issuing stay at home orders governor ivey made that announcement today.

It takes effect tomorrow at 5 p.m.

And runs through april 30th.

Under the new rule, people in alabama can still go out for essential needs such as going to the grocery store, doctor appointments, or to work - - if you're still working.

Gatherings of more then ten people are prohibited in the order.

You can read governor ivey's stay at home order in full at wcbi dot com.

Video in monitor let's just do it as a straight shot this time - without the duelling monitors mississippi's stay at home order went into effect at 5 pm today..

And will be in place until april 20th at 8am.

And people have a lot of questions, so we'll try to break it down for you.

To help, the mississippi emergency management agency has published a list of "do's and don'ts."

So we will share them with you.

Here are things you ácaná do under the shelter in place order: go to the grocery store, doctor's appointments or pharmacy.

It's okay to care for a sick family member of friend and go to restaurants for takeout.

You can go outside.

Just keep six feet between you and others.

Now to the things you should ánotá do: visiting family and friends for social reasons.

Gathering in groups of 10 or more.

And you should not visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, or other residential facilities.

You should follow these guidelines all day- everyday until the order is lifted, which right now is schedule for april 20th.

State leaders say that shelter-in- place is designed to slow the spread of the virus.

It's also designed give the healthcare system time to find the extra capacity to deal with increased demand.

Governor tate reeves was joined by several doctors today during his briefing.

They explained that they met with several other physicians today to develop a covid system of care.

"with all the physicians we have in our state and with the number of elective cases that have been postponed, we actually have a glut of physicians.

And we are reaching out to those physicians and asking them to be ready and be prepared.

And they have given us word that we're here, we're not seeing elective cases.

Whatever we can do to stand up and step up and be ready, we're here and we're prepared for that."

Governor reeves says the best way to avoid a major catastrophe is for people to adhere to the executive order and truly get the spread of the virus slowed down.

First look stinger first look summary: a few showers are possible during the weekend but most locations will remain dry.

Better storm chances return once we get into next week.

Temperatures are going to remain above normal through the next 7 days and that means more 70s and 80s are headed our way.

Friday night: clouds and stars.

Lows in the low 50s.

Light wind.

Saturday: partly to mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of a few showers.

Most locations are going to stay dry.

Highs top out mainly in the mid to upper 70s.

New numbers this week show that roughly 6 point 6 million people in the u-s have filed for unemployment during the coronavirus outbreak.

Many of those are here in our viewing area.

Many of áthemá are having a hard time filing for unemployment benefits.

Our quentin smith met a man who's currently facing this problem..

And getting nowhere fast..

Now he's frustrated doesn't know what else to do... nat charlie mccarter spends each morning calling different numbers trying to get unemployment benefits..

But more times than not he ends up waiting.... and waiting..

And waiting... either getting nowhere or receiving messages like this... nat "it's been kind of frustrating because of the fact that they don't have anybody answering the phones.

The phones are always busy, the numbers they give you are disconnected or there's nobody answering."

This call log shows the more than 50 times mccarter spent trying to speak with a representative... mccarter went to the win job center in mayhew where flyers like these saying they're experiencing a high volume of calls are posted everywhere..

The flyers do give additional numbers to contact.... numbers mccarter says still leads to nowhere... "the number that does work, they have employees that answer the phone, but they're pretty much telling you what you already know, the contact numbers that you can call to try and see if you can get in contact with somebody, and that's pretty much it."

The starkville native says he first filed for unemployment nearly 20 years ago and needs access retrieving his account..

However, when he calls.... workers tell him they're teleworking from home and don't have their computer to access his information... "they say i would have to talk to somebody, but it's nobody answering the phone to get to the next step."

And just like that, mccarter says he's back at square one..

"i really think they should've really thought this situation out first.

I don't know how the president said we are going to do a shutdown, and to go file unemployment, but you send everybody home at unemployment, it doesn't make since.

Why would you do that and you know that's what everybody is going to and that's what everybody is depending on."

After being laid off, he just like many others are depending on unemployment to help them stay afloat... in the meantime..

Mccarter says he's going to remain hopeful that the right person will soon be on the other end of his call... leading him in the right direction..

"i really think this is something they should be getting on right away and looking into and seeing what's going on, and trying to get as many more people into the call center to help out, i'm assuming that's the issue."

We reached out to the governor's office to see what's the issue and if anything is being done... we're still waiting to hear back from them... the tupelo salvation army is changing its operations in response to the state's shelter in place order.

The tupelo location will begin operating 24-hours a day.

The new policy will only allow residents to leave the shelter for essential needs.

Anyone staying at the shelter showing symptoms of coronavirus will be moved to the former tupelo corps shelter building and referred to the hospital for screening.

The charity will continue to serve lunch and dinner, prepared to-go style.

And the grocery assistance will also continue, but it will be drive- thru pickup only.

All three thrift stores are closed until further notice.

