Local Matters Podcast

Lonnie Wimberly – A retired Command Sergeant Major with 30 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army, Wimberly enlisted in 1972 and rose through the ranks to senior leadership. He served as Fort Gordon’s Garrison Command Sergeant Major, overseeing major activations, redeployments, and combat operations with zero casualties, and was awarded a second Legion of Merit upon retirement. He earned...

Meet both candidates. Attorney Alexia Davis Payne has spent her legal career serving Burke and Richmond Counties. Originally from Texas, she attended Baylor University on an academic and athletic scholarship before earning her juris doctor from Tulane University. Since 2006, she has served the citizens of Augusta both in and out of the courtroom. She is the current president of the Augusta Confere...

Our Augusta mayor candidate special brings together three voices shaping the future of the city: Eric Gaines, Dr. Lori Myles, and Steven Brian Kendrick. Eric Gaines is a U.S. military veteran, real estate investor, father of two, and community advocate focused on transparency, accountability, and addressing the economic challenges facing local residents. Dr. Lori Myles is a native of Memphis, Tenn...

Stacy Pulliam is a dedicated mom of six, follower of Christ, business owner, and Augusta Richmond County District 2 Commissioner. She is Finance Committee Chair, serves on the Public Safety Committee, and is an ex officio member of Destination Augusta and the Augusta Arts Council. Stacy is the owner of Jhani Realty, recognized nationally for her referral-based business, and she founded DyeVerCity,...

Meet Angelia Pressley. For over 20 years, she has worked at the intersection of business and sustainability, partnering with leading organizations like The Kroger Company, Publix, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola and State Farm, bringing a strong understanding of both environmental impact and the bottom line. She provides clients with data-driven insights, strategic communication and community engage...

Inside the District 10 Race, get an exclusive look at the candidates shaping the future of Augusta’s District 10. From community priorities to leadership visions, we dive into what drives these leaders and how they plan to make a difference. Ben Hasan is a proud native of Augusta. He is married with four kids, 12 grandkids, and two great-grandkids. A former Augusta Commissioner, he has hosted Comc...

Chad Peace of the Independent Voter Project joins us to talk about how systemic reform can result in less political polarization. We tackle the issue of whether party labels are helpful or hurtful for voters, and whether younger voters want to engage in a partisan process. We also talk about the significance of Georgia on the national political stage. Learn more at https://independentvoterproject....

Titus Nichols, Army Reservist, attorney, and Morehouse graduate, is running for Georgia State House District 34. We discussed how our legislature can address a variety of issues to make life more affordable. Topics include Medicaid Expansion, child care subsidies, the growing threat of corporate landlords, and how data centers affect our power bills. Learn more about Nichols at titus4ga.com.

Karin Parham is the CEO and founder of the Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County, where she works to protect intellectual freedom and ensure public access to diverse literature in local libraries and schools. A former U.S. Army officer, she brings a strong background in leadership, organization, and public service to her advocacy work. In addition to leading the Coalition, Karin serves as T...

Thomas McAdams is a lifelong resident of Augusta who has witnessed the community’s growth firsthand. A devoted husband, father of five with another on the way, and spiritual mentor to many, he serves as Chief Administrative Officer for a local Christian service center, helping strengthen communication and community life. With leadership experience across hospitality, retail, sales, office manageme...

Karen L. Gordon is a media entrepreneur, urban agriculture advocate, and community builder with over 20 years of experience in media, arts, and economic development. She is the Publisher of Urban Pro Weekly, highlighting Black business, politics, arts, and community issues in Augusta, Georgia, and Co-Founder/CEO of Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture, & Agency, where she leads initiatives focused o...

Don't ignore Rural Georgia! with Keith McCants by Local Matters by Janice Allen Jackson

Clennon L. King is a journalist, historian, and documentary filmmaker. He is also a descendant of influential Georgians who shaped the history and politics of our state. He discusses how Albany became the hub of southwest Georgia, how blacks gained influence, and how the region's past shapes what he considers its bright future. Learn more about Mr. King and his fascinating work at https://augustin...

Dr. Marc-Antonie Cooper is Assistant City Manager of South Fulton, GA and a career public servant. He has added the title of author, as he just released "Unabridged: The Paradox of Public Leadership."We touch on why public service is not easy, how it tests your patience, and more importantly, how perilous it can be when a few people can decide to terminate your employment out of nowhere. You can f...

State Senator Harold Jones joins us to discuss what is in store for the Georgia Legislature, and more broadly, Georgia elections in the ever critical year of 2026. We discuss the process to replace legislators who step down, the proposal to eliminate the state income tax, voting rights, healthcare, and whether the state will do anything about the proliferation of data centers. He also discusses wh...

Dr. Jacquelyn McCray, an urban planner and Director at Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP, explains the complex factors driving housing unaffordability. She discussed how a lack of supply, vacant properties, rising building material costs, and reduced development incentives have contributed to the problem. Dr. McCray outlined strategies to address affordable housing, not the least of which involves col...

Host Janice Allen Jackson reviews the highlights of 2025, including our growth during the year and our status as one of the most shared podcasts on Spotify. She also applauds ProPublica for its role in holding instiutions accountable, most notably, their recent work, Sick in a Hospital Town. Finally, she discusses how important it is to be thankful, be safe, and be vigilant in preparation for the...

Paula F. Casey is a journalist and podcaster. She chronicles the history and the importance of Tennessee in ensuring that women could place their stamp on civic engagement and democracy. We also ask how we can get more accountability in an era where traditional newspapers have been rendered powerless. Learn more about Ms. Casey at the following: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-casey-736110b/. ht...

Beverly Myers Tarver, a lifetime student of politics, joins us to talk about the major elections happening in 2026. We touch on why so many people have declared an intent to run for Georgia Governor. Senator Ossof's chances to win reelection, and whether the recent victories of Democratic candidates for the Georgia Pubilc Service Commission are an indicator of a major shift.

Clarence H. Carter, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, enlightens us on how the social safety net works for some and not for all. Too often, the system is a "hammock" that traps people in poverty, rather than a "trampoline" that helps people achieve self-sufficiency. The discussion explored current system inefficiencies and the need for restructuring, why there are so many...

Sam Toles, Founder of CiviSocial, reminds us of how social media has changed the game. We talk about how we now consume news, how social media can help organizations recruit employees, cybersecurity concerns, deep fakes, and how vulnerable adults are being scammed. We also tackle the most important of issues, which is building broad based community engagement. Sam's newest book is "The Social Medi...

Courtney Teasley, a Tennessee lawyer, shares her journey into law and her work fighting against injustices in the criminal justice system. She addresses overcharging and inadequate representation by public defenders, systemic issues that disproportionately affect marginalized minorities, particularly African Americans, in the criminal justice system. Ms. Teasley stressed the need for proactive adv...

In this episode of the Local Matters podcast, we sit down with Dr. Malinda Cobb, the newly appointed superintendent of the Richmond County School System in Augusta, Georgia. From her roots in Saluda, SC to leading 48 schools and 29,000 students, Dr. Cobb shares how her journey as a classroom teacher shapes the way she leads today.

The voters have spoken, and the races weren't close. Dr. Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard will join the Georgia Public Service Commission and Lonnie Wimberly will represent District 4 on the Augusta Commission. The pendulum swung toward the Democratic Party not just in Georgia, but in several other states; we explore why.

Listen to Lonnie Wimberly and Tanya Barnhill-Turnley tell us why they have earned the vote of District 4's registered voters. They share their accomplishments and their aspirations. We also get their take on whether the Augusta Commission is irreparably divided.