Redistricting plan approved, could face litigation

Lowndes County’s redistricting plan got the OK from the U.S. Department of Justice.

But, after elections, the county may still face a lawsuit.

Logan’s to open Aug. 8 in Columbus; T.J. Maxx debuts the day before

Loosen up. Toss the shells on the floor. On Aug. 8, Logan’s Roadhouse officially invites the Columbus area to toss a few peanut hulls on the floor.

10% trouble? Seventy-five percent of U.S. gasoline is blended with ethanol

Near 100-degree heat. Engines roaring through the stoplight. The possibility of a call coming over the scanner. The buzz-hum-bang of men working on cars. There were a thousand things for Willie Jones to focus his attention on Wednesday afternoon, as he filled his sheriff’s cruiser at a Columbus Chevron station.

Statewide, gains made on testing; local districts’ results vary

Preliminary test results, released today, show Mississippi students are gaining ground in math and language arts. Local school districts also are making progress on the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2.

But for now, Mississippi is only competing with itself.

Fishing tournament expected to boost economy by $5.5M

The Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau is bringing a national fishing tournament to the area, with the promise of generating $5.5 million in local impact.

Fishing tournament expected to boost economy by $5.5M

The Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau is bringing a national fishing tournament to the area, with the promise of generating $5.5 million in local impact.

Marines sign $142 million order with Navistar plant

Navistar Defense is building its West Point workforce back up, as it prepares to fill its third order since May.

Study: Market Street Festival boosts local economy by the millions

Columbus’ Market Street Festival is more than a feel-good event. Mississippi State University economists estimate this year’s two-day festival drew a crowd of 34,091 people, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy.

Lowndes port preps for Kior, looks to expand

The Columbus-Lowndes Port Authority continues to make preparations for the Kior biofuels plant, currently under construction.

Airport looks to enhance its West connections

Though the Golden Triangle Regional Airport is losing its Memphis connection, a $1 million grant could help it secure a contract with another airline, to enhance its West-bound connections.

Lowndes Republicans host meet and greet

It was a Republican pep rally during lunch at the Holiday Inn in Columbus on Tuesday.

Candidates for state and local offices made their appeals for votes, while others just made appearances, at the Lowndes County Republican Women meeting.

Lowndes County tries to put sale of health department on the fast track

Lowndes County is turning to private Realtors to sell the old Lowndes County Health Department on Military Road.

Recent storms highlight need for more precautions

Recent storms have Lowndes County supervisors looking closer at safety concerns. Supervisors are considering the addition of a storm shelter at each of the Road Department’s five satellite barns and its central maintenance office, to protect the department’s 60 workers in the event of severe weather.

Work continues on steel project, Stark in industrial park

Work continues on the North Steel Development, near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The project, which will support New Process Steel and Mississippi Steel Processing, includes adding rail, water and sewer service, as well as an airport access road.

Lowndes supes consider demolishing Oakdale Park house after years of neglect

It was obvious Tuesday morning just how tired the Lowndes County supervisors are of dealing with a man his neighbors previously dubbed “the bird man.”

Garthia Burnett: The black and white elephant in the room

Wednesday, I fielded a call from an upset reader.

He accused the paper of trying to keep black people out of significant local leadership positions and cited its “attacks” on Columbus schools’ Interim Superintendent Martha Liddell as the latest attempt to support the “good old Southern Mississippi white boys trying to maintain a position of leadership.”

Kior pieces together new, $200M plant

When it’s all said and done, Kior will have spent more than $200 million to bring its first commercial plant to Columbus.

Decertification election set for Omnova workers

A decertification election has been set in the Omnova Solutions labor dispute, which has dragged on for more than a year.

Former Columbus residents die under tragic circumstances

A woman who called Columbus home was beaten to death in her Irving, Texas, home last week.

Though her assailant is in jail, it offers her family little solace.

Wagon driver awarded $477,444 for 2009 wreck

In his most recent web update, the cross-country traveler wrote he was “working on a job in Nebraska for a few weeks while the horses get fat in La Garita, CO.” He expected to be “slapping some iron on the lads’ feet and sharing a few adventures with them, and you” by late May.