Local News

Preparing for the storm with WCBI's weather team

Ryan Savage

Reporter

Five.  The clicking of keyboards, telephones ringing and people yelling to each other down a long corridor fill the air.  A low roar emits from fans of different computer towers and boards and travels over a group of people rushing around like ants trying to get to different places in the small room full of TV screens and processors.  A man yells down the corridor from the lobby about whether or not certain papers were missing.  No one in the room answers. They are on a mission.

Four.  Papers rustle in hands as people shuffle around and finally get situated in their squeaky rolling chairs. The heavy sound of someone’s boots rushes down the corridor leading to the small room. A woman looks up from her papers, peers down the hallway and then gets up and closes the door. She makes her way back to her chair and puts on a headset. By this point, everyone in the room has on their headsets.

What the new religious liberty bill could mean for Mississippi

Jessica Barnett

Editor

Mississippi’s Senate passed House Bill 1523, also known as the religious liberty bill, by a vote of 31-17 on March 30.

The bill, formally named the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,” allows a person who chooses to allow or deny individuals certain goods and services based on “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” to be free from government action or discrimination. H.B. 1523 prevents the state government from taking action against a person or organization for any decisions regarding the following: employment of an individual who expresses different beliefs or convictions; rental, sale or occupancy of a building under the person’s control; services, facilities, recognition and accommodations regarding marriage or the performance of a marriage; providing treatments, counseling or surgeries related to gender identity or reassignment; and access to bathrooms, spas, locker rooms and other sex-specific areas. 

Dance the night away with the Nightclub Two-Step

Liz Bosarge

Senior Reporter

Stephen and Frieda Burt will be teaching a five-week dance class to couples at the Stark Recreation Center.

The class will meet every Tuesday for five weeks starting on March 29 with a focus on the nightclub two-step. The class is for couples only. Students, staff and faculty are eligible to take the class for $80, while others will be charged $120.  A $10 discount is offered for two couples who register at the same time.

 

Board of Trustees amends policy on weapons on campus

Jessica Barnett

Editor

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning voted to amend its policy on weapons on campus at its Feb. 18 meeting in Jackson, Miss. 

The amendments allow visitors with enhanced carry permits to bring registered weapons to public spaces on campus. This amendment does not allow students or faculty to bring weapons to campus.

LaLa and Louise: Beautiful love story becomes focus of video

Charles “LaLa” Evans met his future wife, Louise, in a café. He made $25 a week polishing shoes with his father, and when they married at age 18, he didn’t even have a ring. They worked hard in the 59 years and 11 months they spent together, whether it was Louise cleaning homes or LaLa becoming the first African-American letter carrier in Starkville, Miss.  In 2011, when Louise passed away, her final words to him were “I love you.” In her memory, he showcased the many photos and videos they took over the years by turning their home into a museum called “LaLa and Louise Land.” The story captured the attention of the band, Mutemath, and the band featured LaLa in the music video for their song, “Monument.”

Wassail at the W returns for third consecutive year

Jessica Barnett

Online Editor

The W will be participating in Wassail Fest for a third year on Dec. 4 in Pohl Gymnasium.

The festival celebrates wassail, a spiced cider that is usually served around the holidays. Angela Ferraez, director of major gifts and special events at The W, remembered Wassail Fest being celebrated at her dad’s store when she was younger and wanted to help create those memories for those at The W now.

SGA hosts forum on state flag

Dylan Scott

Reporter

The Student Government Association hosted a public forum on Nov. 16 to discuss the state flag on campus.

The event was held at Pope Banquet Hall and included guest speaker Rufus Ward, a Columbus native and local historian.  Ward gave a history lesson on the background of the state flag, including the various versions of the Mississippi flag and how they came to be.  After he spoke, those attending were encouraged to discuss the topic with others at their tables. People then got the chance to share their opinion or thoughts about the flag in front of everyone at the forum. 

The W walks to lunch

Frederick L. Brown

Reporter

Passport to Wellness hosted its second annual “Walk to Lunch” on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event began with registration at the front gates of the university. At the gate, the Passport to Wellness ambassadors assisted participants in registering for the event with a sign-in sheet and special stickers. The stickers could then be used to get discounts at nearby businesses.  

BlackList gives back with Be The Match

Liz Bosarge

Reporter

The BlackList Alumnae Association and BlackList Honorary Social Club held their annual “Rattle Them Bones 5K” for Be The Match Registry on Oct. 17 at the W campus.

It was the first year that the BlackList groups partnered with the Brotherhood of Beta Kappa Tau to host the event. The event proceeds were given to Be The Match, in honor of Eddy Doyle, a BKT founding father who recently died of cancer.