Funeral homes in lee county come together to form a plan that complies with the shelter in place order and allows them to serve their clients needs public visitations have been cancelled, and services can have no more than ten people in the audience.

Also, there will be no public graveside services.

Most will offer livestream services for family and friends who cannot attend in person.

Funeral directors say they are considering other ways for family and friends to take part.

"we actually started, three weeks ago, a hugs from home program, it is so those that cannot or should not attend services and now cannot because of service limitation sizes.

People can call us or do it online at our website and we will put a balloon in place of a person at a service to show they wanted to be there but unfortunately due to circumstances cannot.

They plan to lift restrictions when the outbreak passes.

Take developing story stinger centred up a lowndes county deputy resigns days after being involved in an alleged simple assault// columbus police are investigating the assault that happened between an off duty lowndes county deputy and a restaurant employee.

Chief deputy brent swan confirmed a deputy was involved but didn't disclose the deputies name.

However, several sources told wcbi max branch was involved.

Swan confirms to us branch did resign from the sheriff's office.

No other information regarding his employment is being released.

Stinger wx open summary: a few showers are possible during the weekend but most locations will remain dry.

Better storm chances return once we get into next week.

Temperatures are going to remain above normal through the next 7 days and that means more 70s and 80s are headed our way.

Friday night: clouds and stars.

Lows in the low 50s.

Light wind.

Saturday: partly to mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of a few showers.

Most locations are going to stay dry.

Highs top out mainly in the mid to upper 70s.

Saturday night: variably cloudy and quiet.

Lows in the mid 50s.

Sunday: partly cloudy.

Warm.

Highs near 80.

Just a slight chance of a shower or two.

Monday - thursday: scattered showers and storms possible each day.

Highs top out mainly in the low to mid 80s with overnight lows warming back into the 60s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and on the wcbi news app stinger summary: a few showers are possible during the weekend but most locations will remain dry.

Better storm chances return once we get into next week.

Temperatures are going to remain above normal through the next 7 days and that means more 70s and 80s are headed our way.

Friday night: clouds and stars.

Lows in the low 50s.

Light wind.

Saturday: partly to mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of a few showers.

Most locations are going to stay dry.

Highs top out mainly in the mid to upper 70s.

Saturday night: variably cloudy and quiet.

Lows in the mid 50s.

Sunday: partly cloudy.

Warm.

Highs near 80.

Just a slight chance of a shower or two.

Monday - thursday: scattered stinger an area musician is showing us that social distancing doesn't have to mean social isolation..

We have his story when we come back..

Take scott's reentry we're seeing many creative ideas when it comes to keeping entertained while we stay at home during this outbreak.

But one man is taking it to knew heights with his voice.

Take a listen.

Nats a gift.

Raw talent.

Whatever you want to call it..tyson cunningham has it and we can't get enough.

Nats of him singning..... "it's tough for a lot of people.

I know a lot of people are anxious.

People losing jobs, people getting sick.

It's just a lot of chaos."

Using an app called acapella, cunningham is brining people online sounds from the heart that has every ear tuning in.

"it's never about me.

I never want people "oh he's awesome."

Yeah that's cool but in the grand scheme of things i want people to see life as worship."

Cunningham is a worship leader at crosspoint church.

He's using the gift of his voice that he hopes reaches deeper than just noise.

"it's such an amazing thing.

If we can use our gifts to, use our talents, use our ability, to shed light, shed hope and just try to make the most of what god has put in front of us."

From the melody to the harmony..cunningh am hopes every note helps soothe our souls.

"i hope that people will get just a glimpse of a reminder that there is hope at the end of the tunnel."

End with nats... take vo in monitor cunningham says even after the pandemic is over he plans to continue sharing his gift for us all to listen to.

"now that you're the head coach of your alma mater, what is what's the feeling like around that?

How, what does that mean to you?

You know it means a lot.

Really, you know, i'm just blessed to have this opportunity, you know, to come home and take over a program.

That means a lot to me.

You know, it's a lot of tradition.

A lot of pride, you know, comes along with calhoun city football.

You were an assistant coach with calhoun city for the past two years coaching under perry lyles and chad white, what are some of the things that you learn from them that you hope to emulate as a head coach and continue the tradition of calhoun city?

You know, i learned a lot from both of those guys.

One thing is hard work you know, nothing beats hard work.

Yeah, be willing to roll up the sleeves and no show up every day and just go to work.

And you know that right there you know, it takes care of yourself.

Our mindset is reload know, the expectations, you know, never changed around here and we always take pride in complaining, you know, after thanksgiving so, you know, we just got to be ready won't get that opportunity to step on the field, you know and be ready to go to work.

You spent the past two years at calhoun city, but this wasn't your first stop.

As a assistant coach, you've been able to be a part of some pretty successful staffs.

I was wondering if you could talk about maybe your experience in some of the other places you've been to get to this point?

Yes.

Oh, my first two years was in south panola.

I worked a year on the coach lance pogue that second