As of the most recently published data, local waterways feeding the downtown Chattahoochee River contain dangerously high levels of E. Coli bacteria, with many 10x the EPA’s limit for recreation. However, in the most aMaZiNg way, test sites near the whitewater park conveniently have ‘no current data available.’ Explore the full story to see how locals are left clueless to play in poop filled water, along with how Columbus Water Works fought for it to continue.

If you haven’t heard, City Council just saved taxpayers $7 million in the city’s new budget by lowering the property tax millage rate. However, the order of events in the process for planning that budget almost made those millions in savings impossible. Explore the full story to see if you can spot the huge design flaw in CCG’s budget planning process.

Property tax exemptions are a well-needed staple of our local economy that provide relief to the elderly, surviving spouses, disabled veterans, and many others. However, CCG’s Chief Appraiser, Suzanne Widenhouse, let her true feelings slip during a heated moment when placed on the spot at the June 27 council meeting. Explore the full story to watch your Chief Assessor say just about the one thing a tax assessor shouldn’t say on camera.

For the past few weeks, Columbus property owners have explained to city officials how increasing property taxes would lead to increased poverty, crime, and blight. Now, in a rare and welcomed mutual understanding, city councilors unanimously voted to lower the property tax rate. Explore the full story to see how tactful civic engagement just moved our government to voluntarily keep $7 million in the hands of taxpayers.

Georgia regulations require taxable property to be assessed using current market conditions for the year it is being taxed. However, CCG’s Chief Appraiser, Suzanne Widenhouse, openly admitted to using three year old market data for the current tax year. Explore the full story to see how your property tax assessments have been rigged using data from the peak of the pandemic so that the city manager can use the inflated value to put more of your money into his budget.

A few weeks ago, we revealed that the local United Way is forcing Columbus nonprofits to ask local kids about their sexuality or lose their funding. Now, leaked documents including funding contracts obtained by the Muckraker undeniably prove it. Explore the full story to see the documents for yourself, along with how the United Way knowingly lied to City Councilors’ faces in an effort to cover it up.

During the city council meeting on June 20, councilors spent nearly two hours debating the proposed property tax increase and how it affects the city’s budgetary spending. However, in literally the same meeting, CCG announced the purchase of a brand new 2024 GMC truck that cost taxpayers over $56k. Explore the full story to see how your city government is running a $14 million deficit while spending your money on brand new toys instead of more sensible purchases.

The city’s proposed property tax rate was set to bring in an additional $10 million from the pockets of residents while the city preps to adopt an unbalanced budget with a $14 million deficit. In a rare display of diligence and responsibility, city councilors came together to delay their votes on the millage rate and the city’s unbalanced budget. Explore the full story to see how councilors moved in unison to push the vote forward instead of merely blowing with the wind.

The United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley is forcing local organizations to either give them data on the sexuality of children they serve or lose their funding. The data collection was not part of their original funding agreements. Many large local non-profits have since voiced serious legal and moral concerns. Explore the full story for the insane details of how the United Way now demands the sexual data on local children or they will pull their funding.

It’s no secret that the Columbus Consolidated Government has severe staffing shortages. However, City Manager Isaiah Hugley’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year shows more than a $16 million increase in personnel expenses compared to the year before. Explore the full story to see the side-by-side comparison of how Hugley’s unbalanced budget managed to bloat the city’s payroll expenses to 57% of the city’s entire overall budget.

City officials only expect an income of $322 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. However, their budget for FY2024 has continued to expand well beyond that projected income and now sits at a bloated $336 million. Explore the full story to see how city officials are now planning to draw over $14 million from the city’s reserve funds to make up the difference, all while raising an additional $10 million off the backs of taxpayers.

Many local landlords are speaking up against the proposed property tax increases in Muscogee County in hopes of protecting their tenants from rent increases. Despite CCG’s claims of wanting to reduce poverty, residents correctly explained how raising property taxes not only perpetuates poverty, but is already causing developers to leave the city altogether. Explore the full story to see what several owners and tenants had to say to CCG in their own words.

The United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley is forcing local organizations to either give them data on the sexuality of children they serve or lose their funding. The data collection was not part of their original funding agreements. Many large local non-profits have since voiced serious legal and moral concerns. Explore the full story for the insane details of how the United Way now demands the sexual data on local children or they will pull their funding.

It doesn’t take an MBA to know that trying to build an economy on ‘tourism’ without a product differentiator in a city with rampant poverty and homicide is a terrible idea. As a result, the public mocks CCG’s disingenuous and tone-deaf messaging that puts a crap product in fake shiny packaging. Explore the full story to see a hilarious video that perfectly depicts CCG’s incompetent stupidity.

