Good morning, Columbus.

House of Heroes held its annual Bids and Bubbly gala at Bibb Mill Event Center to raise $75,000 for veteran home repairs; 150 attendees bid on auction items (special guest Colonel David Moore highlighted community support).

Easter Seals of West Georgia held its first gala, Preserving the Legacy, at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center on Thursday night.

The sold-out event supported services for children and adults with disabilities and announced a $2 million endowment to boost future fundraising.

Chattahoochee Valley Community College was awarded $612,455 in workforce development grants last week to expand its Medical Laboratory Technology, Practical Nursing, and success coach programs, along with training in supply chain and logistics (aiming to meet regional workforce needs).

Columbus State University raised a record $23.6M in FY26 from generous donors, boosting its endowment to lead among state universities.

The funds will support student programs in academics, technology, and the arts — a milestone that will shape future learning.

At Columbus State University on Thursday, Sept.

17, Shamila Chaudhary, co-chair of the Afghanistan War Commission, discussed lessons learned and accountability in war decisions based on extensive interviews. The talk took place at Rankin on 1st Ave at 7 p.m.

California Congressman Mark Takano reintroduced a bill today to reduce the workweek from 40 to 32 hours by lowering the overtime threshold by 2 hours (to be implemented over four years).

Some residents expressed support for more leisure time while others worried about potential pay impacts as Congress continues discussions.

Pam Fair with Safe Kids announced that the Safe Sleep Symposium will be held next month in Columbus.

The event will offer guidance on safe sleep practices for infants (additional details on timing and venue will follow).