WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | WTVM Editorials
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Watch the News Leader for editorials about important community issues from WTVM General Manager Lee Brantley. More>>
Recently, an article in Moody's rated cities in America on their ability to recover quickly following this deep recession. More>>
Earlier this week, a local bridal shop owner, Judy Wilkinson, was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days probation. More>>
David Rothschild devoted his life to education and equality for everyone. He served many years on the Muscogee County School Board and gave untold hours and dollars to support education. More>>
You get what you pay for in this world. That's certainly true in Alabama, where they collect the lowest state and local taxes per person in the country, and rank near the bottom of all states in key measures in education, health and welfare, despite making more progress than all other states in the past decade in some of these areas. More>>
We all want to be there for our kids... be there for their first birthday, their first base hit, their graduation-all those momentous occasions. I'm sure when we all stop and take a moment, we can More>>
It appears that common sense has won out over politics with the issue of creating a Crime Prevention Office for the city of Columbus. During Council's last meeting, the vote to create the office failed More>>
We've all heard numerous headlines over the past year about Alabama's education woes. Last year, Governor Riley declared an 11% proration and tapped into the state's education trust fund. More>>
The National Weather Center is predicting that we will have a colder and wetter November and December than average. More>>
Public safety. It's an issue we've heard a lot about, from the columbus proposal to establish a crime prevention director to domestic violence awareness month to a growing demand for neighborhood watch groups. More>>
Right from the Start is a newly formed marriage and family initiative in Columbus dedicated to building strong marriages and families. More>>
It's been just 16 months since our 3rd brigade returned home from a long and stressful tour of duty in Iraq. It's hard to believe, but they are deploying again. Some of the 3rd brigade's 36-hundred soldiers More>>
I had questions about the Swine Flu shot that is being made available so I went to the Center for Disease Control to get some facts. I have already had my seasonal flu shot and wondered if I could or should More>>
It's seems change is on the horizon for healthcare in our community. Fort Benning officials announced a $333 million contract had been awarded for a new Martin Army Hospital. More>>
I don't want to sound like an "Events Calendar" but I want to share some of the great things happening this month in Uptown Columbus. More>>
Muscogee county approved the Special Local Option One Cent Sales tax on Tuesday. In our opinion that is the good news. More>>
Dr. Delmar Edwards died recently. He will be missed but his influence on our region will continue forever. More>>
It's a topic almost everyone has an opinion on-school uniforms. Chances you either love them or hate them and your kids probably have a thing or two to say about them. More>>
It's not a new request, but now a dire need. I'm talking about the need for blood donations here in Muscogee County. More>>
Nearly 50% of Americans could contract the H1N1/swine flu virus. As many as 90,000 could die. The statistics are shocking and confusing. More>>
Despite the fact that revenues are still slow coming to state coffers, requiring departments to cut their budgets, Georgia and Alabama have taken a proactive approach to economic development in this region. We have many growth opportunities in our near future that will create many new jobs for our citizens. More>>
Some of our parents cautioned us to never get too big for our britches. Some of our friends cautioned us to not be control freaks. It appears the Southeastern Conference, with a push from ESPN, is accelerating its aim for both. In the process, you the SEC fan will be short-changed. More>>
On Tuesday, August 11th, the Columbus City Council will have the second reading on creating a Crime Prevention Director position for the city. More>>
On September 15 citizens of Muscogee County have the opportunity to vote for an additional one cent sales tax to support the education of our kids. Education has to be a priority in our community. It just has to be. More>>
Atlanta faces the dire prospect of losing its main water source if political leaders can't broker a solution with Alabama and Florida over rights to a major reservoir within three years. More>>
Hard to believe it's that time of year again, but in just a few weeks, buses will be running, bells will be ringing, I'm talking about back to school! More>>
With the economy getting tighter and tighter, people are being forced to make tough decisions-- eating out less, buying fewer clothes, delaying weddings or driving a car a few thousand miles more instead of getting a new one. More>>
It seems to us that kids at school have been getting away with murder when it comes to cell phones. That's a pretty broad statement, but it's gotten so bad that the Muscogee County School District has More>>
As we celebrate our freedom around Independence Day, we should remember just how lucky we are to have it. Freedom is something we should never take for granted. We have freedoms many people in the world would die for. More>>
You've heard by now that charities have taken a beating in this miserable economy. Financial contributions are way down because people just don't have the money. But sometimes more than money is needed. Take More>>
