Between the Headlines: Columbus

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We sit down with Golden Triangle Development Link COO Meryl Fisackerly to unpack how the CINCO Megasite moves from dirt to deal, why “whale” projects require patience, and what it takes to keep a regional brand like the LINK sharp during a CEO search. We dig into workforce development with EMCC and Accelerate Mississippi, the push to keep graduates here, and...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text In our last episode of the year, we kick off with Councilman Jason Spears discussing a bold plan to turn Columbus' raw economic activity into real economic development: an action‑first advisory group made up of people who build, hire, lease, heal, and sell here. The hard questions aren’t dodged. What keeps self‑interest from creeping in? The committee’s...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We dig into Columbus’ push to form an economic advisory committee—what a true “brain trust” could bring to retail recruitment, healthcare talent, and housing strategy, and how to keep conflicts from tilting the playing field. From identifying missing markets to securing corporate sponsorships for Propst Park and the new amphitheater, we explore what works wh...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Big moves finally meet clear plans. We break down how Columbus locked in $3 million to finish the amphitheater—$1M from the CVB, $1M from the city, and $1M from the state—so gates, concessions, bathrooms, and seats move from wish list to construction list. With multiple contractors ready to bid now that funding is real, the price should stay competitive and...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text This week we pull apart two intertwined storylines shaping Columbus: a federal lawsuit that lays bare internal strife at the LINK and a City Hall showdown where a fired lobbying firm chose to resign instead. We explain how an insurance dispute revealed surprising details about 700 recordings, why one-party consent matters in Mississippi, and what “far exceed...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Nonprofits deliver value but need predictability, not ad hoc walk-up funding that puts the city council on the spot. We talk candidly about impromptu funding requests, why full-context answers from city staff matter, and how a straightforward application process protects core commitments to libraries, arts and community events. We also cover the vote to end...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The tension is real when frontline officers say their “day off” is anything but. We dig into Columbus PD’s on-call policy, why rank-and-file feel boxed in without pay, and how leadership’s response lands with a department already worried about morale.  Safety doesn’t stop at the station. A Facebook Marketplace meetup at a busy Lowe’s turned into an alleged a...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The State Auditor’s office sent Columbus a detailed request for contracts, receipts, and proof of services across multiple departments, and we unpack what that means. We break down why specific vendors were named, how procurement rules and sick leave policies come into play, and where council members face real legal exposure when approving claims dockets.  W...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A downtown culinary glow-up, a historic gut check, and a community scare that does real good—this week packs it all. We open with the long-awaited news: an authentic Italian restaurant is moving into the old Main Street Thai spot, directly across from The Commercial Dispatch. From there, we turn to Franklin Academy, the oldest public school in Mississippi, n...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We break down how Cindy Hyde-Smith built a million-plus quarter with heavy PAC backing while Scott Colom sprinted to nearly $600k off mostly individual donors in the US Senate race. George Soros and AIPAC feature prominently in the candidates' campaign finance documents. Hyde-Smith's fundraising signals her campaign is taking Colom seriously.  From...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A $72,000 question hangs over Columbus: are taxpayers getting real value from a lobbyist many council members haven’t heard from in months? We pull apart the claims and expectations behind the city’s contract and ask what legitimate deliverables look like. When public money is on the line, “trust us” doesn’t cut it; proof and transparency do. Then we pivot t...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text This week on Between the Headlines , Zack Plair and David Chism dig into two big local stories — one bizarre, one contentious. First, they unpack the tale of a live World War II-era hand grenade that wound up at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office (yes, really). Then, the hosts turn to Columbus City Council’s unanimous rejection of the so-called “Safe Solici...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A new memorandum of understanding between Mississippi State University and the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District reveals a plan for a new Starkville High School that doesn't include MSMS. Plans may include an MSMS competitor, though. We discuss what that means and whether MSMS’s Columbus campus is finally secure—or if threats could resurface i...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The city council makes a controversial decision to redirect $750,000 from internet sales tax funds toward fixing the leaky roof of the Municipal Complex. What started as a dedicated road improvement fund has now expanded to include "building assets," raising questions about mission creep and fiscal discipline. While council members like Jason Spear...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text What happens when parody and politics collide? Just ask Scott Colom, whose "prank call" video aimed at Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith sparked calls from the Mississippi Republican Party chair for an FBI investigation. This extreme reaction transformed what would have been a forgettable campaign moment into valuable statewide exposure for a candidate prev...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text District Attorney Scott Colom has thrown his hat into the ring for the United States Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in what promises to be a compelling race focused on Mississippi's future.  In his first public interview since his announcement, Colom presented himself as a prosecutor ready to make the case both against Hyde-Sm...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Please note this episode contains explicit language. A seismic shift has rocked the Golden Triangle as economic development powerhouse Joe Max Higgins was suddenly and unanimously fired by the Link's executive committee after 22 years at the helm. We dive deep into the fallout with special guests Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill and Lowndes County Board of...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Columbus's long-fallowed Burns Bottom neighborhood is poised for a remarkable transformation as local developers Nic Parish and Saunders Ramsey of Friendly City Development share their vision for Parkview Columbus. After a decade-long effort by the Columbus Redevelopment Authority to acquire and prepare the site, this partnership marks a turning point f...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Transparency isn't just a buzzword—it's the cornerstone of public trust. When Columbus city officials issue misleading statements and then refuse to acknowledge their mistakes, who holds them accountable? This question echoes throughout our latest episode as we examine the proposal for a Public Information Officer at City Hall and the disturbing ab...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Columbus finds itself embroiled in a perfect storm of controversy this week as multiple scandals rock the city's law enforcement and justice systems. The deepening College Street Collision saga has taken a bizarre turn, with Mayor Jones making claims that the hospital and sheriff have disputed.  Meanwhile, Columbus City Prosecutor Nicole Clinkscales has...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We've got a mixed bag this week with a breaking investigative story and two interviews! A shocking cover-up attempt rips through Columbus as we uncover disturbing details of police deception following a high-speed crash. Investigation files reveal a police officer was traveling at a staggering 77 mph down College Street when he struck a civilian's...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The battle for the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) takes center stage again as MUW President Nora Miller breaks her silence on the controversial relocation proposal. With remarkable candor, Miller dismantles the flawed process that led to the recommendation to move MSMS to Mississippi State University—revealing how public input was over...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text When incumbent State Representative Kabir Karriem and challenger Pierre Beard stepped into our studio, we knew we were in for an enlightening conversation—what we got was political theater at its most raw and revealing. Their face-off for Mississippi House District 41 quickly evolved from policy discussion to personal confrontation, giving voters an unfilter...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Columbus City Attorney Jeff Turnage joins us to discuss the overwhelming public support for keeping MSMS at MUW, revealing 185 public comments sent to Mississippi Department of Education, favoring the school's current location versus only three supporting relocation to MSU. MSU's response through spokesperson Sid Salter has stoked the controversy,...

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Mayor Stephen Jones' inauguration sets a new tone for Columbus leadership, offering hope paired with practical challenges. In a ceremony and first council meeting marked by unity and unanimous votes, Jones emphasized his commitment to serving all citizens while acknowledging his faith as a guiding principle. The true test of his administration will come...