Shows / Between the Headlines: Columbus
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…
Episodes
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Inside the Colom Watch Party and Columbus Controversies
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Some people are hesitant to cast their ballot because they think their vote doesn't count. Mississippi's US Senate race…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Trip Hairston Makes a Case for The W and His Choice for School President
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A single hiring vote at Columbus City Council turns into a bigger question about power, process, and basic competence…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
How Should We Be Preparing for Data Centers?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The biggest political visit of the year doesn’t just raise campaign questions, it exposes how a town handles pressure…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Kamala and Pottery and Data Centers… Oh My!
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A former vice president coming to Columbus is the kind of headline that makes you stop scrolling, even if you swear…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Giving Teeth to Preserving Historic Homes
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A neglected historic house isn’t just a private problem, especially in a place like Columbus where the town’s identity…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Ambushes and Drug Dealers
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We break down the latest domino chain in Columbus and Lowndes County politics, starting with shifting ambitions up the…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
A Leadership Pipeline Takes Form PLUS Will MSU's Season Lead to an Economic Boom?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A single announcement can redraw the whole local map, and that’s exactly where we start. Senator Chuck Younger is…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Small Town Progress, Clearly Seen, With James Fallows
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We’re joined in Catfish Alley Studio by James Fallows, longtime Atlantic journalist, former White House speechwriter…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Should Councilmen Host Bingo at the Trotter? Plus, Mario Zorovic's 9/11 Story
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Free use of a public building sounds like a feel-good headline until you ask the hard questions: Who decides, what’s…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
When Calling Your Boss An Idiot Backfires
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text One blunt quote can end a long run, even when the résumé looks untouchable. We talk through the stunning shift at East…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Are New Policies Needed to Fix Holes Mickens Exposed?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We walk through what’s known about the city COO's suspension, what a short unpaid suspension usually signals, and why…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
MUW Is Ready for a President. Is IHL?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text MUW is not just picking a new president. MUW is fighting for its existence. We walk through the two names driving local…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Mickens Indicted for Kickbacks PLUS Columbus Through A Tokyo Lens
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A corruption headline hits differently when it’s your own town, your own tax base, and the same City Hall you drive…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
A Mall in Limbo and an Owl on the Rise
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A redeveloped mall can look like progress and still leave everyone asking the same blunt question: where are the…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
An Officer, THC Gummies, and a Termination PLUS We Interview the New Police Chief
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A $58,000 electric golf cart with air conditioning rolls into a city work session and suddenly Columbus has to answer a…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Live Nation Enters The Amphitheater Conversation
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text This week on Between the Headlines, Zack and David dig into what’s next for the Columbus Amphitheater, including Live…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
New Chief And New Questions
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A police chief leaves town, council members learn about it on social media, and suddenly Columbus has a new permanent…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Flights, Fights and the Future of the LINK
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text This week on Between the Headlines, Zack and David return to Catfish Alley Studio with a full slate of City Hall drama…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
What Body Cam Footage Reveals After A Fatal Traffic Stop
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A split-second decision during a traffic stop can change a family forever, and that reality hangs over our conversation…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Starkville Gives Notice to the LINK PLUS We Talk Downtown Development
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Oktibbeha County has given a two year notice to the Golden Triangle Development LINK. The guys discuss what that means…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
You Don’t Take the Ball Away from Michael Jordan
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Zack and David have breaking news with this episode as the city's grant-writer Susan Wilder has submitted her letter of…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Contracts, Crime and Critters
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A contract gets signed, a check gets cut, the city council approves the check without questioning it. There's enough…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
No More Naked Interviews PLUS We Talk With BankFirst's CEO
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Brand-new Mississippi State sports reporter Jake McMahon moves to Starkville, checks a score while unloading a U-Haul…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Chief Daughtry on Youth Violence and the Woody's Waiting Game
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A $100,000 offer, a building that’s been closed for 17 years, and a buyer who suddenly goes quiet. We start with the…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Reps. Rob Roberson & Andy Boyd Discuss Future of MSMS, MUW
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We bring two sitting Mississippi legislators into the studio for a candid discussion about what’s really happening with…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
LINK CEO Shakeup Rattles Confidence in Starkville PLUS Stafford Shurden
