Between the Headlines: Columbus

The Dispatch
  • 5.0 (21)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 on what matters.

  1. 5D AGO

    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 to come down as a new housing development prepares for infrastructure and dirt work. We talk through what’s actually happening on the ground and a plan to plant about 200 street trees.  Next, we dig into Mississippi public school accountability ratings and the frustration of changing standards year after year. We question what those A through F labels really communicate when the scale keeps shifting. After the break, Matt Dowell, executive director of Golden Triangle Regional Airport, joins us from the world of air travel. We cover TSA during the government shutdown and the community support that kept morale up, new airline connections heading both east and west, major terminal upgrades like a first jet bridge, and what drives airfare pricing as planes fill and algorithms adjust. If you care about local growth, jobs, and the everyday logistics of travel, this one ties it all together.

    43 min

  2. MAR 26

    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 Golden Triangle can win industrial recruitment with limited resources and a lot at stake.  We get into Iain’s “Moneyball” approach to economic development: focus on the industries where you can win, keep your information accurate and verifiable, and build relationships that lead to repeat projects instead of a single splashy headline. He shares hard-earned lessons from high-dollar negotiations, including how incentives and tax limitation agreements can help when they’re structured well and hurt when they’re not.  We talk solar, workforce development, data centers and housing. If the region lands hundreds of new jobs with its latest Megasite, where do people live, especially the “missing middle” workforce that earns too much for assistance but not enough for new-build prices?

    1h 2m

  3. MAR 19

    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 response machine, and a public promise that has to hold up at 2 a.m. We sit down with Columbus, Mississippi Fire Chief Duane Hughes as he prepares to retire after 31 years in the department, and he tells the truth about what changed and what still needs work. We get into how the job used to run on “conditioning” and top-down control, why that mindset shifted toward empowerment, and what actually keeps firefighters from leaving. Hughes breaks down recruitment and retention in plain terms: money is the top answer, but benefits, leadership, scheduling flexibility, and real organizational support can matter just as much. He also explains why Columbus Fire and Rescue’s international accreditation matters, how performance indicators translate into better readiness, and why improved fire ratings can lower homeowners insurance premiums. Then we pivot from public safety to community arts with Colin Krieger from Golden Triangle Theatre, who previews Hairspray at the Lyceum at Lee.  If you care about Columbus local news, firefighter staffing, EMS realities, severe weather shelter planning, or simply want a great reason to see live theater, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    52 min

  4. MAR 15

    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 who stayed home, who crossed over, and which political “sure things” might be getting shaky. We walk through the Mississippi U.S. Senate primaries and what they could mean for November, from Scott Colom’s overwhelming local support to the question hanging over Cindy Hyde-Smith’s challenger vote share. Then we zoom in on Lowndes County turnout as a political signal: is the county still reliably red, drifting purple, or moving faster than local leaders expect? Next, we shift to Columbus city government and five key positions that are open or turning over, including fire chief, human resources, court administrator, city planner, and public information officer. We talk through why hiring delays can sometimes save money but also create real operational risk, especially when the municipal court keeps showing up in audit findings.  Finally, we bring in Lowndes County Supervisor Andy Williamson, who is exploring the idea of reviving Lux Creek Park.

    50 min

  5. MAR 5

    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 Woody’s on the Water is being reborn as a destination steak and seafood restaurant designed around over-flame grilling, Gulf flavors, and southern soul. Mantooth has big plans for the space, and we cover it all. After that, we cover Three Things to Know. Can you think of one friend who may enjoy our podcast? Please share an episode with them to help spread the word.

    35 min

  6. FEB 27

    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 share how Bassmaster Elite is setting up at the Columbus Marina with 101 pros, live cameras, and a weekend atmosphere that turns attention into spending. We dig into why “free” events fuel hotels, restaurants, and gas pumps, and how a stacked slate of fishing tournaments can make the river more than scenery—it becomes a steady economic engine. Then we zoom out to long-term bets. The amphitheater only works if it’s truly finished: seating, restrooms, concessions, and a professional promoter who can route artists through a 3,500-seat venue that draws from Memphis, Birmingham, Jackson, and Tupelo. We talk realistic timelines, booking strategy, and the kind of opening night that builds a habit of showing up. Culture gets equal billing as Spring Pilgrimage unifies under one umbrella for the second year with 18 homes and simple online ticketing, while new historic markers strengthen the African American Cultural Trail and preserve stories at risk of fading.

    39 min

  7. FEB 20

    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. We start with Columbus’ new requirement that newspapers secure audits or expert affidavits to qualify for city legal ads. On paper that sounds like due diligence. In context—coming after public complaints about coverage—it feels like a pressure valve on the free press. When the government can target one business, they can target any business.  Then we pivot to the refreshing tone change from Columbus Municipal School District, specifically a fresh leadership style from new Superintendent Craig Chapman Then, retired publisher and Columbus tree board member Birney Imes brings stories of replanting storm-hit parks, building a native-species arboretum along the Riverwalk and designating a majestic centuries-old bald cypress as the city’s “Mother Tree.” Beyond beauty, trees are infrastructure: cooler streets, soaked-up stormwater, cleaner air, calmer nerves. Partnerships, small grants, and community hands can turn a walk into a living field guide and a playground back into a refuge. If you care about press freedom, school stability, and the everyday design of a livable city, this one brings receipts and roots.

    53 min

  8. FEB 12

    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 start with Highway 45 and Mike Parra Road, where 29 crashes since 2020 and the death of a young man have galvanized a petition and renewed pressure to improve public safety. We lay out the facts the way residents need them: what a traffic signal would change, why engineers might prefer cutting the crossover with managed U‑turns, and which interim measures could save lives now while a long-term design moves forward. From there, we pivot to the Stokes Beard gym and a shocker: a $2.8M estimate swelling to $6.4M after a storm-shelter requirement came to light.  Then we welcome George Irby, a Columbus legend whose life spans NFL locker rooms, Tuskegee in the Civil Rights era, and a relentless commitment to service through the Happy Irby Fund.  If you care about safer roads, smarter schools, and a community that remembers its people, you’ll feel this one.

    54 min
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

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 on what matters.

Information

  • Creator
    The Dispatch
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Commercial Dispatch Publishing Co. Inc.
  • Show Website
    Between the Headlines: Columbus

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