Wallace Hunter inadvertently admitted the city has in fact lost tens of millions in recent years, calling the city’s own financial data “false information” in a second attempt to silence our reporting on the subject.

City council members openly discussed how they are basing legislative decisions on the whims and wishes of a local developer, ignoring representative government for an oligarchical theme instead.

All rhetoric aside, a single gross negligence lawsuit from allowing Pedal Pub to operate would cost the city more than all the tax revenue the single business is even capable of producing in an 18 year period.

While Columbus city ordinance already reimburses official travel, Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson asked the city to use taxpayers’ money to fund unofficial travel, claiming officials “market” the city wherever they go.

Seven years ago, the organization set a vision for increasing prosperity in the Fountain City by 2025, though the city has grown poorer and deadlier. They now want $3 million from taxpayers to perpetuate their failing plan as they move their own goal posts.

Georgia state law requires the Columbus government agency to publish their meeting agendas and minutes on their website, though the organization has no agendas published and hasn’t released meeting minutes in over four months.

The 2022 ICF Kayak World Cup was welcomed to Columbus by 10 separate shooting incidents that occurred throughout the event’s duration, highlighting the city’s growing violence and urban decay on the world stage. Read on and explore our interactive map.

Phenix City’s council tried to explain why the city needs to apply for a measly $6k state grant to help fund the kayak event that’s already underway while simultaneously claiming how “profitable” the failing tourism initiatives are for the city. You could see the dismay on Mayor Lowe’s face.

City council may change laws so a “tourism” business with a shoddy track record can have patrons consume alcohol in its moving vehicles on city streets, ignoring the state’s open container laws. The business just injured 15 people in a rollover accident in May.

A local chemical plant has been spewing toxic waste onto surrounding neighborhoods for more than 20 years, but Phenix City officials are fighting for the poisoning to continue in the name of “economic development.”

While currently under federal investigation for its alleged discrimination and hostile practices, a RiverCenter attorney ignored proper channels and contacted the whistleblower who filed the federal complaints, appearing to try to influence the investigation in their favor.

In a poor attempt to silence our reporting, Phenix City Manager Wallace Hunter labeled the city’s own financial data as “false information,” saying citizens should get data from the same place the Muckraker does — the city clerk’s office. Read on and see the data yourself.

Uptown’s Atlanta-based partner admitted to the $500 fees previously charged to local Columbus food truck vendors, causing Uptown to appear foolish as it continues to deny the rates were ever charged. Read on for the full story.

Columbus did not recognize Constitution and Citizenship Day, ignoring the federally-recognized day of American heritage which built the opportunity for multicultural diversity. The city held a celebration of Latino culture in its place.

A Columbus city employee described how getting close to the city manager opened doors for her career, exposing how nepotism for “like-minded” people gave her special opportunities to advance her career.

The City’s leadership lost twenty-six cents of every taxpayer dollar it had for nearly a decade when adjusted for today’s value, and is now taxing residents more to cover their losses.

Uptown Columbus charged local food trucks a hefty fee to vend at their own town’s festival while Atlanta-based participants were not, leaving Columbus vendors feeling ripped-off and under-appreciated.

The state-funded university is prohibited by law from participating in political activity, raising questions about the school’s use of state resources to brazenly act in support of a political movement.

Columbus and Phenix City officials attempt to save face for the surge of tourists and their money, but fail to enforce powerful littering laws for residents year-round.

Councilwoman Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson grandly addressed the escalating issue, drawing insightful commentary from Mayor Henderson and Chief Blackmon. The public now awaits the council’s follow-through to deliver action.

Ten years of data reveal the Columbus poverty rate increased while the state and nation largely improved, highlighting an egregious failure of local efforts and policy.

Poor maintenance and lack of policing have created a vicious cycle for the Civic Center grounds, as its worsening appearance invites even more littering, drug use, crime, and property destruction.

The racially-discriminatory job listing for a role in a holiday production specified applicants must be black or hispanic, in spite of anti-discrimination laws forbidding race-based hiring without exception.

A single contractor’s failure to deliver required an emergency purchase by the city, raising logistical questions about how resources are routinely allocated for the department.

Deaths from drug overdoses doubled in Muscogee County last year, indicating a likely wider-spread increase in drug use among Columbusites — and the causes may run deep.

Councilwoman Toyia Tucker stated that local businesses should receive your attention and dollars purely because of the race of the owner, disregarding her obligations as a public official to uphold anti-discrimination laws.

The City Council voted 3 to 2 in favor of the increase, making the city one of the highest sales tax jurisdictions in the nation. The Council debated heavily on topics concerning short-term budgetary goals while failing to consider long-term implications supported by data.

Numerous RiverCenter employees have walked out, citing a hostile workplace as the reason. Many of them couldn’t even bear to stay long enough to line up another job.

Tax forms reveal the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts incurred a cumulative net loss of more than $1.13 million from 2014 to 2019, matching its executive director’s tenure.