Between the Headlines: Columbus

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We break down the latest domino chain in Columbus and Lowndes County politics, starting with shifting ambitions up the ballot and landing on a big local question: What does a city council member owe the voters before running for a different office? Jason Spears’ interest in the District 2 county supervisor race sparks a candid debate about timing, constituent trust, and whether moving from city council to the board of supervisors really increases impact or just spreads it thinner. 

From there, we wade back into the ongoing Trotter and Regal Hall fight, because it keeps revealing the same problem: unclear rules and too many “exceptions.” If public facilities are meant to generate revenue, what should complimentary use look like, how do you define a real “city event,” and how do you stop governance from turning into case-by-case bargaining? 

Then we’re joined by retired Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics captain and author Merle Temple, whose book A Ghostly Shade of Pale draws on real undercover experience. Merle shares how he learned to write scenes that feel lived-in, why music matters in storytelling, and what it’s like to revisit Columbus with decades of memories. His account of a 1976 drug deal ambush is as intense as anything in true crime, right down to the bulletproof vest that may have saved a life, plus a surprising connection to Criminal Minds and Hollywood.

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A single announcement can redraw the whole local map, and that’s exactly where we start. Senator Chuck Younger is eyeing the Northern District Transportation Commissioner seat, and we unpack what it means for area politics when an elected seat is made empty. We talk through leadership “pipelines,” why filling local seats matters as people move up, and what steady competence looks like when a room is hot and the crowd is hostile. 

We also get into a tense Columbus City Council moment around the Trotter Convention Center, where a policy meant to control free use got ignored for years and suddenly became personal. 

Then we bring in Dispatch sports writer Jake McMahon for Mississippi State football. We talk road wins, the shift in program confidence under Jeff Lebby, Kamario Taylor’s upside, and how NIL and revenue sharing changes the pressure on homegrown stars. We look ahead to the October SEC gauntlet, the fan base energy at Davis Wade Stadium, and what it will take to turn early momentum into a real season.

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We’re joined in Catfish Alley Studio by James Fallows, longtime Atlantic journalist, former White House speechwriter, and co-author of “Our Towns,” to talk about why he and Deb kept returning to the Golden Triangle and what they saw that most outsiders miss: serious education, real industrial growth, civic memory, and the kind of local problem-solving that doesn’t fit cable-news templates.

We dig into what Fallows calls the “ten and a half signs of civic success,” from redevelopment that brings dead space back to life to the institutions that quietly hold towns together. 

Then we pivot to Mississippi politics and the state of campaigning now, including a cringe-worthy website tactic aimed at defining a Senate opponent, the double standards that keep “cheap politics” alive, and a surfaced audio clip that raises questions about threats and candidate security. 

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Free use of a public building sounds like a feel-good headline until you ask the hard questions: Who decides, what’s the policy, and who quietly pays the bill when “free” becomes routine? We dig into the discussion over waiving fees at the Trotter Convention Center for events labeled “city events with a municipal purpose.” We break down what happened at the work session, why some council members pushed back, and why clarity matters when taxpayer-funded facilities, maintenance costs, and public trust are on the line.

Then we shift to East Mississippi Community College and the ongoing fallout from Buddy Stephens being relieved as head football coach. We talk through what public records reveal, what at-will employment really means at a government institution, and why the First Amendment question changes the stakes when speech and discipline collide. Along the way, we step back and ask a bigger budget question Mississippi keeps running into: if community colleges are under financial pressure, what role should junior college football play?

The heart of the conversation brings us 25 years after 9/11 with NYPD Emergency Service Unit first responder Mario Zorovic and Mark Smith of Salute to Lowndes County’s Finest. Mario walks us through the morning the towers fell, the chaos at Ground Zero, the desperate search for survivors, and the long recovery that followed, including the health and mental health toll many first responders carry for years. Mark explains how a visit from Mario helped spark a lasting local mission, raising funds to support first responders in Lowndes County when life hits hard and pride makes it difficult to ask for help.

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One blunt quote can end a long run, even when the résumé looks untouchable. We talk through the stunning shift at East Mississippi Community College as Buddy Stevens, the larger-than-life junior college football coach made famous by Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” is suddenly out.

We break down what Stevens said about the new MACCC playoff format, why calling community college leaders “idiots” hit differently than his past bombast, and how winning can buy you grace until it doesn’t. 

We close with takeaways from our community listening session, including a clear call for more explainer journalism on taxes, budgets, and how local government works, plus the harder challenge of rebuilding trust when people filter facts through who they like.

