Category Macon

Education, Macon, Watchdog Reports

Bibb County Schools: The Graduation Mirage – 89% Graduate, 23% Proficient

Split graphic contrasting Bibb County's 89 percent graduation rate with 23 percent student proficiency

Part 3 of 5 A records-based investigation into what Bibb County’s graduation rate actually measures, and what it doesn’t. If diplomas were learning, Bibb County would be a model district. They aren’t, and it isn’t. Eighty-nine percent of Bibb County’s…

Dr. Alan Wood
October 13, 2026

Education, Macon, Watchdog Reports

Bibb County Schools: Bigger Budgets, Fewer Students, More Questions

Bibb County Schools budget investigation - chalkboard asking where did the money go

A records-based investigation into budget gaps, administrative spending, audit findings, taxes, borrowing and academic results.

Dr. Alan Wood
October 3, 2026
1 Comment

Georgia, Macon, News

Middle Georgia News Summary February 21, 2024

Middle Georgia News

Dr. Alan Wood
February 21, 2024

Macon, News

Middle Georgia News Summary February 7, 2024

Middle Georgia News Summary February 7, 2024

Dr. Alan Wood
February 7, 2024

Crime & Justice, Georgia, Macon, News

Bibb County’s Unseen Battle: Exploring the Surge of Georgia’s Crime Rate

🚨 A Deep Dive into Georgia's Crime Wave 🚨 Bibb County emerges as Georgia's crime capital in our latest analysis. We uncover the startling rise in crime rates across various categories, including murder and theft, and discuss the efforts underway to turn the tide. Join us as we explore the factors contributing to this alarming trend and the initiatives aimed at making Georgia's communities safer. #BibbCountyCrime #GeorgiaCrimeTrends

Dr. Alan Wood
December 15, 2023

Crime & Justice, Macon, News, Opinion

Tick-Tock: Unraveling Bibb County Sheriff’s Slow Response Times

Discover the depths of Macon-Bibb County's law enforcement crisis in our comprehensive analysis of police response times. From personal stories to national trends, uncover the challenges, insights, and solutions in 'Echoes of Urgency: Unveiling Macon-Bibb's Struggle with Police Response Times'. Dive into a compelling narrative that combines local incidents, community voices, and expert analysis. Explore how Macon-Bibb compares to cities across the U.S. and what steps can be taken to bridge the gap between public safety needs and law enforcement capabilities

Dr. Alan Wood
December 5, 2023

Education, Georgia, Macon, Watchdog Reports

Macon-Bibb Education Budget: A Watchdog’s Analysis for Taxpayers

Macon-Bibb education budget graphic for this watchdog analysis of Bibb County school district spending and salaries

Explore the Macon-Bibb Education Budget. An analysis of taxpayer allocation, superintendent compensation, expenditures, and the legacy of Romain Dallemand.

Dr. Alan Wood
December 1, 2023

Macon

Cheat sheet on Makin’ Macon Great Again

I am not sure if you could truly ever describe Macon as a great city, but most long timers here would agree it has seen much better days in the past. There is a sense that some positive changes are…

Georgia, Macon

Mapping Macon, GA among the Most Distressed Communities in the U.S

A follower of this blog sent me a very intriguing email with an article from one of the most widely quoted socio/urban planners in the U.S. by the name of Richard Florida. It happens to include an interactive map that…

Dr. Alan Wood
February 29, 2016
2 Comments

Macon, Opinion, Watchdog Reports

Macon-Bibb P&Z meeting will decide fate of Zebulon neighborhoods

Residents of several neighborhoods around Zebulon road are mad as hell about a proposed new development. A meeting is scheduled on December 14, 2015 that will decide if Macon-Bibb planning and zoning will support the residents or allow more urban…

Dr. Alan Wood
December 10, 2015
8 Comments

Macon, Opinion

Greedy local and well-connected developers seek to cash in on P&Z connections

BY JOHN LAUGHTER On Nov. 22, 2013, Planning & Zoning Commissioners Al Tillman, Kamal Azar and Bryan Scott voted for rezoning on Zebulon Road. They tried to open the doors to bring into our good neighborhoods and nice surrounding communities…

Dr. Alan Wood
December 8, 2015
5 Comments

Macon, Opinion

Macon-Bibb EOC changes application process for heating assistance due to scrutiny

Last November I wrote a scathing editorial that received national coverage about the outrageous application process in place in Macon for heating assistance. I received emails from the national LIHEAP program as well as incredulous journalists and outraged community activists.…

Dr. Alan Wood
December 6, 2015

Georgia, Macon

Zebulon Rd. – Open Letter to Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning

Dear P&Z, We would like to make one last plea to you before voting on the Zebulon Lofts proposal. Stone Edge and Ashford Park subdivisions are an integral part of the Zebulon Rd corridor. Many of us have been here…

Dr. Alan Wood
October 31, 2015
1 Comment

Macon, Opinion, Watchdog Reports

Olaeris Releases Video in Last Ditch Effort of Desperation

Back in August I published an article outlining why Macon-Bibb should avoid any business dealings with a startup Drone company . Here are the links to my two previous articles. Olaeris called Drone Proposal with Olaeris Needs to Crash and…

Dr. Alan Wood
October 6, 2015

Georgia, Macon, Opinion

A Field of Pipe dreams: Build it in Macon and they won’t come

The famous line from the movie the Field of Dreams was “If you build it they will come!” That’s a great line from a movie, but the reality is when it comes to sports in Macon, Georgia they won’t come.…

Dr. Alan Wood
October 5, 2015
1 Comment

Georgia, Macon, Opinion

Canceling a Kinetix Gym Membership Proves Nearly Impossible

I was recently contacted by a friend that has been receiving harassing letters demanding over $1,200 dollars for a Kinetix gym membership he signed with the gym in Warner Robins, GA way back in November of 2009. He cancelled in…

Dr. Alan Wood
September 21, 2015
3 Comments

Georgia, Lifestyle, Macon, Watchdog Reports

Mount de Sales President David Held and Allen Peake on leaked Ashley Madison List

Sometimes articles take a lot of time, research, and thought…and sometimes they just write themselves. This is the latter. Two of the most vocal and well-known opponents of same sex marriage in Middle Georgia, State Representative Allen Peake R-Macon and David…

Dr. Alan Wood
September 5, 2015

Macon, Opinion, Technology

Drone Company Olaeris Appears to be Vaporware

Recently I wrote an article expressing my concerns that Olaeris appeared to be a vaporware company. In the computer and tech industry, vaporware is a product, typically computer hardware or software, that is announced to the general public but is never actually manufactured…

Dr. Alan Wood
August 26, 2015