Episode 79 kicks off the new year the only way News Man Weekly knows how: cold, cranky, and painfully honest. From there, the crew riffs on the NFL playoff picture and Carl ranks his top five stand-up comedians of all time. Carl then recaps news of the week including two crime cases out of Ashland and area fire departments who received grants to improve emergency communications across the county. 

The episode’s featured interview brings Mansfield City Council members Cheryl Meier and David Falquette into the studio for a wide-ranging conversation to start 2026. The two veteran lawmakers discuss the role of City Council, the biggest challenges facing Mansfield, how decisions are made behind the scenes and what residents should expect from local government in the year ahead.

This episode is brought to you by Relax, It's Just Coffee.

Related links: 
Former Ashland dentist, wife found shot to death in Columbus
Family, friends shocked by murder of former Ashland dentist & wife
24-year-old jailed following fatal New Year’s Day shooting in Ashland
Three Richland County fire departments awarded MARCS grants

Intro song credit: Smoke And Drink, by Luke Watson.

Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Episode 79 kicks off the new year the only way News Man Weekly&nbsp;knows how: cold, cranky, and painfully honest. From there, the crew riffs on the NFL playoff picture and Carl ranks his top five stand-up comedians of all time. Carl then recaps news of the week including two crime cases out of Ashland and area fire departments who received grants to improve emergency communications across the county.&nbsp;
The episode&rsquo;s featured interview brings Mansfield City Council members Cheryl Meier and David Falquette into the studio for a wide-ranging conversation to start 2026. The two veteran lawmakers discuss the role of City Council, the biggest challenges facing Mansfield, how decisions are made behind the scenes and what residents should expect from local government in the year ahead.
This episode is brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.relaxitsjustcoffee.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.relaxitsjustcoffee.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw38VKaeKfGuD7CIe-dAbZH0">Relax, It's Just Coffee.</a>
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ashlandsource.com/2026/01/01/former-ashland-dentist-wife-found-shot-to-death-in-columbus/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ashlandsource.com/2026/01/01/former-ashland-dentist-wife-found-shot-to-death-in-columbus/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0fj-UOUdvA68oPpdOGlrwf">Former Ashland dentist, wife found shot to death in Columbus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ashlandsource.com/2026/01/02/family-friends-shocked-by-murder-of-former-ashland-dentist-wife/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ashlandsource.com/2026/01/02/family-friends-shocked-by-murder-of-former-ashland-dentist-wife/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3285QqpgAPwlaASvELBwun">Family, friends shocked by murder of former Ashland dentist &amp; wife</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ashlandsource.com/2026/01/02/24-year-old-jailed-following-fatal-new-years-day-shooting-in-ashland/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ashlandsource.com/2026/01/02/24-year-old-jailed-following-fatal-new-years-day-shooting-in-ashland/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1JIZQS88FWTI5sER1Zry-j">24-year-old jailed following fatal New Year&rsquo;s Day shooting in Ashland</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.richlandsource.com/2026/01/02/three-richland-county-fire-departments-awarded-marcs-grants/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.richlandsource.com/2026/01/02/three-richland-county-fire-departments-awarded-marcs-grants/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0cURgyerxOZiKZ1eHITvvz">Three Richland County fire departments awarded MARCS grants</a></li>
</ul>
Intro song credit:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/31PbqiNA0BZouNa9WHrl6H?si=F12DuHq3RtO33O7MPZvZDA" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/album/31PbqiNA0BZouNa9WHrl6H?si%3DF12DuHq3RtO33O7MPZvZDA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3DLGKoMak0F1tPrS02OTJw">Smoke And Drink</a>, by Luke Watson.
<a href="https://www.richlandsource.com/members/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.richlandsource.com/members/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1767727493739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bOhDs_-NNKKQivseuhlpp">Be a Source Member</a>&nbsp;for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Richland Source presents your daily dose of journalism. Listen to the top stories, breaking news and need-to-know information from your award-winning local news team.

Our music is by THE AFRXNTS

Richland&nbsp;Source presents your daily dose of journalism. Listen to the top stories, breaking news and need-to-know information from your award-winning local news team.
Our music is by <a href="https://linktr.ee/theafrxnts">THE AFRXNTS</a>

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