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We walk through what’s known about the city COO's suspension, what a short unpaid suspension usually signals, and why closed-door executive sessions can leave the public trying to separate facts from the loudest rumor.

Next we dig into the most consequential part of the week for taxpayers: the city’s bid procurement rules after the Joseph Mickens indictment.

We also cover the surprising progress on Columbus budgeting: Jason Spears’ budget outlook document passes unanimously, the millage is set with no city or city school tax increase, and the real test becomes whether a “guiding” plan actually shapes a balanced budget before the September 15 deadline. 

Then we’re joined by Keith Gaskin and Bruce Hanson to talk MUW, MSMS, and the IHL board, including why leadership searches feel glacial, why transparency matters, and what the community can do to push for stability instead of recurring clouds of uncertainty.

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MUW is not just picking a new president. MUW is fighting for its existence. We walk through the two names driving local conversation and why they represent two different toolkits. The bigger question may be about the IHL's search for a new president. Former president Nora Miller in January announced her intent to retire, but eight months later the formal application process hasn't even been opened.

Then we shift from Mississippi higher education to Columbus leadership, where a tense council meeting sparks a bigger question about municipal finance transparency. Councilman Jason Spears joins us to explain why he publishes detailed budget documents, what he’s trying to teach the public about debt and revenue streams, and why his response to criticism was, sincerely, “I’ll pray for you.” We also talk about the reality of getting anything done in city politics: strategy is great, but votes and consensus decide what becomes real.

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A corruption headline hits differently when it’s your own town, your own tax base, and the same City Hall you drive past every week. We break down the newly filed grand jury indictment involving a former Columbus city councilman, focusing on what the charges allege, how bid rigging and kickbacks can hide inside routine purchasing, and why the words “claims docket” and “accounts payable” suddenly matter to everyone who pays attention to local government. We also talk candidly about the community reaction, the mistrust that follows, and the hard question sitting underneath it all: who was supposed to catch this sooner? 

From there, we pivot to forward motion with the Parkview expansion in Burns Bottom. We dig into what’s being proposed, how additional parcels and site work could open up more buildable lots, and why smaller, more affordable housing is not a side story but a core piece of economic development in Columbus, Mississippi.

Then we bring in special guest Will Pieschel, a Columbus native who has spent years living and working in Tokyo. His perspective on Japanese culture, rules, safety, and social norms turns into a useful lens on leadership, community mindset, and what it takes for a place to stay hopeful without ignoring reality. 

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A redeveloped mall can look like progress and still leave everyone asking the same blunt question: where are the tenants? We dig into the latest around Columbus Place, formerly Leigh Mall, including the incentive agreement that went sideways.

Next, we head to the Woody's on the Water building where a planned restaurant is dead in the water. The headline is simple, but the structure is not: the Army Corps of Engineers, the port lease, and a city-owned building create a maze that scares off would-be restaurant developers who want a longer runway to justify big upgrades like docks and site improvements. We kick around what it would take to fix the lease terms and what risks the community faces if the property just keeps drifting year after year. 

Dean Burrows Jr. from MUW Athletics joins us to explain how Division III sports, free admission, sponsorships, and community service hours can build a real fan culture in Columbus. 

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A $58,000 electric golf cart with air conditioning rolls into a city work session and suddenly Columbus has to answer a surprisingly big question: what’s the right way to spend public money when the need is real but the “Cadillac” option feels like a stretch? We talk through the pitch for shuttle carts at the Trotter Convention Center, what problem they actually solve for older guests and event crowds, and why cheaper alternatives might deliver the same public benefit without the luxury price tag. 

Then we shift to a tense local policing story: a Columbus officer loses his job after a required drug test shows THC following a minor wreck, and his appeal fails under a zero tolerance policy. We dig into the uncomfortable gap between detection and impairment, how long THC can remain in someone’s system, and why medical marijuana laws make older workplace rules harder to defend. We also ask what “consistency” should look like when policies get applied unevenly and the community still expects accountability.

We’re joined in the studio by Garland Ward, the newly appointed chief of police, for a candid conversation about leadership, morale, and rebuilding trust. Ward talks about being fair across the board, showing up visibly in the community, using discretion, and holding officers to the same standards they enforce. He also shares how he wants to strengthen partnerships across the Golden Triangle, handle transparency during investigations, and encourage safer ways for witnesses to come forward.