Articles by Natalie Staggers
Possumtown Book Fest looks to build on record attendance
From The Watergate Scandal to The Pentagon Papers, investigative journalism has served as a watchdog that keeps power structures in check and educates citizens about corruption and inequality.
From rubble to roots: Zinnias dress up a vacant lot and provide a first job
Gunter Phillips is learning life lessons like financial responsibility and the importance of charitable giving at only 9 years old through his experience selling zinnias at his parents’ freshly bloomed garden.
Life is a stage: At 45, Summer Scholars is still building its own next cast of creators
Fights over stolen hamsters, chemistry accidents that lead to a zombie apocalypse and other shenanigans intended to dismantle a college music festival can be found at the Summer Scholars on Stage performances this weekend at McComas Hall.
Golden Triangle Theatre summer camp brings ‘Grease’ to Columbus
More than 25 Golden Triangle Theatre campers glided across the stage of Lyceum at Lee Wednesday afternoon, practicing synchronized choreography for “Grease Lightning” in anticipation of their weekend performances of “Grease.”
Colom prioritizing lower costs, good jobs, affordable health care in state
In 2025, about 27 million people in the United States were medically uninsured, a number that is expected to increase by 10 million in the next decade due to tightened Medicaid eligibility, changes to enrollment processes and a loss of enhanced Affordable Care Act plan subsidies.
Community Profile: Hamilton teacher, blindness education advocate wins international award
The red dining room walls of Casey Robertson’s house in Hamilton hold 26 crosses of different shapes, colors and sizes, serving as a testament to her faith, which has guided her work in blindness advocacy for the last two decades.
Industrial fire station plans for area training center
When it comes to firefighting, one of the few routine things is shift change.
Global Cellulose Fibers looks ahead after acquisition
Pulp is everywhere: In the belt around your waist, the food you eat, the TV screen you watch before bed and the paint on the walls of your house.
Workforce Development: Girls get their hands dirty at FORGE BuildHER Construction Camp
Trades comprise nine of the top 10 occupations with the smallest share of female workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
FORGE’s BuildHER Construction Camp is working hard to change that.
Lowndes Community Foundation brings back Casino Night to boost endowment
Friendly City Books owner Emily Liner has watched the Possumtown Book Festival draw more than 1,000 visitors downtown in the two years since its inception, but rising operating costs have come hand-in-hand with the event’s increasing success.
Noxubee officials eye downtown, recreational areas for revitalization
Area officials are making headway on plans to revitalize downtown Macon, Brooksville and Shuqualak in an effort to bring in more foot traffic and boost the local economy.
Downtown Y looks to expand reach through partnerships, public input
If Mark Pritchett had a motto it would be, “Not yet.”
SOCSD, CMSD summer meal programs return this week
With the return of their summer feeding programs this week, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated and Columbus Municipal school districts aim to provide stability for children during a time that is otherwise unstructured.
Know a rising 10th grader interested in law?
Steven Adams’ passion for law started early because, as he puts it, he was the friend who always found a way to get his buddies out of trouble.
Museum of the Bible works toward worldwide scripture access
“Raise your hand if you’ve been transformed by the power of God’s word.”
Columbus braces for dinosaur stampede May 30
Few people can say they’ve run through downtown wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume, but that’s about to change.
$1 million in Powerball winnings still unclaimed
Someone is sitting on $1 million, and they may not even know it.
