Author: WBBJ Staff

Jackson Energy Authority reports utility, telecommunications outages

JACKSON, Tenn.-- The Jackson Energy Authority tells us several hundred of its utility customers were left without power Wednesday night related to the storms that moved through our area. According to an email from Steve Bowers with Jackson Energy Authority…

What the Tech: Instagram Maps

Instagram’s newest update adds a location-sharing map that, at first glance, seems like a fun way to connect with friends and discover new places. Imagine walking toward your favorite coffee shop…

Jerry Lynn Cunningham

Jerry Lynn Cunningham, 86, of Troy passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City. Graveside services will be conducted 12:00 p.m. Wednesday at Ebenezer Cemetery near Troy. There will be no visitation and friends are…

Sammy Butler

Sammy Butler, 49, of Tiptonville passed away Saturday morning, August 9, 2025, at his home. He was former resident of Union City. Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Edmaiston Mosley Funeral Home. Family and…

Ricky Lynn Meadows

Mr. Ricky Lynn Meadows, 62, died Monday, August 4, 2025, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson. Services will be Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 11:00 A. M. at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Bells. Interment will be in Oak…

Sheila Clayton

Mrs. Sheila Clayton, 72, of Union City passed away 5:29 p.m. Saturday, August 2, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Edmaiston Mosley Funeral Home. Brother Marshall Key will officiate…

FSIS issues public health alert for ready-to-eat ham salad

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ham salad products containing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated breadcrumb products that have been recalled by Newly Weds Foods, due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).

UTM graduate receives Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship

Lauren Milam, a May 2025 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, was named to a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship valued at $8,500, according to an announcement made July 22.

What the Tech: Tech for the home

Here are 8 tech gadgets that are perfect for people who want to make life easier, without making it more complicated.

What the Tech: AI search Perplexity

Perplexity, a relatively new AI-powered search tool, is gaining attention as a smarter alternative to traditional search engines.

What the Tech: Crypto scam

If you or someone you know has invested in cryptocurrency, here’s an urgent warning: scammers are using fake text messages that appear to come from Coinbase to steal from crypto wallets.

TEMA announces new Disaster Recovery Center hours

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has announced new hours at its Disaster Recovery Centers. The announcement was made on the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Facebook page.

Jo Ann Brown

Mrs. Jo Ann Brown, 84, of Portland and formerly of Hornbeak and Union City passed away 4:10 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin. Funeral services will be conducted 12:00 p.m. Monday at Edmaiston Mosley…

Gary Ray Doughten

Mr. Gary Ray Doughten, 72, of Rives, passed away at 11:55 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Born on March 21, 1953, in Obion County, he was the son of the late Malcolm Clinton Doughten and…

Lela Mae Carney

Ms. Lela Mae Carney, 94, died Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at her residence in Stanton. Services will be Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 1:00 P. M. at Beech Grove Church of Christ in Brownsville. Interment will be in Beech Grove…

Crime Stoppers: Homicide of Jermaine Williams

Crime Stoppers and the Jackson Police Department need your help in solving a senseless homicide. This all took place in the 1300 block of Campbell St. where 18 year old…

What the Tech: Quick to cancel subscriptions

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently had a plan to make canceling subscriptions as easy as signing up. Unfortunately, this consumer-friendly initiative has been scrubbed from the FCC's agenda, and there's no word on its return.

What the Tech?: Charging phone in the car

JACKSON, Tenn.--We've all been there: plugging our phone into the car's USB port, expecting a quick boost, only to find the battery barely creeping up, or worse, still…

What the Tech: A bad time of year for Tech

If you're shopping for a new phone, tablet, laptop, or TV, you might want to wait. July is one of the worst times of the year to buy most electronics, and here's why.

What the Tech: Emergency Features on Your Phone

Your smartphone can do much more than text, take photos, and check the weather. In an emergency, it can call 911, notify your family, and share your location, even if you cannot press a single button. But these features must be turned on ahead of time.

Robert Clinton “Skint” Barrett

Robert Clinton “Skint” Barrett, age 99, of Paris, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday,July 15th, at First Baptist Church in Paris, with Dr. Trent Bullock…

What the Tech: App of the day ‘Touch Grass’

While there are plenty of apps designed to track your screen time, a new app called "Touch Grass" takes a much more direct approach. It doesn't just track your usage; it actively tells you when it’s time to step away from the digital world and embrace reality. Literally.

Lake Halford temporarily closed

TWRA will implement a temporary closure of Lake Halford beginning on July 21, 2025, to conduct paving operations.

What the Tech: AI voice clone scams

AI phone scams are surging, and a recent McAfee survey revealed that a staggering 1 in 10 people have been directly targeted. These criminals are using readily available audio clips from social media videos, TikToks, or even voicemails.

What the Tech: Email subscriptions

For too long, managing email subscriptions has been a time-consuming chore. Who has an hour (or more!) to painstakingly unsubscribe from every unwanted email list? Gmail has just launched an incredibly intuitive option to mass manage your subscriptions, making inbox decluttering easier than ever before.

What the Tech: Hidden cost of Prime Day

While it's true that Prime Day (and the competing sales from other major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy) can offer some genuine deals, this sales holiday may be costing you more than you realize.