We know you are bombarded by pleas every day to give, donate, and support local charities and businesses. These are tough times for everyone, and we're all cutting back. But I want to encourage you to give back or give again to Goodwill. More>>
Tough times mean being more diligent with your finances and safety. Crime rates increase in a poor economy, especially scams and rip-offs. More>>
The new National Infantry Museum is a real jewel in our already impressive collection of museums in the area. More>>
A storm of controversy is brewing in the Southeast and Alabama Governor Bob Riley is behind it. Riley has announced the state will not be accepting as many out-of-state hurricane evacuees as in the past. More>>
Memorial Day was set aside to honor the men and women of our armed services who sacrificed their lives so that we might enjoy the privileges that come with freedom. More>>
Insulted. That's how our editorial committee would feel if we lived along Teak Drive in Columbus, suffered extensive flooding damage, and then were offered $10,000 to fix our homes and landscaping. More>>
Two-hundred and 23-million dollars -- if voted upon, that's how much money the proposed, special local option sales tax would generate for the Muscogee County School District. More>>
On April 30 we televised the second WTVM/One Columbus Diversity Forum. The forum focused on the first 100 days of the new President and what that has meant to our area. More>>
As you know we had quite a storm move through the area on Sunday, April 19. It was determined that an F2 tornado skipped its way through Phenix City and Columbus. More>>
In the next few days, President Obama will mark his first 100 days in office. It seems an appropriate time to reflect on what's worked with his administration and what hasn't. More>>
What if one hundred dollars could save your child's life? Would you pay it? What if you couldn't afford to pay that money and a stranger handed it to you? How would you feel? More>>
It's time to end lawmaker immunity. Lawmakers should follow the law just like everyone else. More>>
What if one hundred dollars could save your child's life? Would you pay it? What if you couldn't afford to pay that money and a stranger handed it to you? How would you feel? More>>
Teachers, firefighters, city workers. These are the folks...the average parents and grandparents like you and I that thought enough about the future to set money aside for the children in our family to go to college. More>>
In September the Muscogee County School District will be asking you to vote to extend the one cent special option sales tax. More>>
What if your spouse, parent, sibling or child dies, by law, you were only allowed to grieve their loss for 60 days? What if on day 61, you could no longer honor your loved one and had to erase all thoughts and memories? More>>
Congressman Mike Rogers has notified the City of Auburn of his recent sign-on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 927, the Satellite Consumer Bill. More>>
These folks just won't give up. The billboard industry has once again introduced a bill that will allow clear-cutting of public trees within the "viewzone" of billboards. More>>
It looks as though Alabama is about to increase the legal dropout age from 16 to 17. Both houses of the legislature are considering the move, and we encourage lawmakers to approve it. More>>
You may have heard that 19 members of the Georgia Legislature are delinquent on their state and federal taxes. Guess what? The state revenue commissioner says there are actually 22, and one of them is Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown. More>>
What a weekend for weather! As you know we had tornados move through the area on the 28th and then a winter storm on March 1. More>>
In a world that has so much bad news these days it is good to hear some really great news. More>>
You may not be impressed with the decision by Aflac's Dan Amos to give up his company bonus, but we think it sends an important message. Amos serves as chairman and chief executive of the insurance giant, and is one of the highest paid, if not THE highest paid person in Columbus. More>>
This year's St Jude Dream home is almost complete and tickets are available at Wachovia Bank and Action Buildings- Truck Styles locations in Columbus. You can also reserve your ticket by calling the ticket hotline at: 1 (800) 383-9844. More>>
It looks as though voters in Columbus will be asked to approve another sales tax increase. The Muscogee County School District is planning the vote for September, saying it needs the money to build new schools. More>>
WTVM will shut off its analog transmitter on June 12. Some have asked why we don't do so sooner. More>>
In the last few days baseball star Alex Rodriguez admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs for three years. Then Miguel Tejada was charged with lying to Congress about steroid use. More>>
I read a quote recently about helping others that defines the work of the late Millard Fuller. It goes like this: "Remember, there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." More>>
On Tuesday, January 20th, millions people across the world were given a front row seat to history. More>>
After nearly a year of telling you to prepare for the Big Switch on February 17th, 2009....there's now word that the date could be pushed back. About a week after being urged by President Elect Barak More>>
Let me pose a question: Would you give 2 hours of your time if it could mean a lifetime of change? I'm not about to invite you into an investment scam. But I am going to invite you to think of what is possible if everyone who sees this editorial gives 2 hours of their time over the next couple of weeks. More>>
It's the time of year when you take stock of your life and figure out what you can do going forward to make it better. The WTVM editorial board is doing the same and we'd like to share with you some of our resolutions. More>>
