Matter of Fact

In this episode of Matter of Fact , guest host Morgan Gill takes listeners behind RHCJC News’ reporting on efforts to revive chamber-style business support in Greene County. The episode explores why local leaders, business owners and community members say small businesses need stronger connections, better visibility and more consistent support in a rural county where local spending can have an out...

In this episode of Matter of Fact , we take a closer look at the reopening of the Perry County Museum in Runnelstown and what it means for a community working to preserve its history. More than 20 years after Hurricane Katrina disrupted the county’s original museum, artifacts once scattered across storage spaces and private homes are being brought back together in a new public space. This episode...

In this episode of Matter of Fact , we examine how a grassroots effort in Lumberton, Mississippi, is working to rebuild local access to information by bringing back a print newspaper. Based on the RHCJC News story, “Grassroots effort brings print newspaper back to Lumberton,” this episode looks at why that effort matters in a community where many residents have struggled to find timely, consistent...

On this episode of  Matter of Fact , host Sami Jordan takes listeners to Perry County, where Kamp Joy is marking 20 years of helping children and families better understand and manage their emotions. The program began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and has grown into a long-running community resource focused on emotional awareness, trauma support and life skills. This episode looks at how K...

Housing growth is reshaping communities across Mississippi’s Gulf Coast — and in Jackson County, that growth is beginning to affect local schools. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we take a closer look at how new housing developments in the St. Martin area are prompting the Jackson County School District to consider changes to school attendance zones. District leaders say the proposed rezoning...

When a bridge suddenly closes, the immediate concern is safety. But for reporters in Ocean Springs, the closure of the Davis Bayou Bridge raised another question: what information about infrastructure safety should the public be able to access? In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s investigation into the bridge closure and t...

When a pet goes missing, every hour matters. In Pearl River County, local volunteers and law enforcement are working together to shorten the time between “lost” and “home.” In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s story, “Pearl River County introduces microchip stations to reunite lost pets faster.” The episode explores how two...

One year ago, the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center began reporting across ten counties in southeast Mississippi — with a mission to strengthen local journalism and counter misinformation through consistent, community-based reporting. Twelve months later, that startup vision has grown into a functioning newsroom powered by student journalists and community partnerships. In this episode of  Ma...

After years of inspections, weight limits and safety concerns, a long-traveled bridge in Petal is being rebuilt — restoring more than just a roadway. City leaders say the replacement of the South George Street Bridge marks a turning point for infrastructure planning, neighborhood safety and future development. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Commun...

Artificial intelligence is changing how we create, share and consume information — but it’s also raising urgent questions about ownership, consent and identity. As AI tools make it easier to replicate voices, faces and likenesses without permission, lawmakers in Mississippi are racing to address a growing ethical and legal gray area. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting...

Human trafficking is often imagined as something distant or obvious — a crime that happens elsewhere or looks a certain way. But across Mississippi, survivors and advocates say trafficking often exists in plain sight, built on trust, manipulation and silence. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s story,  “From Trust to Traff...

As Mississippi lawmakers launch the 2026 legislative session, the policy debates unfolding in Jackson are shaped by conversations happening far from the capitol — in city halls, county boardrooms and small-town streets across southeast Mississippi. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s project, “Southeast Mississippi leaders...

When people talk about revitalizing small towns, the conversation often centers on large developments and outside investment. But in Wiggins, Mississippi, change began with a single craft — and a commitment to community. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center story  “Southern Turnings carves out a place in Wiggins’ revival.”  T...

Litter along Gulfport’s streets, parks and beaches has become a growing concern for residents who say the problem is affecting public health, neighborhood pride and the city’s image. In this episode of  Matter of Fact , we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center story  “‘It’s Nasty’: Gulfport residents, mayor call for litter cleanup.”  The episode takes listeners into...

The closure of Poplarville’s historic downtown post office in early 2022 set off a long and complicated process — one largely governed by federal procedures rather than local decision-making. After severe termite damage forced the U.S. Postal Service to shut down the building, responsibility for evaluating repairs, selecting a replacement site and determining construction timelines remained with U...

It can start quietly — with joint pain that won’t go away, bloodwork that raises concerns or exhaustion that feels harder to shake with each passing year. For hundreds of thousands of Mississippians, those early signs often lead to a much larger diagnosis tied to obesity and chronic disease. Across the state, about 1.2 million adults — roughly 40 percent of the population — are classified as obese...

It starts with a moment many of us know well — standing in a doctor’s office, handed a form we’re expected to read and sign without hesitation. But for thousands of Mississippians, that moment brings something else: uncertainty, embarrassment and the fear of getting something wrong. Across the state, an estimated 700,000 adults struggle with functional illiteracy. They can read words on a page, bu...

It started with a simple letter in the mail — the kind most people might toss aside without a second glance. But for residents of Oak Grove, Mississippi, it sparked a question that reached far beyond the tap: Should the North Lamar Water Association stop adding fluoride to its drinking water? What began as a maintenance issue quickly turned into a community-wide debate about safety, cost and trust...