Local Matters Podcast

Two candidates for Augusta Commission District 3 join us. They tell us why they are seeking the seat, what they have accomplished in their public lives, and what their priorities would be if elected. Listen to Carol Jones Yancy and Incumbent Catherine Smith Mcknight. Carol Yancy Social Media: Facebook Elect Carol J Yancy for District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith Mcknight Social Media: Facebook D...

Four of five candidates for Augusta Commission District 1 join us. They tell us why they are seeking the seat, what they have accomplished in their public lives, and what their priorities would be if elected. Listen to Matt Aitken, Incumbent Jordan Johnson, Kevin De l'Aigle, and Kenny Osorio! DISCLAIMER: Local Matters Podcast Host Janice Allen Jackson is speaking only for herself. Her thoughts, vi...

Host Janice Allen Jackson reviews key dates in Georgia elections, items on Augusta-Richmond County ballots, and how to make sure you can feel confident in the votes you cast. She also defines terms like "referendum" and "qualifying" to run for office. DISCLAIMER: Local Matters Podcast Host Janice Allen Jackson is speaking only for herself. Her thoughts, views, and opinions regarding this tragedy b...

Born out of a promise she made to her dying mother nearly eight years ago, Mourning Joy: Life Lessons From Our Late Mothers by Monique Williams is a heartfelt, thought-provoking, and potentially life changing collection of essays from women whose mothers are physically gone yet very present...and lessons learned that speak life still today. 11 'motherless daughters' share short stories of finding...

Dannette Smith informs us how the child welfare system works and how it has changed in response to changing conditions and better data. We touch on the family-centered practice of child welfare, and how social workers look at issues of neglect vs. abuse. how social workers, juvenile justice workers, and juvenile court judges work together to determine what is best for the child, and how best to st...

Liz Owens joins us to describe what investigative reporting is, and how she ensures that we have access to more than the routine 90 second stories. Using the Tyrique Robinson case as an example, we talk about how much time she spends reading regulations and laws, and how her natural curiosity and/or the public can set off a major investigation. She explains how she threads the needle between offic...

Trigger warning: this episode contains sensitive topics such as sexual abuse, rape, and mental health. Mark Anthony Jenkins served 26 years in the NC State Prison System on a murder conviction. We have a very transparent conversation, covering topics such as verbal, physical and sexual abuse, running criminal enterprises while incarcerated, taking advantage of educational and pyschological service...

Hear from John Turpish and Kay Turner, candidates for Georgia House District 125. We also explain changes in state law that went into effect on January 1, the importance of the state legislature, and how judicial appointments are made. DISCLAIMER: Local Matters Podcast Host Janice Allen Jackson is speaking only for herself. She does not endorse candidates. On behalf of Local Matters, we invite ALL...

What does "Year Round School" really mean? Richmond county Board of Education Vice President Shawnda Stovall answers that question. She also discusses how the school board came to consider this option, her process for decision making, and the role of board members vs the role of staff. She also urges Richmond County parents, students, and community members to complete the survey available at rcboe...

Sustainable CSRA has taken on issues that affect marginalized residents, particularly people of color and those who live in low wealth communities. Those issues include accessbility to public transportation and the impact of air and water pollution. Chris Hall examines how transportation barriers not only impact the ability to get to work, but also to medical care, grocery shopping, and other nece...

Trigger warning: this episode contains sensitive topics such as drug abuse, sexual abuse, rape, and mental health. We never know a person's story until we ask them to tell us about it. Chimeco Hay explains what it is like to fall into and pull herself out of the complicated web of homelessness. We touch on many interwoven issues: financial counseling, substance abuse, molestation, teen pregnancy,...

Tonya Bonitatibus, Savannah Riverkeeper, joins us to describe her role as an environmental watchdog. Our conversation explores the intricate web connecting economic growth, environmental regulations, the long term health of workers in chemical plants and those who reside near their employers. Tonya's expertise is an eye-opener, explaining why we all need to learn more about environmental stewardsh...

