(Columbus) Ledger-Enquirer week in review
(Columbus) Ledger-Enquirer week in review (March 19-25)
Clingstones reveal exciting new food menu for 2026
The Columbus Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves’ Class AA affiliate, have unveiled a new food menu ahead of their 2026 season at Synovus Park. Alex Little, district general manager for Denver-based Oak View Group Hospitality, said the goal was to blend classic ballpark favorites with fun and unique creations. New offerings include a beef cheesesteak, chicken cheesesteak, garlic knots, bacon cheeseburger, peach hand pies, loaded pulled pork nachos, triple play potatoes, and rotating homestand burgers. The first rotating burger, the Hot Jam Slam, features two beef patties on a croissant bun with jalapeno blueberry jam, bacon, melted brie, and fresh arugula. Standout items include the loaded pulled pork nachos with chipotle crema and the triple play potatoes topped with three-mustard aioli, feta cheese, and chimichurri sauce.
Reported by Kelby Hutchison, published March 24
Candidate withdraws from city council race
Another candidate has dropped out of the 2026 Columbus Council election. According to the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office website, Branson Courtney Derrell Wright withdrew from the race for the citywide District 9 at-large seat on the 10-member council on March 16. The withdrawal came just 10 days after she qualified during the final day of the qualification period for the May 19 nonpartisan ballot. Wright’s withdrawal follows Marquese “Skinny” Averett dropping out of the race for the council’s District 7 seat on March 6.
Reported by Mark Rice, published March 23
The Seed coffee shop finds new home
Sydney and Chris Helms, both from Smiths Station, have brought their coffee shop, The Seed, to a new downtown Columbus location at 33 W. 14th St., directly across from Hotel Indigo. The shop, which began as The Mustard Seed in Phenix City, was rebranded after the couple took full ownership. The Seed offers a Colombian and Brazilian coffee blend roasted by Gypsy Goat Coffee, along with matcha drinks, bagels, avocado toast, and popular lunch items like pimento BLT and homemade chicken salad. Chris describes the shop as “a little gateway into Columbus” for visitors. The shop also hosts live music, including performances by the Columbus Jazz Society.
Reported by Brittany McGee, published March 20
Beloved Columbus morning TV host dies
Calvin Floyd, the beloved host of a popular Columbus morning television talk show, has passed away at a nursing home in Cumming, Georgia. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed his death, though Floyd’s age and cause of death were not available before publication. Floyd was best known for hosting “Rise ‘n’ Shine,” which aired on WLTZ from 1989 to 2010, featuring a warm, down-home set where he and guests gathered around a kitchen table. The station later moved his show to noon under the name “Calvin Floyd Live” before ending his run in 2012. Coroner Bryan remembered Floyd fondly, saying, “He had a great sense of humor, and he was a highly intelligent man.”
Reported by Mark Rice, published March 22
Wicked Hen undergoing changes
Chef Scott Ailsworth and his wife Wesley are taking over the Wicked Hen Restaurant at 1350 13th St. in midtown Columbus, transforming it into a French-Southern cuisine bistro called Lou Lou’s Bistro and Foster’s Bar. The name was inspired by their two dogs — Lou Lou, a French bulldog, and Foster, an Australian shepherd mix. Scott, who has served as head chef at Wicked Hen for about a year, was approached by current owner Bryan Walker in November 2025 about taking over the space. Wesley will manage front-of-house operations while continuing her role at a Columbus interior design firm. The new menu will blend French dishes such as steak frites and French onion soup with Southern staples like fried green tomato BLT and Georgia peach chutney pork chop. Wicked Hen will remain open through April, with renovations beginning in early May and a target reopening around Memorial Day weekend.
Reported by Jordyn Paul-Slater, published March 23
Federal judge rules for discovery in immigration cases
A federal judge in Columbus has allowed limited discovery for attorneys representing detainees at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, who claim their clients did not receive fair bond hearings. U.S. District Judge Clay Land ruled the discovery would proceed in a “targeted and limited manner,” while noting the court found insufficient evidence of a systemic due process failure. Attorneys, led by Karen Weinstock, argue immigration judges have been pressured to deny bonds following the Trump administration’s firing of nearly 100 immigration judges in 2025. Immigration attorney Marty Rosenbluth testified about a client, a father of three with 20 years in the U.S., whose bond was denied after a hearing lasting roughly five minutes, with the judge allegedly unable to review hundreds of pages of submitted evidence.
Reported by Kelby Hutchison, published March 20
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 5:20 PM with the headline "(Columbus) Ledger-Enquirer week in review."