Between the Headlines: 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.

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This week on Between the Headlines, Zack and David dig into what’s next for the Columbus Amphitheater, including Live Nation’s advisory role, the professionals being brought in to book and market the venue and whether the long-delayed project is finally ready to deliver.

They also discuss Craig Chapman’s three-year contract extension with Columbus Municipal School District and take a closer look at a $310 public-records bill that raises bigger questions about access, accountability and transparency at City Hall.

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A police chief leaves town, council members learn about it on social media, and suddenly Columbus has a new permanent leader at the Columbus Police Department. We talk through what Chief Daughtry's fast exit to Yazoo City signals, why the details around communication and timing matter, and how past controversies can linger long after the headlines fade. For Garland Ward, the questions start immediately: can he lift morale, improve recruitment and retention, and lead with the kind of visible accountability that rebuilds public trust?

Then we jump from city hall to server fans. Todd Liebel, vice president of LM Funding America, joins us to explain what Bitcoin mining actually looks like on the ground in Columbus, Mississippi. He breaks down the container-based mining setup, why it uses forced air instead of water-heavy cooling, and the biggest misconception we hear: crypto mining is not the same as a traditional data center with always-on client demands.

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This week on Between the Headlines, Zack and David return to Catfish Alley Studio with a full slate of City Hall drama, airport questions and regional economic development talk.

The episode opens with the latest from Columbus City Hall, where Mayor Stephen Jones raised the idea of allowing city officials to fly for free on empty seats tied to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport’s Dallas flight subsidy. Zack explains the background of the airport subsidy request, while the hosts debate the optics, logistics and transparency concerns surrounding the mayor’s proposal. The conversation also turns to a tense exchange between Jones and Ward 6 Councilman Jason Spears over how road levy funds should be handled in the city budget, and what that disagreement says about communication, leadership and priorities inside city government.

Later, Joey Deason, executive director of the Madison County Economic Development Authority and a former Golden Triangle Development LINK official, joins the show to discuss the value of regionalism. Deason reflects on his years with the LINK, how Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha counties learned to work together and why trust is essential in economic development. He also weighs in on Oktibbeha County’s notice that it may leave the LINK, what that could mean financially and strategically for the region, and why data alone is not enough to land major industrial projects.

The episode closes with updates on the LINK’s new staff roles, Columbus Air Force Base’s change of command, the return of Main Street Columbus’ “Let’s Flamingle Downtown” event and progress on the Beef O’ Brady’s and Newk’s development on Highway 45.

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A split-second decision during a traffic stop can change a family forever, and that reality hangs over our conversation today. We talk through the case of a 16-year-old, charged with felony murder after a June 16 crash on Alabama Street in Columbus that killed a passenger. We break down what we know from the timeline, what police allege happened after the stop, and why the legal label “felony murder” can be used even when there may be no intent to kill.

We also get specific about transparency and trust. After public skepticism and rumors, we share what we learned from viewing body camera footage in Chief Daughtry’s office.

Then we turn to the growing tension inside the Columbus Police Department, including an anonymous letter that alleges a damaging workplace culture, retaliation fears, and concerns about promotions and morale. We argue through the ethics of anonymous sourcing, why whistleblowers may need protection, and why leadership cannot afford to dismiss hard feedback out of hand. To lighten the mood, we pivot to the pickleball explosion, the local push for new courts, and our semi-serious plea to stop the war on tennis.

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Oktibbeha County has given a two year notice to the Golden Triangle Development LINK. The guys discuss what that means for the region’s economic development recruiter and the strengths of being able to market the entire region.

After that the guys briefly discuss a viral video with local ties. When you have a child of the opposite sex, what bathroom do you take them in? We discuss the video, the fallout and the laws around that decision-making.

Finally, the developer and contractor behind the former First Baptist Church join us in the studio to discuss the apartments that are nearing completion in that building. Chris Chain discusses downtown development and why Columbus is the envy of every other city in the state.

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Zack and David have breaking news with this episode as the city's grant-writer Susan Wilder has submitted her letter of resignation. Wilder, who has spearheaded the city's fossil park, the Alva Temple Museum and other projects, cited a toxic work environment in her letter. The guys discuss how the city can expect to hire top notch talent if it hamstrings its top players.

After that, the guys preview a Friday meeting between the city and county. Each likely owes the other money, but they have been at a stalemate in terms of collecting. Who's right and who's wrong?

Then the discussion turns to whether it's appropriate for the city to be sponsoring religious events on city property.

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A contract gets signed, a check gets cut, the city council approves the check without questioning it. There's enough embarrassment to go around with this one. We walk through the story in which a grant-funded documentary tied to the planned airport museum honoring Tuskegee Airman Alva Temple suddenly becomes a case study in municipal oversight, public funds and who is responsible when procedures break down.

From there, we change gears to two issues people feel every day. On violent crime, we talk about why community policing cannot be a one-way street, why fear keeps witnesses quiet, and why programs only help if families actually use them. On animal control, we explain the city-county-Humane Society interlocal setup, what is changing, and what residents should know about roaming dogs, liability, and emergency calls for aggressive animals.

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Brand-new Mississippi State sports reporter Jake McMahon moves to Starkville, checks a score while unloading a U-Haul, and suddenly ends up on a midnight roadtrip to Oklahoma City to cover the Women’s College World Series. That’s where we start, because it says a lot about college athletics right now: chaos, speed, and the kind of joy that still breaks through when a team catches fire.

Zack is on vacation this week so Dispatch columnist Slim Smith joins David and Jake to discuss how sports journalism has changed as access gets tighter and why the best work still comes from writers who avoid the herd, show up early, and paint a scene. 

David and Slim then turn to a local headline that surprised us: a Bitcoin mining operation in Columbus, running thousands of machines and drawing megawatts of power, raising real questions about the grid, rates, and what crypto “value” even means.

We close with Moak Griffin, CEO of BankFirst, on what community banking looks like after 138 years, why their Columbus headquarters and training campus matter, and how to protect yourself from fraud.

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A $100,000 offer, a building that’s been closed for 17 years, and a buyer who suddenly goes quiet. We start with the latest snag in the Woody’s on the Water saga and ask the uncomfortable questions. We also talk about the tradeoff nobody wants to ignore, because development on the lake can bring jobs and activity, but it can also change wetlands and shoreline land for good.

Then Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtery joins us in studio to explain what he’s seeing on the streets, why youth conflicts are escalating, and how social media turns petty disputes into real violence. He gets specific about how guns end up in the wrong hands, including thefts from unlocked cars, firearms left in plain view, and straw purchases that federal partners are increasingly tracking.