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A CEO comes in from out of state, lasts about two months, and suddenly he’s gone. We dig into the leadership shakeup at…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Jail Bills, Concert Dreams and a Renaissance Fair
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A single unpaid bill can turn into a full-blown test of how local government works, and that’s exactly what’s happening…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Potholes, Plot Holes and Zombie Books
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A brand new road gets paved, then a jackhammer shows up and the patch looks worse than what was there before. That…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Aldi Buzz In Columbus PLUS Crime Lab Hire and Market Street Festival
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A new grocery store can change the daily rhythm of a town, and the Aldi chatter around Columbus Place is getting too…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
A Name Emerges for MUW President PLUS We Interview the New Fire Chief
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A leadership decision can look “done” before it officially begins, and that’s where we start. We break down the…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Here's What We're Getting in the $54M State Funding Package
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Zack and David break down recent headlines, including Senate Bill 2114, which places additional demands on local…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Burns Bottom Trees Are Coming Down & How Are GTRA TSA Agents Doing?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Progress has a sound, and sometimes it’s a chainsaw. We start in Burns Bottom, where a few dozen older trees are slated…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
The New LINK CEO Talks Moneyball Economic Development
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We talk to Iain Vasey, the newly hired CEO of the Golden Triangle Development LINK, to talk plainly about how the…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Retiring Fire Chief Weighs in on New Chief, Department
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A fire department is more than sirens and turnout gear. It’s a workplace culture, a retention problem, a medical…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Is Lux Creek Park Set For a Revival?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The primary election results are in, and the numbers out of Lowndes County don’t just tell you who won. They hint at…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
We Talk to the Man Bringing 'Salt, Smoke and Soul' to Former Woody's on the Water
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Wood smoke, river breeze, and a promise to slow dinner down. We sit with developer DJ Mantooth to unpack how the former…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Bassmaster Elite Comes To Columbus
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A national spotlight is about to hit the Tenn-Tom Waterway, and we’re ready. Tourism director Frances Glenn joins us to…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
The City's Petty Policy PLUS Birney Imes Asks: What is Columbus' Mother Tree?
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Power doesn’t just show up in big scandals; it hides in procurement rules, town halls, and the shade over a park bench…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Dangerous Hwy 45 Intersection May Finally Get Addressed PLUS George Irby
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text A dangerous intersection, a doubled construction bill, and a voice that carries decades of experience - George Irby. We…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Covered, Smothered and Only $130,000
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text Councilman Rusty Greene brings a bold idea to the table: three elevated, 750-square-foot cottages tucked behind a…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Matt Laubhan Discusses the Ice Storm PLUS MSMS Bills in Jackson
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The guys discuss Columbus' hopes of building out a regional crime center, even though Starkville has already made…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Why Mississippi Should Split MLK Day from Robert E. Lee Day
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text The bills are flying in Jackson, and the stakes feel close to home. We kick off with a clear-eyed look at the “Freedom…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
The LINK's Meryl Fisackerly PLUS MUW post-Nora Miller & Police Chief Looks to Leave
Got a question or a tip? Send us a text We sit down with Golden Triangle Development Link COO Meryl Fisackerly to unpack how the CINCO Megasite moves from dirt…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
A Pro‑Business Brain Trust For Growth PLUS CMSD's Superintendent Craig Chapman
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
How A Local Advisory Group Could Shape Retail, Housing, And Healthcare
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Main Street Changes, Amphitheater Moves Forward PLUS City Building Official Discusses Violations
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
LINK Lawsuit Reveals Details Around Higgins' Firing
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
A Fired Lobbyist & a $47K Speaker System PLUS We Talk Deer and Conservation With Brent Lochala
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Blue Flu Brewing at CPD? PLUS On Site at a Food Pantry
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
State Auditor Investigates Columbus, Joe Higgins’ New Venture and Local Ghost Stories
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Ristorante Italiano in Columbus PLUS Franklin Academy, Trotter, and Haunted Houses
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Soros & AIPAC Enter the Senate Race PLUS Reason for Amphitheater Hope
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Lobbyist on the Line PLUS Sam Allison Talks School Choice & Consolidation
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
From Grenades to Panhandling
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…
Between the Headlines: ColumbusStarkville Shifts Gears on MSMS PLUS Sheriff Hawkins Talks Public Safety
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…
Between the Headlines: ColumbusLowndes County is Booming. So Why Are Taxes Going Up?
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…
Between the Headlines: Columbus'Goodnight' Phone Calls, Caledonia Curfews and City Hall Untruths
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Scott Colom Challenges Cindy Hyde-Smith for US Senate PLUS a Recognition of First Responders
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Trip Hairston & Lynn Spruill Discuss Joe Max Higgins' Firing PLUS How Bad Was It?
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…
- Between the Headlines: Columbus
Two Friends, One Vision: Reviving Burns Bottom the Columbus Way
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…