WCBI News at Ten - 07/29/2020

WCBI News at Ten - 07/29/2020

The latest report from the white house coronavirus task force shows the majority of mississippi counties branded as red zones// thanks for joining us tonight// not only that--- mississippi is one of 21 states with the same title// courtney ann jackson reports// this white house coronavirus task force report first obtained by the new york times recommends mississippi move dining outdoors or limiting indoor capacity at restaurants to 25 percent.

Current state regulations allow for 50 percent capacity.

Manship wood fired kitchen managing partner steven o'neill says he doesn't think 25 percent capacity is feasible for most restaurants to stay open.

"with six foot table distancing, i can't even achieve over 35 percent.

Right now, we are at about 35 percent capacity.

But everyone in this restaurant is distanced six feet.

Not nose to nose.

It is six feet between tables...back of head to back of head."

O'neill says they're spending more on safety measures---1,000 extra dollars each week on gloves alone.

"we're adapting daily now that our payroll protection has run out.

We don't know if there's going to be another round or not.

We're just trying to make our business viable."

This list also says the state should close establishments where social distancing and mask use can't occur like bars and entertainment venues.

But the suggestion for the 71 "red zone" counties is to shut down gyms. one gym- goer i spoke with says he feels safe.

"they wipe down everything.

We wipe down everything before and after use every time we use anything and they've got everything six feet apart."

We asked folks if they think the state is doing enough to keep us safe.

"no i don't.

I think we opened up way too early.

I think we went back too early.

I noticed a lot of people aren't social distancing in stores."

"they can try closing down some businesses but the impact of that, i think would be greater than the covid."

Hinds, desoto and jackson counties represented just over 20 percent of the new cases in the state in the time frame this report considered, which was july 18 through the 24th.

Over 15-hundred new covid-19 cases are reported in mississippi today// here are the new numbers from the mississippi state department of health// one thousand five hundred five new cases, along with 20 deaths// locally, lowndes county saw the biggest jump with 52 new cases.

Other high numbers came from lafayette county with 29 and winston county with 22 new cases.

Lee county had 19.

More than 12 hundred people are in the hospital with suspected or confirmed covid-19.

178 of them are on ventilators.

There are 197 long- term care facility outbreaks in the state.

Centered the mississippi state department of health is giving more guidance to employers on when to let employees who test positive return to work.

State health officer dr. thomas dobbs says the employee does not need a negative covid-19 test in order to be back on the job.

"people's test will stay positive for a long time after they are no longer contagious.

Currently, the cdc does not recommend retesting anyone who has tested positive for 90 days, because we know it can stick around for such a long time.

So, if someone has coronavirus they need to be isolated, away from work, and at home for 14 days and may not return until that point.

In addition, they must be asymptomatic for 24 hours."

More information can be found on the state department of health's website.

Individual mississippians aren't the only ones financially impacted by covid- 19-- city budgets are also feeling the pocket pinch// some people are staying home meaning they're shopping less// that means a drop in sales tax revenue// sales tax is the fuel for city budgets across the the state// with less revenue city's will have to find ways to get more money back in which could mean cuts to important services// executive director for the mississippi municipal league, shari veazey says this big issue across the state// "some of our cities, particularly the mid to smaller ones, have not seen a lot in the way of expenses, but they've seen dips in revenue.

Even in a small town just a little bit of revenue loss is serious issue because they don't really have a way to make that up.

Nobody wants to raise property taxes, and in some of our smaller communities, a mil doesn't generate a lot of property tax, so that isn't really a good solution anyway."

The mississippi municipal league is asking congress to pass a fourth stimulus bill that would allow cities to use funds to replace revenue loss// alabamians will have to continue to wear face coverings in public.

Governor kay ivey extended the state's mask mandate today for another month.

One key change is that masks will be required on all school and college campuses.

Students 2nd grade and older must wear them.

The order was set to expire friday, but will continue until august 31.

