WCBI NEWS AT 10 - 08/31/20

WCBI NEWS AT 10 - 08/31/20

Thanks for staying up with us tonight, i'm cash matlock.

Governor tate reeves says labor day is a key reason he's extending his safe return order.

Courtney ann jackson explains.

Two more weeks of required masks and no big gatherings.

Why?

Governor reeves says it's working.

"the next 10 days are critical," said reeves.

"if you look at our seven day rolling average and total number of cases, we are about where we were just before july 4."

He is making one change, though.

High schools will now have more flexibility in crowd size.

The order previously limited it to two spectators per athlete.

Schools will now be allowed to fill 25% capacity.

"it was something that was asked for my a lot of people mainly just because it's hard with that two-per to make it work and so that's still a good rule by the way," added reeves.

"it's a good way in which to do it and i think you'll see a lot of schools continue that, particularly for indoor venues."

State epidemiologist dr. paul byers is urging folks to avoid any temptation to have big get togethers for upcoming holiday weekend.

"one of the things that we see repeatedly is that when you introduce new people that you haven't been interacting with before, that's when you increase your chances of becoming infected," noted byers.

The other encouraging news is that the rate of spread is slowing.

Governor reeves says the r0 value is down to 0.9.

Here's what that means.

"every person gives the virus at this point to about 0.9 people on that number is over one, that means that the virus is increasing in numbers."

Again, the extension on the safe return order is for two weeks.

That includes the statewide mask mandate, limits on social gatherings , and now the 25% capacity at k-12 activities and sports.

Just like the governor said, mississippi's covid- 19 numbers continue to improve, but there are a high number of deaths being reported today.

The mississippi state department of health says there are 274 new covid-19 cases in the state and 32 deaths.

14 of those fatalities were in the wcbi viewing area.

819 people remain hospitalized with confirmed or suspected symptoms. 215 patients are in i.c.u.

The age group with the most cases continues to be 18- 29-year-olds.

Health officials say more than 67 thousand people are presumed recovered.

This means there are nine thousand 684 presumed active cases in the state.

First look stinger first look summary: a few more showers and storms are likely on tuesday with lower rain chances for the middle of the week.

A cold front will spark more rain and storms friday.

Slightly drier air returns for the start of labor day weekend but seasonably warm air sticks around.

Monday night: stars and clouds with the chance of a shower or storm late.

Lows in the 70s.

Light southerly winds.

Tuesday: partly cloudy with a 40% chance of pop-up showers and storms. any storm may produce gusty wind and torrential rainfall.

Highs in the lower 90s with heat indices ranging from 100 to 105.

Winds sw 5- 10 mph.

The gloves came off today as democratic presidential candidate joe biden accused president trump of fanning the flames of violence in this country rather than fighting them.

Moments ago president trump punched back saying biden shared an agenda with the rioters.

Paula reid reports from the white house.

Does anyone believe there will be less violence in america if donald trump is re- elected?

Joe biden unleashed on president trump today for tweeting praise of those involved in violent protests in portland and said it was pure politics.

Donald trump looks at this violence and sees a political lifeline.// 13;47;33;26 trump posts an all caps tweet screaming law and order to save his campaign.

The former vice president condemned the violence.... rioting is not protesting.

Looting is not protesting.

And said the president's law and order campaign slogan, was actually a sign of weakness.

You know he may believe mouthing the words "law and order" makes him strong but his failure to call on his own supporters to stop acting as an armed militia in this country shows how weak he is.

Amid violence in cities like seattle, kenosha, and portland, where one of the president's supporters was killed over the weekend, president trump has harshly criticized the local democratic leaders.

And the people in portland should protest because the mayor doesn't know what he's doing.

Wisconsin's governor and kenosha's mayor have warned the president his visit there tomorrow will hinder the healing process.

Donald trump has been a toxic presence in our nation for four years, poisoning how we talk to one another, poisoning how we treat one another, poisoning the values this nation has always held dear.

Poisoning our very democracy.

President trump has repeatedly claimed that a biden victory will fuel the unrest in cities across the country.

No one will be safe in biden's america.

Today biden punched back.

I find it a fascinating, quote " you won't be safe in joe biden's america."

And what's their proof?

The violence we're seeing in donald trump's america.

These are not images of some imagined joe biden america in the future.

These are images of donald trump's america today.

Tonight, president trump claimed biden and the rioters were working together.

The rioters, and biden have a side, and they're both on the side of the radical left.

"ask yourself do i look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters.

Really?!"

Asked tonight if he thought if his trip to wi tomorrow could inflame tensions, president trump said in fact he believes it may increase enthusiasm and respect for the country.

Joe biden today said that he too may visit wisconsin soon.

Paula reid cbs news the white house.

An inmate serving life for a kidnap and rape that occurred 22 years ago in harrison county dies in prison.

Mississippi department of corrections says 50-year-old kevin keith russell died sunday at the mississippi state penitentiary hospital.

Mdoc says russell was there for several days.

Russell suffered from a terminal illness, but an autopsy will determine the of cause of death.

Gfx vo monitor fill the accused gunman in a pickens county shooting is in custody in lowndes county.

This after a wcbi viewer saw the story posted online.

Sheriff todd hall tells wcbi 36-year- old eric daniel jennings was taken into custody, just before 5:30 this evening.

These are the two photos deputies sent out this morning while they were searching for him in lowndes county.

The extradition process is expected to begin tomorrow.

The shooting happened on county road 75, about a mile north of highway 82, in the liberty community about 5:30 am.

Hall says the victim was shot multiple times and treated by volunteer firefighters.

That person is expected to survive.

Hall says jennings will face multiple charges in pickens county but it could be tomorrow before those specific charges are released.

