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PODCAST

Between the Headlines: Columbus

Between the Headlines dives deep into the stories shaping Columbus and Lowndes County, Mississippi. Hosted by The Commercial Dispatch managing editor Zack Plair and local businessman and commentator David Chism, this show goes beyond the front page to bring you the real conversations behind local politics, policies and people. Zack’s journalistic expertise and David’s insight deliver in-depth analysis, spirited debate, and behind-the-scenes context you won’t get anywhere else. It"s honest discussion

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All Episodes

72:46

A Pro‑Business Brain Trust For Growth PLUS CMSD's...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/12/18

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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 ...

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43:07

How A Local Advisory Group Could Shape Retail,...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/12/11

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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...

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59:20

Main Street Changes, Amphitheater Moves Forward...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/12/05

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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 targe...

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41:40

LINK Lawsuit Reveals Details Around Higgins' Firing

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/11/19

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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 lobbyin...

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63:11

A Fired Lobbyist & a $47K Speaker System PLUS We Talk...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/11/13

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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...

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48:05

Blue Flu Brewing at CPD? PLUS On Site at a Food Pantry

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/11/06

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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;...

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57:02

State Auditor Investigates Columbus, Joe Higgins’ New...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/10/29

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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...

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48:31

Ristorante Italiano in Columbus PLUS Franklin...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/10/24

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text 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 hear...

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39:26

Soros & AIPAC Enter the Senate Race PLUS Reason for...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/10/16

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We break down how Cindy Hyde-Smith built a million-plus quarter with heavy PAC backing while Scott Colom sprinted to nearly $600k off mostly individual donors in the US Senate race. George Soros and AIPAC feature prominently in the candidates' campaign finance documents. Hyde-Smith's fundraising signals her campaign is taking Colom seriously. From there, we leave spreadsheets for seatbacks and walk through what a finished amphitheater could deliv...

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48:32

Lobbyist on the Line PLUS Sam Allison Talks School...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/10/09

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A $72,000 question hangs over Columbus: are taxpayers getting real value from a lobbyist many council members haven’t heard from in months? We pull apart the claims and expectations behind the city’s contract and ask what legitimate deliverables look like. When public money is on the line, “trust us” doesn’t cut it; proof and transparency do. Then we pivot to the classroom with Lowndes County Superintendent Dr. Sam Allison for a plain‑spoken tour of sc...

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36:41

From Grenades to Panhandling

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/10/02

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text This week on Between the Headlines, Zack Plair and David Chism dig into two big local stories — one bizarre, one contentious. First, they unpack the tale of a live World War II-era hand grenade that wound up at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office (yes, really). Then, the hosts turn to Columbus City Council’s unanimous rejection of the so-called “Safe Solicitation Act,” a state law aimed at regulating panhandling. The discussion ranges from free speech t...

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62:57

Starkville Shifts Gears on MSMS PLUS Sheriff Hawkins...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/09/26

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A new memorandum of understanding between Mississippi State University and the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District reveals a plan for a new Starkville High School that doesn't include MSMS. Plans may include an MSMS competitor, though. We discuss what that means and whether MSMS’s Columbus campus is finally secure—or if threats could resurface in the next legislative session. In the second half, we’re joined by Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawki...

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46:42

Lowndes County is Booming. So Why Are Taxes Going Up?

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/09/18

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The city council makes a controversial decision to redirect $750,000 from internet sales tax funds toward fixing the leaky roof of the Municipal Complex. What started as a dedicated road improvement fund has now expanded to include "building assets," raising questions about mission creep and fiscal discipline. While council members like Jason Spears fought to preserve the original purpose of these funds, the urgent need to protect millions in equipment ...

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44:23

'Goodnight' Phone Calls, Caledonia Curfews and City...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/09/10

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text What happens when parody and politics collide? Just ask Scott Colom, whose "prank call" video aimed at Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith sparked calls from the Mississippi Republican Party chair for an FBI investigation. This extreme reaction transformed what would have been a forgettable campaign moment into valuable statewide exposure for a candidate previously struggling with name recognition. Meanwhile, in Caledonia, town officials implemented a special 10 ...

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66:46

Scott Colom Challenges Cindy Hyde-Smith for US Senate...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/09/02

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text District Attorney Scott Colom has thrown his hat into the ring for the United States Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in what promises to be a compelling race focused on Mississippi's future. In his first public interview since his announcement, Colom presented himself as a prosecutor ready to make the case both against Hyde-Smith and for his own vision. Colom didn't mince words about what he sees as Hyde-Smith's failure...

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60:53

Trip Hairston & Lynn Spruill Discuss Joe Max Higgins'...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/08/28

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Please note this episode contains explicit language. A seismic shift has rocked the Golden Triangle as economic development powerhouse Joe Max Higgins was suddenly and unanimously fired by the Link's executive committee after 22 years at the helm. We dive deep into the fallout with special guests Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill and Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Trip Hairston, who offer candid insights into both Higgins' remarkable achievem...

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63:33

Two Friends, One Vision: Reviving Burns Bottom the...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/08/20

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Columbus's long-fallowed Burns Bottom neighborhood is poised for a remarkable transformation as local developers Nic Parish and Saunders Ramsey of Friendly City Development share their vision for Parkview Columbus. After a decade-long effort by the Columbus Redevelopment Authority to acquire and prepare the site, this partnership marks a turning point for the area. The developers unveil inspiring plans for approximately 50 single-family homes built in ...

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59:45

In Studio: Sen. Chuck Younger PLUS City's Need for...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/08/15

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Transparency isn't just a buzzword—it's the cornerstone of public trust. When Columbus city officials issue misleading statements and then refuse to acknowledge their mistakes, who holds them accountable? This question echoes throughout our latest episode as we examine the proposal for a Public Information Officer at City Hall and the disturbing absence of the CPD Citizens Overview Committee. Will a new city PIO position enhance transparency or simply b...

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52:41

College Street Collision Scandal Deepens, a Jailed...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/08/07

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Columbus finds itself embroiled in a perfect storm of controversy this week as multiple scandals rock the city's law enforcement and justice systems. The deepening College Street Collision saga has taken a bizarre turn, with Mayor Jones making claims that the hospital and sheriff have disputed. Meanwhile, Columbus City Prosecutor Nicole Clinkscales has been sentenced to jail for contempt of court after Judge Gary Goodwin described her behavior as...

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47:13

Crash, Lies, and Bodycams: A Police Cover-Up PLUS...

Between the Headlines: Columbus ·

2025/08/01

Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We've got a mixed bag this week with a breaking investigative story and two interviews! A shocking cover-up attempt rips through Columbus as we uncover disturbing details of police deception following a high-speed crash. Investigation files reveal a police officer was traveling at a staggering 77 mph down College Street when he struck a civilian's car, causing injuries serious enough to require helicopter transport for a brain bleed. The evidence is da...

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45 results

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