Joseph Blackman, Founder of Vitendo Solutions and host of The Public Works Podcast, joins us to discussion the most hidden of all local government services: Public Works. We touch on the "Brain Drain" that has resulted in loss of institutional history, how few people know what public works is, and how expensive it is to taxpayers when staff don't use and maintain equipment properly. We also discus...

2023 has been a great year for the Local Matters Family. Host Janice Allen Jackson awards Local Matters Superlatives, highlighting the episodes you listened to and/or viewed most frequently. She also issues a call for ministries doing outstanding work to help those who are disadvantaged for various reasons become contributing members of society. We want to invite those ministry leaders to Local Ma...

Dennis Briatico been an animal advocate or a rescuer on and off for 26 years now. He's been working with animals in some capacity for 31 years. He's bounced around the rescue community fostering for different organizations and helping where he could but finally found where he feels like he belongs with FONAA. He's now dedicated to saving as many animals as possible in the North Augusta city shelte...

Dr. Jackson Drumgoole joins us to discuss the particular challenges of young people aging out of foster care. Bridge Builder Communitites is now developing a tiny home community to address their needs. We discuss the trauma foster children experience, the consequences of that trauma, how important fathers are, and what can be done to give these young people a chance to create a better life. Bridge...

People decide to start voting for various reasons. Elizabeth Hope Brown always voted in national elections but realized the importance of voting for state and local candidates after working in public service and having kids in the school system. We also talk about what it takes for her to feel more connected to the local government, and how the internet has been a friend to her as she seeks inform...

Seasoned architect Barton Drake explains what architects do, and how their work builds community for the future while valuing the past. Their work affects families, neighborhoods, and communities. We discuss adaptive re-use, being good stewards of the environment, energy efficiency, reducing operations costs, and using the human imagination to impact lives through architecture. www.hed.design.com...

Aja Brown is the Strategic Impact Partner at Forward Platform and former Mayor of Compton, CA. She helped make the connection between environmental justice, good data, and federal funding, with a particular focus on the Inflation Reduction Act and the Build Back Better Act. We touch on the impact of Climate Change, job creation, generation of clean energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So...

Dhrmaine Bradley aka Bobby Boucher has hosted More Than The Masters Podcast since 2016. He loves Augusta, and his podcast is dedicated to showcasing the various sides of Augusta. A native New Yorker, he has no plans to return. We discuss why people don't have pride in the city, how podcasters choose guests, the one thing he would change if he could, and the dating scene in Augusta. More Than The M...

Host Janice Allen Jackson delves into the 2023 election results for Burke County, Columbia County, and Richmond County. In this insightful review, we'll break down the outcomes, analyze the implications, and discuss the impact on our local communities. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenjackson.weebly.com Follow us on Soc...

Bethany Trapp of the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority describes what it is like to serve homeless people. She discusses the work of Augusta's Homeless Task Force, the need for a larger shelter and better coordination of all services, to include mental health, job preparation, and other services. We also tackle the issue of whether the problem is more severe now, or if it is just getting more at...

Meet candidates Ceretta Smith and Deborah Fisher Join host Janice Allen Jackson in the latest episode of the Local Matters Podcast as she delves into the Grovetown mayor's race. Listen as she engages in a lively and informative discussion with mayoral candidates Ceretta Smith and Deborah Fisher. They will share their visions for Grovetown's future, what they have accomplished in the past, and what...

Host, Janice Allen Jackson sits down with Cedric Johnson, Chair of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority, and Brad Usry, Vice Chair and New Arena Committee Chairman. In this special episode, Brad and Cedric discuss the upcoming November 7, 2023, C-SPLOST (Coliseum Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) vote, which aims to secure funding for a new state-of-the-art James Brown Arena. Disco...

Join us on this special episode with Local Matters Host, Janice Allen Jackson, as we dive into the upcoming municipal elections in Georgia's Richmond, Columbia, and Burke Counties. In this election preview episode, we'll explore the races for councilmembers in Blythe and Hephzibah, Mayor and Council seats in Grovetown, and City Council seat in Harlem. Plus, we'll discuss the Mayor and three City C...