Rhea joined WTVA in August 2020.

Title: Multi-Media Journalist

rthornton@wtva.com

https://twitter.com/RheaWTVA

Originally from the Midwest, Rhea moved south and graduated from the University of Alabama in May of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in telecommunication and film and an emphasis in sports reporting.

While in Tuscaloosa, she worked for Bama's student recruitment team and interned at WVUA 23 in the sports department. It was here she developed a passion for reporting on SEC sports.

Rhea is based out of WTVA's Starkville bureau. She is excited to report on sports and tell the local stories in the Golden Triangle.

In her free time, Rhea enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog Riggins. Yes, he is named after Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights.

If you have a story idea, feel free to email her at rthornton@wtva.com.

Local artist creates piece to glorify Civil Rights movement

Dylan Karges is in the process of creating 75 cast iron figurines for display in Unity Park.

OCH hospital providing in-home vaccinations

The Starkville hospital has made it possible for those stuck inside their homes to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

Petco donates $42K to Tupelo-Lee Humane Society

The large donation will allow the Tupelo shelter to improves its transport program.

4-County receives $35.5 M from Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

4-County receives millions of dollars to provide internet service to rural parts of east central Mississippi.

West Point held forum for mayoral candidates

Five mayoral candidates presented to folks on Zoom why they should be the next mayor of West Point.

4-County Electric lays out internet service buildout plan

CEO Brian Clark explained the company has a four-phase plan spread out across three years.

King Cotton Crawfish Boil competition returns to Starkville

After two years of cancellations, Starkville Main Street Association announced the competition will return on April 23rd.

MSU offers free COVID vaccines to students and employees

Mississippi State University received over 1-thousand Pfizer vaccines and 300 Johnson and Johnson shots to administer to its students and employees.

Baptist Memorial Hospital buys new robot to assist in invasive surgeries

Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle pays nearly $1.5M for new Da Vinci XI robotic system to perform minimal invasive surgeries.

Former Columbus mayor to soon be Starkville alderman

Starkville Ward 3 alderman candidate Jeffrey Rupp is unopposed in the primary election and in the June general election.

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 307519

Reported Deaths: 7096

Cases: 519071

Reported Deaths: 10712