State hospital officials urged the governor to keep the mandate in place, citing the decreasing icu availability across the state.

First look stinger wednesday night: variably cloudy with a few lingering showers or storms possible.

Lows in the 70s.

Thursday- saturday: clusters of showers and storms from time to time.

Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and occasional gusty breezes.

Highs in the upper 80s to around 90 with lows in the 70s.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a few lingering showers or storms possible.

Lows in the 70s.

Thursday- saturday: clusters of showers and storms from time to time.

Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and occasional gusty breezes.

Highs in the upper 80s to around 90 with lows in the 70s.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a few a lifeline for many a lifeline for many mothers, is closing// the lowndes county wic center is shutting its doors// wic is the women's, infants and children food distribution center and provides families with supplemental food// things like eggs and dairy, produce, baby foods and formula.

As our cash matlock explains, not only was this closure a surprise, but for some, going to a neighboring wic center isn't possible// when lacharley sherrod made her monthly trip to wic this morning, she was surprised with what greeted her at the door.

In bold letters, the distribution center announcing it will permanently close on august 28th.

"this is my first time hearing that they will be closing, so that's very unfortunate."

And she definitely didn't expect this trip... to be her last.

"people who pick up on the 29th, like me, we won't even get benefits for august."

A former south carolina resident, sherrod is used to picking up supplements at the local grocery store, where shoppers can use a wic voucher.

"some states have already transitioned into programs where you can actually pick up wic from the grocery stores, but mississippi hasn't transitioned yet.

So, the families that will lose this benefit-- it's going to be harsh on them."

Jamie matthews uses wic to support her two children.

Her youngest, christopher, is just 5 weeks old.

"i was shocked because this is the only distribution center that we have in about a 30 mile radius."

She says it's unrealistic for the health department to ask people to drive to monroe or clay county.

"a lot of people come on their lunch breaks.

I do know a lot of people don't have transportation, so it's already hard for them to come out here with it being so far out."

Matthews says many in the community... just want an explanation.

"people are angry.

A lot of people are shocked.

A lot of people are disappointed because this is their only means."

Wic participants must go through multiple steps before they are accepted into the program.

We have reached out to the state department of health for comment.

We have yet to hear back from them.

Stinger 2-shot wx open summary: rain chances will remain elevated through saturday with deep tropical moisture, a weak front, and little disturbances in place.

Any location may get some locally heavy rainfall along with the chance for some gusty breezes.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a few lingering showers or storms possible.

Lows in the 70s.

Thursday- saturday: clusters of showers and storms from time to time.

Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and occasional gusty breezes.

Highs in the upper 80s to around 90 with lows in the 70s.

Sunday-wednesday: rain chances lower but a few pop-up cells are possible each and every day.

Highs stay in the upper 80s to around 90 with slightly cooler overnight lows in the upper 60s to around 70.

Tropics: a tropical disturbance near puerto rico may become a tropical storm later tonight or thursday morning as it moves towards florida.

Recent data suggest the system will curve away from our region before it would become a concern for the northern gulf coast.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: rain chances will remain elevated through saturday with deep tropical moisture, a weak front, and little disturbances in place.

Any location may get some locally heavy rainfall along with the chance for some gusty breezes.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a few lingering showers or storms possible.

Lows in the 70s.

Thursday- saturday: clusters of showers and storms from time to time.

Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and occasional gusty breezes.

Highs in the upper 80s to around 90 with lows in the 70s.

Sunday-wednesday: rain chances lower but a few pop-up cells are possible each and stinger surprise deliveries are popping up all over the united state// but it's what's inside that investigators are warning folks to beware of// we'll explain the msu extension office is warning mississippians about an unpurchased package with mysterious seeds inside// federal authorities say over the past month, residents in all 50 states have reported getting unexpected// most come from china, containing various unmarked seeds.

David kenney shows us what to watch out for.

Lisa/received seeds in the mail state officials say residents in 15 counties have reported getting the strange packages containing seeds in the mail.

