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The bills are flying in Jackson, and the stakes feel close to home. We kick off with a clear-eyed look at the “Freedom of Education” proposal: what it really does, what it costs, and why bipartisan opposition formed around accountability gaps and the risk of draining public school budgets. We talk honestly about how school choice can touch property values and what the Starkville-Oktibbeha consolidation taught us about raising the floor without lowering the ceiling.

Representative Kabir Karim joins us to push for something that should be simple: splitting Martin Luther King Jr. Day from Robert E. Lee Day. He explains why the dual holiday is a contradiction, how it clashes with ongoing fights for voting rights, and where Lee commemorations could reasonably live.

Then we bring it downtown—literally—with a $209,000 pavilion behind the courthouse and the Fifth Street North rebuild. Historic district rules, sidewalk upgrades, traffic calming, bikes, pedestrians, cones everywhere: we break down costs, benefits, and why the finished product needs to earn everyday use, not just look good on a plan.

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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 the reality that business retention and expansion are as vital as new wins. 

In their discussion about recent headlines, Zack and David talk about Columbus' police chief's legacy now that he is a finalist for the same position in Jackson.

The guys also discuss institutional stability as MUW President Nora Miller retires after delivering enrollment gains and navigating political crosswinds. The next leader must protect autonomy, sustain recruitment, and keep pressure on the legislature for facilities, all while sharpening identity to support long-term growth.

Public safety and transparency round out the picture. We break down the Columbus crime lab’s technology-versus-staffing gap, the falling backlog, and a practical pipeline fix: better pay plus training agreements that keep new chemists on staff long enough to make a dent. 

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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 mandate is to match supply to demand before the city courts the wrong projects. 

Then we shift to the classroom, where stability becomes a strategy. Newly minted Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Craig Chapman shares why he accepted an 18‑month contract and what he’ll deliver: fill the assistant superintendent of operations role, align curriculum to Mississippi’s accountability, and hire on merit rather than familiarity. 

We also discuss new legislation affecting vape stores, reflect on past podcast episodes and more. It's a fully-packed episode to end 2025. 

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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 when advice turns into action.

The conversation shifts to schools, where stability and clarity can be more powerful than splashy promises. With an offer on the table for interim superintendent Craig Chapman, we talk through why quiet, data-driven leadership might finally give Columbus Municipal School District the consistency it needs. Filling critical vacancies, running student and community roundtables, and reporting progress with honesty signal a pragmatic path: set goals, measure what matters, and resist the urge to chase headlines over outcomes.

We also spotlight a civic antidote to political gridlock: Braver Angels, a model for respectful, structured conversations that can help neighbors disagree better and solve local problems faster. Along the way, we celebrate community life—from a packed Handel’s Messiah to decades of service at the Tennessee Williams home.

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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 the path to opening gets much shorter. We also tackle resident skepticism head-on: capacity targets around 3,500, the likely role of a national promoter, and why fees you already pay in other cities shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when the shows are finally here at home.

Downtown safety gets a serious tune-up. Temporary materials and vertical lane separators will reshape traffic on Main between 4th and 7th, converting an aggressive right-turn lane and removing ambiguity at Main and 5th. Slower approaches, clearer paths, and fewer last‑second lane changes add up to fewer close calls and a calmer core.

Then we sit down with Building Department Director Nathan Katona to open the black box of permits, inspections, and code enforcement. Nathan explains why permits protect buyers and neighbors, how his team prioritizes education before tickets, and what the department’s digitization means for faster, clearer service—without leaving behind anyone who prefers to walk in. We also unpack the city’s new short‑term rental rules: neighbor notification, basic life‑safety checks like working smoke detectors and egress windows, a visible placard with a local manager’s phone number, and alignment with the state’s 2% hotel‑motel tax for a fair playing field.

We close with Three Things to Know.

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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 exceeds $75,000” actually signals about potential settlements and risk.

We also use the city's lobbying drama to examine how Mayor Stephen Jones 'and Councilman Jason Spears' reactions could hurt them in the long run. Accountability is essential, but so is knowing when to bank the win and move on. We examine claims of backroom influence, why this council’s independent streak makes puppetry unlikely, and what it takes to rebuild trust.

Amid heavy topics, we spotlight a local bright spot—Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center—reminding ourselves why quality of life assets matter to families and employers alike. 

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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 the city’s lobbyist contract and a timely handoff of records to the state auditor, underscoring a renewed focus on transparency and accountability.

We also sit down with Brent Lochala, land pro and host of The Woodsman Perspective to unpack the new reality of hunting and habitat in this part of Mississippi. Brent breaks down what new landowners miss about cutovers and pine stands, and why opening the canopy, planting with purpose, and using prescribed fire can turn “ugly” ground into a living buffet for deer, turkeys, and quail.

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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 armed robbery, and quick police work led to arrests. Public places aren’t always protective; smart places are.

Then we stand in the Helping Hands line and listen. Parents feeding five kids on noodles and water. Caregivers stretching one paycheck and caring for elders. Pantry directors pivoting to SNAP boxes with protein, fiber, and shelf-stable goods because demand is up and certainty is down. The math is sobering: for every one person a pantry feeds, SNAP feeds nine. Charity matters, but it can’t shoulder a ninefold gap alone. If you want to help, target the items that move the needle—peanut butter, canned veggies, cereal, oats, grits, and ready-to-eat soup—and route them through organizations that already have sourcing, storage, and distribution dialed in.

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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. 

With Joe Max Higgins launching a new consulting firm and a noncompete extending to 2027, the LINK's next hire takes on outsized importance. 

To round out the hour, local historian Rufus Ward steps into the studio with stories that still echo down the Tombigbee. From the chilling legend of the Eliza Battle steamship to footprints in the dust at Waverley and Native tales around Tibbee Lake, we hear some local ghost stories, one reaching back 800 years.

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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, now vacant and looking at an estimated $23 million bill just to stabilize and weatherize. The heart of the debate isn’t whether Franklin matters—it does—it’s how to secure a capable, well-capitalized development partner who can honor the building while making it viable for decades.

We unpack two competing approaches: a targeted, expert-driven search for developers who can play at this scale versus an open call that risks attracting underfunded ideas and short-lived tenants. Drawing on local preservation history, we talk about what happens when big, fragile buildings sit too long.

Then we tackle the Trotter Convention Center fee proposal, including the eyebrow-raising $125 ice charge. Finally, Lt. Rhonda Sanders joins us to share the “Horror at the Fairgrounds,” a haunted house and hayride that funds thousands of holiday turkeys, brightens foster families’ Christmas, and directs concession proceeds to four local families facing cancer. 

If you care about downtown growth, historic preservation, and public spaces that serve everyone, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more neighbors find the show.