Our View: The reefer madness never came

A funny thing happened after Mississippi’s medical marijuana program began operations in 2023. Nothing.

Our View: Baseball’s finest hour

Wednesday, April 15, marked the 79th anniversary of integrated baseball in the Major Leagues. Mention the date and most baseball fans know that date in 1947 Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color line, starting at first base for the Dodgers at Ebbets Field against the visiting Boston Braves. He went 0-for-3 in what has to be the most famous hitless debut in MLB history.

Our View: The importance of including more than the old plantation narrative

Those who attended Tuesday evening’s screening of the documentary film “Natchez” in Columbus may have been struck with the notion that it could just as easily have been a screening of “Columbus” held in Natchez.

Our View: For the 34th time, International Fiesta shows the strength of diversity

It has been said that when classes at Mississippi State are in session, Starkville is the most diverse city in the state. For the 2025-26 school year, the enrollment includes students from 95 foreign nations, who are drawn to the university for its STEM and research-intensive fields.

Our View: The W needs a fighter for a fraught new era; make your voice heard

On Tuesday, Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning will hold a pair of listening sessions on the MUW campus as the process of replacing Nora Miller as the university president begins.

Our View: Artemis II revives dreams and memories

If you were a kid growing up in the 1960s, chances are you wanted to be an astronaut when you grew up. In fact, being an astronaut was the top dream job for kids, ahead of occupations like teacher or TV cowboy.

Our View: A wider lens for tourism in Columbus and Lowndes County

When you think of tourism in Columbus and Lowndes County, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the abundance of historic homes and structures that are featured in the annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage, which will be held April 7 through April 19. Tales from the Crypt and Catfish in the Alley also coincide with Pilgrimage.

Our View: When a school letter grade tells the wrong story

It may seem almost quaint now, but there was a time not all that long ago that parents clearly understood what an “A” or “C” or “F” meant. It was a simple method of holding students – and schools – accountable.

Our View: The LINK seems to be in good hands

When the Golden Triangle Development LINK parted ways with Joe Max Higgins – the only CEO the organization had ever had – it is fair to say the LINK Board wasn’t looking for another Higgins.

Our View: Honoring the T-1A’s service

Let’s be honest: No kid has ever grown up wanting to be a cargo pilot. There aren’t any Tom Cruise movies about a pilot who refuels the fighters and bombers. When assignments are made for what type of aircraft the student pilots at Columbus Air Force Base will complete their training on, tankers are not their top preference.

Our View: Kratom needs clear rules, not patchwork bans

Six years ago, Lowndes County enacted a ban on the sale of kratom throughout the county. At the time, it was the sixth Mississippi county to ban kratom sales.

Our View: Columbus’ residential real estate landscape could soon look much different

Efforts to address blighted property in Columbus have moved slowly.

Our View: Nothing to do? Not this weekend

One of the benefits of living in a small city is that you’re not likely to suffer from overstimulation.

Our View: Level 3 trauma designation in Oktibbeha signals a promise kept

One of the reasons some counties have been reluctant to sell their county-owned hospital is that citizens lose whatever leverage they had as owners. Once the hospital changes hands, all the decision-making power lies in the hands of the new owners who are free to do with the hospital as they wish.

Our View: More state education news worth celebrating

In 2014, Mississippi initiated its third-grade gate program in an effort to improve reading scores by retaining third-graders who could not pass the state reading tests.

Our View: Why Narcan training saves lives

When people engage in dangerous activities, there are generally one of two results: judgment or intervention.

Our View: Too pokey on the pokey

Apparently, building a new Oktibbeha County jail is like the weather: Everybody talks about it, but nobody ever does anything about it.

Our View: A confident start at a critical moment

Outside of sparsely-attended school board meetings, Tuesday was one of the first times parents and other stakeholders had a chance to hear from CMSD Superintendent Craig Chapman for any length of time since he took the position.

Our View: The Importance of Being Earned Interest

Oscar Wilde wrote, “I can resist anything but temptation.”

Our View: In Oktibbeha we have a safe room but an unsafe policy

Brandi Harrington was looking for an explanation and a solution.

What she got were excuses and semantics.