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 on what matters.

Between the Headlines: Columbus is a news podcast hosted by The Dispatch, with 82 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

The Dispatch hosts Between the Headlines: Columbus, a news show with 82 episodes published.

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  Episode #82

  A Leadership Pipeline Takes Form PLUS Will MSU's Season Lead to an Economic Boom?

  Sep 24, 202644 min

  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 eyeing the Northern District Transportation Commissioner seat, and we unpack what it means for area politics when an elected seat is made empty. We talk through leadership “pipelines,” why filling local seats matters as people move up, and what steady competence looks like when a room is hot and the crowd is hostile. We also get into a tense Columbus City Council moment around the Trotter Convention Center, where a policy meant to control free use got ignored for years and suddenly became personal. Then we bring in Dispatch sports writer Jake McMahon for Mississippi State football. We talk road wins, the shift in program confidence under Jeff Lebby, Kamario Taylor’s upside, and how NIL and revenue sharing changes the pressure on homegrown stars. We look ahead to the October SEC gauntlet, the fan base energy at Davis Wade Stadium, and what it will take to turn early momentum into a real season.

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  Episode #81

  Small Town Progress, Clearly Seen, With James Fallows

  Sep 15, 202641 min

  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, and co-author of “Our Towns,” to talk about why he and Deb kept returning to the Golden Triangle and what they saw that most outsiders miss: serious education, real industrial growth, civic memory, and the kind of local problem-solving that doesn’t fit cable-news templates. We dig into what Fallows calls the “ten and a half signs of civic success,” from redevelopment that brings dead space back to life to the institutions that quietly hold towns together. Then we pivot to Mississippi politics and the state of campaigning now, including a cringe-worthy website tactic aimed at defining a Senate opponent, the double standards that keep “cheap politics” alive, and a surfaced audio clip that raises questions about threats and candidate security.

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  Episode #80

  Should Councilmen Host Bingo at the Trotter? Plus, Mario Zorovic's 9/11 Story

  Sep 10, 20261h 22m

  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 the policy, and who quietly pays the bill when “free” becomes routine? We dig into the discussion over waiving fees at the Trotter Convention Center for events labeled “city events with a municipal purpose.” We break down what happened at the work session, why some council members pushed back, and why clarity matters when taxpayer-funded facilities, maintenance costs, and public trust are on the line. Then we shift to East Mississippi Community College and the ongoing fallout from Buddy Stephens being relieved as head football coach. We talk through what public records reveal, what at-will employment really means at a government institution, and why the First Amendment question changes the stakes when speech and discipline collide. Along the way, we step back and ask a bigger budget question Mississippi keeps running into: if community colleges are under financial pressure, what role should junior college football play? The heart of the conversation brings us 25 years after 9/11 with NYPD Emergency Service Unit first responder Mario Zorovic and Mark Smith of Salute to Lowndes County’s Finest. Mario walks us through the morning the towers fell, the chaos at Ground Zero, the desperate search for survivors, and the long recovery that followed, including the health and mental health toll many first responders carry for years. Mark explains how a visit from Mario helped spark a lasting local mission, raising funds to support first responders in Lowndes County when life hits hard and pride makes it difficult to ask for help.

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  Between the Headlines: Columbus

  When Calling Your Boss An Idiot Backfires

  Sep 3, 202641 min

  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 Mississippi Community College as Buddy Stevens, the larger-than-life junior college football coach made famous by Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” is suddenly out. We break down what Stevens said about the new MACCC playoff format, why calling community college leaders “idiots” hit differently than his past bombast, and how winning can buy you grace until it doesn’t. We close with takeaways from our community listening session, including a clear call for more explainer journalism on taxes, budgets, and how local government works, plus the harder challenge of rebuilding trust when people filter facts through who they like.

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  Episode #78

  Are New Policies Needed to Fix Holes Mickens Exposed?

  Aug 27, 202655 min

  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 closed-door executive sessions can leave the public trying to separate facts from the loudest rumor. Next we dig into the most consequential part of the week for taxpayers: the city’s bid procurement rules after the Joseph Mickens indictment. We also cover the surprising progress on Columbus budgeting: Jason Spears’ budget outlook document passes unanimously, the millage is set with no city or city school tax increase, and the real test becomes whether a “guiding” plan actually shapes a balanced budget before the September 15 deadline. Then we’re joined by Keith Gaskin and Bruce Hanson to talk MUW, MSMS, and the IHL board, including why leadership searches feel glacial, why transparency matters, and what the community can do to push for stability instead of recurring clouds of uncertainty.

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