Two tupelo firefighters are helping victims of hurricane laura in louisiana as part of the "mississippi urban search and rescue task force" the firemen are part of a team working in the southwestern portion of cameron parish, which was hit hard when the hurricane came ashore.

Teams are doing infrastructure assessments, wellness checks, and secondary searches.

The task force allows trained firefighters from cities across the state to deploy to areas struck by natural disasters, while not taking manpower from departments who are part of the task force.

"this has been a lot of years in the making, to get these teams up and get them fine tuned to where we get the most out of what we have, and this way, i send two guys, not only does it leave members to respond to other parts of the state, it doesn't tax me here as a local fire department and put us in a bind to where we have to, cut down on our services here."

The firefighters could return to tupelo sometime this week.

Stinger wx open summary: a few more showers and storms are likely on tuesday with lower rain chances for the middle of the week.

A cold front will spark more rain and storms friday.

Slightly drier air returns for the start of labor day weekend but seasonably warm air sticks around.

Monday night: stars and clouds with the chance of a shower or storm late.

Lows in the 70s.

Light southerly winds.

Tuesday: partly cloudy with a 40% chance of pop-up showers and storms. any storm may produce gusty wind and torrential rainfall.

Highs in the lower 90s with heat indices ranging from 100 to 105.

Winds sw 5- 10 mph.

Tuesday night: variably cloudy and reasonably quiet.

Lows in the mid to low 70s.

Wednesday- thursday: partly cloudy, hot, and humid.

Highs in the low to mid 90s with heat indices around 100.

Lows stay in the 70s.

A daily 20-30% chance of a few storms each day.

Friday: scattered storms are possible with a cold front moving through the region.

The chance of rain is 30-40%.

Highs in the low 90s.

Saturday-sunday: partly cloudy, warm, and a little less humid.

Highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s with overnight lows dipping back into the mid to upper 60s.

Rain chances are very low at 20% or less each day.

Labor day: partly cloudy with a 30- 40% chance of showers and storms. seasonably warm with highs around 90.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger wcbi news app stinger facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger labor day weekend is coming up... when we come back, some tips on how to stay safe.

Health talk with baptist is next, don't go anywhere.

Labor day weekend is coming up and that means many of you will be at the lake or taking a trip down to the coast.

Today on health talk with baptist, we've some important safety tips you should keep in mind.

Take a look.

Pkg no script billboard attached stinger billboard attached stinger death the people between ages of five and 20 learning swims essential well-being in or near the water there are other tips for things that alwaysm with partner with your swimming in the backyard or other water places earning life-saving skills such as the pr rescue techniques can help save you your limits if you're not a consumer your just wanting is on the water that is over your head dive safely having injuries can cause permanent spinal ordained paralysis and sometimes other stuff only diving areas that are safe and really children alone in airports bob install fence leasable tall all around side student-athletes continue to fight for social change...details from the march in tuscaloosa, next in sports spx open the fight against racial injustice continues over in tuscaloosa, the alabama football team marched for change following a string of protests by colleges and professional teams last week head coach nick saban led the way for the march through campus that was sparked by the shooting of jacob blake, a 29 year old black man who was shot by police multiple times last week saban saying he was thankful for the opportunity for his players join the fight for social change saban: "you know sports has always created a platform for social change.

For each of us involved in sports i think we have a responsibility and an obligation to do that in a responsible way and use our platform in a positive way to try and create social change in positive ways.

Through this process i've learned a lot from our players.

I don't get to see the world through the same lens that a lot of our players do and i think i respect and appreciate the lens they see the world in, they live the world in."

Although a lot remains uncertain for college basketball months away, there is one thing that is certain..

Mississippi state will be playing the upcoming season without senior guard andra espinoza-hunter hunter announcing on twitter on sunday that she would be opting out of the season because of concerns for covid-19 hunter is just one of three seniors on the bulldogs roster among center yemiyah morris and grad transfer caterrion thompson in the past two season's at m-s-u, hunter averaged about 7 points per game hunter is the first women's basketball player for the bulldogs to opt out of the upcoming season all high school sports will officially be full go this week public schools are finally allowed to return to action that means high school football will be in full swing come friday evening however, that doesn't mean everyone will be free to go watch teams face off just yet although, governor tate reeves' executive order requiring two spectators per participant expired this morning...don't expect to see stadiums at full capacity after a decline in covid-19 cases, the governor announcing that spectator numbers can increase to 25- percent capacity when social distancing is possible reeves: "we signed the previous order a few weeks ago and it's working.

Things have been improving.

We can always improve faster.

We can always do better, but i'm encouraged by the efforts of the people of this great state.

As our numbers improve, we're able to do more and more safely in the community.

Governor reeves to do more and more safely in the community.

Governor reeves also announced the extension of executive order no.

1519 that places restrictions on college stadiums while public schools are finally allowed to officially kick-off the high school football season this friday, smithville will have to wait a few more weeks three players on the smithville football team have tested positive for covid-19 now, the seminoles are undergoing a mandatory two- week quarantine for the entire team smithville head football coach chad collums says "it's not what we want but we still have a long season of football left to play."

Collums says all three players are currently doing ok... smithville will now officially begin the 2020 season against biggersville on september 18th northeast mississippi men's golf is ready to get back into the swing of things the tigers' finalizing their golf schedule for the 2020-2021 season competition starts on monday september 21st and will run through april 19th of 2021 rounds one and two for maccc event #1 in september will take place september 28th- 29th n-e-mcc head golf coach derek devaughn says his team is ready to compete again "all my freshman kids that got their season cut short.

I know they're itching to get back on the course and so i can't tell you how excited they are to actually tee it up again.

They're just itching to get back out there.

I can't wait to see the newcomers coming in.

They're really going to help these other kids push them even more."

Still last look