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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.