They also say the seeds could be a threat to our state agriculture industry.

Andy gipson "any of these seeds that have one type of fungus, could for example decimate our sweet potato crop.

We don't want it going in the ground.

We've been getting calls from farmers from across the state who are very concerned about it."

So why is it happening?

State officials say it's a ploy by overseas e- commerce companies, trying to boost sales.

Andy gipson "they're shipping these to people for free, and then they're going to write a fake review to try to boost their sales and say they've identified somebody whose going to get a package, then they're going to go online and say that the person reviewed it and gave them a thumbs up."

A simpson county woman tells three on your side she got not one, but two seed packages in the mail, several weeks apart.

Lisa "i didn't even want to open it because years ago we had that big scare of anthrax.

Why am i getting something i didn't order?

It's just weird that this is happening in the middle of a pandemic."

Some of the seeds have been tested and were from watermelons, gourds and cogan grass a common weed in our state.

If you get the seeds, officials at the mississippi bureau of plant industry will come and collect them from you.

They can be contacted at 662-325-3390.

Andy gipson "collect them, give us a call keep the packaging, we'll look into that too and make sure they're disposed of properly."

So far, the usda has no evidence the seeds are an act of bioterrorism.

They say americans who have received the mysterious packages should change their online passwords.

Summer time and summer travel// food's always involved// we talk about how to handle foods safely while on that road trip in tonights health talk with baptist// stinger the high school football tour heads to west point to check-in with the oak hill academy raiders see the preview, next roll spx open we continue the high school football tour with a look at oak hill academy.

First year head coach bill rosenthal looks to bring a new culture to the raiders for the new season.

Oak hill is stop number 38 on the tour.

New season.

New head coach for oak hill academy entering 2020.

Bill rosenthal is now in charge of the raiders.

Rosenthal is familiar with the team since he's been with the program the last 3 years.

Now, as head coach, he's prioritizing a sense of urgency to get the team back on track.

"we got red lines everywhere.

When you cross the red line, you don't walk.

You're on the job.

You're on the move.

We have a small team of 20 kids so we go to be in shape and keep moving.

Instead of running 80 sprints to get in shape, we do it by running to each group.

Jogging full speed."

"we've had a phenomenal summer.

Everybody's been here.

Everybody's been giving it their all.

It's just a whole different approach.

We got a new better culture.

I think we're having fun with it honestly."

"we're more fired up to be here.

Just ready to get after it and win some games."

To come away with some wins, it starts at practice.

The players say that the entire team has been giving its all.

Evidence of how close how knit this bunch is.

"when you're in town, you got to be here.

He trusts us.

I feel like we trust him very much.

We have a good relationship right now."

"just to not give up really.

Come out everyday at practice and not mess around and get things done."

Expect to see the raiders flying around the field as rosenthal is putting in a system designed around his players.

"they've worked hard and accepted their goals so far.

We're excited to get started."

"the coaches are coming around to what we have and not what we don't have.

We don't have much size, but we're fast.

We're quick.

We're athletic.

We're going to work on that.

Instead of trying to be the bigger man, we're gonna be the faster man that works harder."

"we're going to mix it up and do a lot of different things we haven't done in the past.

Just get defenses to do what we want them to do.

He's going to put us in situations where we make the plays."

One player that looks to make a leap this season and thrive in the new system is returning starting quarterback cameron dill.

"he's really athletic.

He knows the game.

I feel like the more he plays the better he's getting every year.

The smarter he gets.

The more he understands it.

I'i'm just grateful for him."

"he knows a little bit more and how to get after it."

With the raiders on the high school football tour.

Chris bolton.

Wcbi sports.

Here's a look at the upcoming stops for any stops that you may have missed along the way you can always check out here's a look at the upcoming stops for any stops that you may have missed along the way you can always check out our website, wcbi.com last look stinger last look last look last look last look stinger last