Matter of Fact

Greene County Gets Back to Business

In this episode of Matter of Fact, guest host Morgan Gill takes listeners behind RHCJC News’ reporting on efforts to revive chamber-style business support in Greene County. The episode explores why local leaders, business owners and community members say small businesses need stronger connections, better visibility and more consistent support in a rural county where local spending can have an outsized impact. Through reporting, soundbites and analysis, the episode looks at how Main Street Leakesville’s Economic Development Committee hopes to rebuild a network that helps businesses feel less isolated and more supported. It also examines the broader questions behind the effort: what rural economic development looks like in practice, what gaps still exist for small businesses and why local journalism matters in holding those promises accountable. Listeners will also hear from Senior Reporter Kristen Kaylor in our “Behind the Lens” segment about how the story came together in the field, followed by a “What Is True?” conversation with Walker Scott on how audiences and journalists can better evaluate claims about economic development and community growth.

Preserving the Past: Perry County Reopens Museum

In this episode of Matter of Fact, we take a closer look at the reopening of the Perry County Museum in Runnelstown and what it means for a community working to preserve its history. More than 20 years after Hurricane Katrina disrupted the county’s original museum, artifacts once scattered across storage spaces and private homes are being brought back together in a new public space. This episode explores how local volunteers helped make that happen, why preserving local history matters and how the museum could become an important resource for education and community memory. Guest host Whitney Argenbright walks through the deeper story behind the reopening, from the loss of the original museum to the effort now underway to reconnect younger generations with Perry County’s past. The episode also features a behind-the-scenes conversation with junior reporter JC Roberts about the reporting process, followed by a What Is True? segment with Walker Scott on how journalists verify local history, oral tradition and community memory. This episode was adapted from RHCJC News reporting on the Perry County Museum and highlights the role local journalism plays in documenting the people, places and stories that shape a community.

Rebuilding local news in Lumberton

In this episode of Matter of Fact, we examine how a grassroots effort in Lumberton, Mississippi, is working to rebuild local access to information by bringing back a print newspaper. Based on the RHCJC News story, “Grassroots effort brings print newspaper back to Lumberton,” this episode looks at why that effort matters in a community where many residents have struggled to find timely, consistent and accessible local news. The episode follows the evolution of The Lumberton Post from a Facebook group into a physical newspaper now distributed in local businesses. Along the way, it explores a larger question facing many small communities: What happens when important local information is scattered across social media, hard to find or missed entirely by the people who need it most? Through the voices of Leanna Dreher and John Maroney, listeners hear how the push for a print paper grew out of concerns about the digital divide, inconsistent access to community updates and the need for a more inclusive way to keep residents informed. You’ll also hear from RHCJC News reporter JC Roberts about his field reporting process and what this story revealed about the role of community journalism in places often overlooked by larger media systems. In our What Is True? segment, Media Literacy Coordinator Walker Scott breaks down what this story teaches us about news deserts, media literacy and the importance of building reliable local information networks that people can trust and use. This episode is not just about a newspaper. It is about access, participation and what it takes to keep a community connected.

Inside Kamp Joy’s 20-year mission

On this episode of Matter of Fact, host Sami Jordan takes listeners to Perry County, where Kamp Joy is marking 20 years of helping children and families better understand and manage their emotions. The program began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and has grown into a long-running community resource focused on emotional awareness, trauma support and life skills. This episode looks at how Kamp Joy works, who it serves and why programs like it matter in communities where children may be dealing with stress at home, at school or in their daily lives. Listeners will hear how founder Tina Brown built the program, how it expanded over time and how former participants say its impact has stretched across generations. The episode also includes a behind-the-reporting conversation with RHCJC News reporter Bibhas Pantha about covering a story centered on emotional health and trust, along with a What Is True? segment on why context and fact-based reporting matter when covering childhood trauma and early intervention programs.

Drawing the Lines: How Growth Influences School Boundaries

Housing growth is reshaping communities across Mississippi’s Gulf Coast — and in Jackson County, that growth is beginning to affect local schools. In this episode of Matter of Fact, we take a closer look at how new housing developments in the St. Martin area are prompting the Jackson County School District to consider changes to school attendance zones. District leaders say the proposed rezoning is meant to prevent overcrowding as enrollment rises, but some residents are questioning whether the timing is right and whether schools have the resources to support the area’s growth. Host Hilawe Tibebe walks through the reporting behind the RHCJC News story “St. Martin housing growth sparks school rezoning in Jackson County.” You’ll hear from junior reporter JC Roberts about how development trends are influencing school planning — and why families in the St. Martin and Vancleave communities are paying close attention to what comes next. The episode also features our What Is True? fact-checking segment with media literacy coordinator Walker Scott, who explains how audiences can evaluate information about school rezoning, enrollment data and public policy decisions. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the difference between verified records, projections and personal perspectives when following local education issues. Together, the reporting and analysis show how growth, public planning and community voices intersect — and why local journalism plays a key role in helping residents understand decisions that affect their schools and neighborhoods.