Newton County growth debates hit a new level in Episode 72 as District 5 Commissioner LeAnne Long returns to The Town Square Podcast to unpack the “good, bad, and ugly” of 2025—especially around data centers, annexations, and citizen trust. Long explains how her blunt communication style and relentless Facebook engagement have helped wake up residents who felt shut out of decisions impacting their neighborhoods.

The conversation dives into why transparency and early communication matter, how annexation timelines work, what happened with the Falconwood and Elks Club Road proposals (voted down by Covington City Council on January 20, 2026), and why data centers have become the buzzword of the year. Long argues she’s not anti-growth—she’s pro-balance, pro-process, and pro “no surprises” government.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 11 of The Town Square Podcast, Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey are joined by Serra Hall, the Executive Director of the Newton County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), for a candid conversation about the future of our community.

This conversation is packed with insights and might stir up mixed feelings within the community, but it’s an essential listen for anyone interested in the economic future of Newton County. Tune in to get a full understanding of the work being done and what’s on the horizon for our area.