After Columbus property owners were mailed their annual property tax assessment notices on May 30, many were shocked by the huge increase in the taxes they might now have to pay. However, even Chief Assessor Suzanne Widenhouse says the county knows they make mistakes when assessing property values. Explore the full story to see how you can potentially save thousands on your tax bill.

As we discussed yesterday, CCG now has the option to lower the property tax rate, but instead is hoping to keep it just as high as ever to generate millions more in revenue from its citizens. In this detailed follow-up, we’ll be taking a deep dive into what the tax increase actually is. Explore the full story to see the details as we break down the illogical and unnecessary tax increase on everything from how property taxes are calculated to how to appeal the city’s greed.

City officials are required by law to calculate a rollback property tax rate that would produce the same revenue as the year before, but can also propose to tax residents at an even higher rate. Even though CCG now has the option to lower the property tax rate, it’s hoping to keep it just as high as ever to generate millions more in revenue from its citizens. Explore the full story for details on the three public hearings you can attend so your voice can be heard as a citizen.

VisitColumbusGA, the branch of the Columbus government that believes ‘tourism’ is going to save a city with a third-world homicide rate, recently held an event to celebrate their ‘success.’ However, the event was ironically held where two people were shot just days prior. Explore the full story to see how a toxic culture of self-congratulatory idiots continues to ignore reality as our city continues to decay.

Gangs. Murder. Robbery. Violence. All of these criminal acts continue to occur throughout Columbus. Now, after a brazen daytime armed robbery at the Peachtree Mall ends with gunfire in front of parents and their children, Columbus families are too scared to go about their daily lives. Explore the full story to see how intolerable appeasement and soft-on-crime policies continue to turn Columbus into Gotham City for its locals, let alone for ‘tourists.’

Internal messages show the Springer knew their adult play with nudity and simulated sex should require patrons to sign a waiver, but the executive staff trashed that idea opting to allow children to attend instead. After our published exposé, the Springer changed course and hastily added two contradictory disclaimers to their website. The nudity was ultimately removed and parents were finally advised of the show’s content. Explore the full story to see how the Springer scrambled to literally cover their behinds.

We recently published an article exposing how the Springer’s staff currently plans to allow children to attend a play that explicitly features profane language, simulated sexual acts, and real nudity, all while receiving state grant funds. In this follow-up, we wanted to inform the public of what local organizations are funding the Springer’s production. Explore the full story to see a complete list of the Springer Opera House’s current sponsors.

Though the Springer is producing a play featuring profane language, simulated sexual acts, and real nudity, its staff currently aren’t planning to exclude children from attending. As the State Theatre of Georgia, the Springer sees no problem with using its state funding to distribute sexual content to minor children. Explore the full story to see how the disturbingly-adult content could land the Springer in seriously hot water.

On April 5, WTVM made an embarrassing past-tense Facebook post about the special meeting called by city council before the meeting had even occurred. More interestingly, the article contained objectively false and misleading info about how city council can legally remove a city officer. Explore the full story to see how a few tactful comments from the Muckraker caused WTVM to pull their false article from their website completely.

For years, Frank’s Alley owner Ross Horner has been letting his actions speak louder than the words of most when it comes to making a difference in his community. Now, Ross has launched a new campaign to help connect those in need with the right services that can give them a hand up. Explore the full story to see why you should eat more hot dogs and support this guy.

We’re not sure what planet city councilwoman Toyia Tucker is living on, but Tucker claims that families making just $30k can afford $1,400 monthly rent. Even if both adults in a family of four made that, they’d still come up short. Explore the full story to see the real-world math behind how insanely out-of-touch Tucker’s privileged world view really is.

While several city officials are quick to brush aside the effects of their own overdevelopment efforts by saying “we need rent control,” the concept’s severe side effects ironically perpetuate the problem it artificially seeks to solve. Explore the full story to see the basic economic principles behind why rent control can only wreak havoc on the Fountain City.

The percentage of Columbusites who are gainfully employed has consistently fallen for the past 23 years to a rate far below the rest of the nation. Now, data shows fewer Columbusites are willing to go to work as the city faces serious staffing challenges. Explore the full story to see the data yourself.

After a years-long pattern of scandals and shoddy behavior, Springer Opera House producing artistic director Paul Pierce has announced he is ‘retiring’ — which includes continuing to work at the Springer, but in a new role, without executive authority, while his old job is covered by two current employees. Explore the full story for the details.

While local officials brag about ‘amazing’ tourism, American Airlines cited a lack of local flyers as their reason for leaving the city. Here’s why the airline’s bottom-line reality highlights the city’s delusional pipe dreams.

With a ton of openings available, now’s the time for you or someone you know to take that next step in their career. The event is this Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Goodwill Hiring Center on Cross Country Boulevard. Read on to see the details, and share with someone you know!