2026 Lee County Public Policy Agenda: Advancing a strong East Alabama
LEE COUNTY — Three regional chambers of commerce have partnered to present a unified voice for the local business community through the release of the 2026 Lee County Public Policy Agenda. The Auburn Chamber of Commerce, East Alabama Chamber of Commerce and Opelika Chamber of Commerce announced the joint...
Search continues for missing Phenix City barber
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WTVM) - The search continues for a Phenix City barber who has been missing for two months as family and friends desperately seek answers in his disappearance. Dennis Hall, 63, has been missing since Nov. 8. Hall was last seen on camera walking along the Columbus Riverwalk...
Columbus council rejects $100 million stadium renovation plan
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Columbus City Council rejected a $100 million renovation proposal for A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, saying the city cannot afford the extensive upgrades despite the facility’s mounting repair needs. The proposal, presented by 2WR Architects of Columbus, included expanding the field,...
3 People Arrested After 29 Dead Dogs Found Piled in Backyard and 2 Dozen...
Three people were arrested after authorities discovered 29 dogs dead inside plastic bags in the backyard of a home in Lee County, Alabama, officials said. Inside the house, investigators found another 24 dogs in severely poor condition, described as emaciated. Police identified the arrested individuals as Curtis...
Columbus Macy’s survives another wave of retailer’s nationwide closures
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Macy’s at Peachtree Mall appears stable for the foreseeable future, remaining off the retailer’s latest round of nationwide store closings. The department store remains the region’s only Macy’s location and has long served as one of the mall’s primary anchors, alongside Dillard’s, JCPenney and...
Safehouse Ministries to dispatch vans to assist homeless individuals during Thursday night cold snap
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Non-profit organization, SafeHouse Ministries, is attempting to help unhoused individuals in the Columbus area by shuttling them to warming shelters when temperatures reach below freezing this week. WEATHER FORECAST: A brief warm-up before the Arctic chill returns SafeHouse Ministry officials...
Alleged getaway driver in Shirley B Winston Park shooting denied bond
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Cortez Turner, accused of killing 22-year-old Jacarie Charles on Aug. 29 at Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center, appeared in court Tuesday for a bond hearing. District Attorney Don Kelly identified Turner as the getaway driver during the shooting. Kelly said the entire shooting was captured...
How the mass closures of GameStop stores are affecting Columbus locations
The nationwide trend of GameStop closures has reached Columbus. The GameStop store in Peachtree Mall, 3131 Manchester Expressway , has closed. It is one of what the “gsclosing” blog covering GameStop reports to be 470 locations closing this month. And it follows what the entertainment website Polygon reported to be...
Brookstone home invasion suspect denied bond
A bond hearing was held for home invasion suspect Antanavious Butler in Judge Bobby Peters court January 13, 2026. Butler is charged with the murder of Norman “Terry” Lane at his Brookstone Boulevard home in Columbus October 6, 2025. Several members of Lane’s family huddled in the courtroom...
29 dogs found dead in plastic bags at Alabama home with dozens more malnourished
The bodies of nearly 30 dogs were found inside an Alabama home by authorities, with dozens more alive but malnourished. The deceased animals had been placed into plastic bags and discarded in a large pile in the property’s backyard, an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office found. Some 24 other dogs...

















