Demand for backyard chickens doubles amid soaring egg prices
Terry Thomlinson, the Oktibbeha County Farmers’ Cooperative pet manager, faced a problem this week. People were simply buying chickens too fast.
Starkville forming new 10-year parks plan with public input
The city is launching a 10-year recreation plan that promises to reshape local facilities and programs to better meet the needs of the community.
For Gary Goodwin, double duty means double pay – this time
Next month, Gary Goodwin will start pulling double duty as municipal court judge for the second time in 10 years.
Community Read author to discuss memoir at The W Thursday
From a child on welfare to a Harvard graduate to a gang member’s girlfriend to a candidate for the U.S. Congress, Alejandra Campoverdi has lived what she calls “a life of contradictory extremes.”
‘Lack of evidence’ dooms Mickens’ bid to remove opponents from ballot
After more than a month of legal back-and-forth, the question of whether all three qualifying candidates for the Ward 2 council seat will make it on the April 1 primary ballot has been answered.
Education: Charting safer waters: MSU breaks ground on seafood testing facility
Mississippi State University officially broke ground March 10 on the Northern Gulf Aquatic Food Research Center, a first-of-its kind facility in Mississippi dedicated to aquatic food safety, quality assessment, processing and product development.
Education: ACS robotics team wins first in innovation at state competition
Annunciation Catholic School’s sixth-grade robotics team won first place in innovation March 8 at the FIRST LEGO League Competition in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Education Briefs for 3-18-25
EMCC student from Caledonia recognized for academic excellence CALEDONIA – East Mississippi Community College student Jay Hilfiker, of Caledonia, has been named to the Phi
Education: The W to host Mississippi Spelling Bee on Saturday
Mississippi University for Women will host the 2025 C Spire Foundation Mississippi Spelling Bee featuring 25 top spellers from 17 Mississippi counties on Saturday, March 21, in Poindexter Hall beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Education: Columbus student serves as page in Mississippi House
Vincent Young recently served as a page for the Mississippi House Representatives. Pages generally run errands for officials and House staff.
Bird flu strain in Noxubee County not seen in U.S. commercial flocks since 2017
Poultry in a broiler breeder chicken flock in Noxubee County have tested positive for a strain of avian influenza that hasn’t been seen in commercial poultry in the United States since 2017.
Community Profile: Hickmon once went to Prairie Opportunity for help. Now he’s executive director
When Fredrick Hickmon was coming of age in Nanih Waiya, a rural area near Louisville, working on farms felt like the only option he had – even though the pay was bad and the conditions were worse.
Amazon ‘Last Mile’ facility delivers 10K parcels daily over 70 miles radius
A customer orders a package from Amazon on a Monday. Last year, that order may not have arrived until the following Thursday.
Ask The Dispatch: Your questions answered about where to vote on April 1
In the upcoming April 1 primary, voters in Columbus and Starkville may find their polling place is different from the last city election thanks to new ward boundaries.
4 ejected from stolen vehicle, injured during chase that crossed state lines
An attempt to stop a stolen vehicle in Lowndes County on Friday escalated into a chase that led across state lines, ending in a crash
City seeks contributions from county, CVB for amphitheater
The city wants Lowndes County and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau to pitch in toward finishing the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater at the Island.
Weekly protests outside Rep Trent Kelly’s office grow in size and message
“Honk if you support Ukraine,” a large sign read on Friday afternoon outside of U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly’s office on Seventh Street North.
Mass Mexican eatery closures spark ICE rumors
One after the other, customers walked up to the front door of Mi Hacienda for lunch Friday only to find the doors locked before walking back to their cars disappointed.
Two fires at same house spark arson investigation
An arson investigation of a twice burned vacant house on Northside has Columbus Fire and Rescue looking for a suspect and a motive.
Columbus gas rupture Wednesday prompts temporary evacuation
Several citizens returned to their homes Wednesday after an hour-long evacuation due to a ruptured gas line, which some said sounded like an explosion.




















