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A Crestline teacher died Sunday evening after a two-vehicle crash in Fairfield County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Crestline Exempted Village Schools.

Curt and Effie open this week’s Inside the Lines by reflecting on where they were and what they remember from Sept. 11, 2001, before turning their attention to high school football. Madison senior Aiden Proctor joins the show to talk about the Rams’ changing culture under coach Kobi Johnson and the team’s response to a 54-0 season-opening loss to Shelby. With Madison now 2-1, Proctor discusses his leadership at middle linebacker, the Rams’ defensive identity and expectations for the rest of 2026. He also discusses the Mansfield Senior rivalry, his wrestling career and hopes of competing collegiately as a wrestler. This episode is brought to you by Graham Auto Mall. Intro and outro music is "Story of the Sunflower Samurai" by local artist Vaundoom.  Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local journalism. Use code thegame26 for 20% OFF and to be entered into the OSU vs Michigan ticket sweepstakes. Already a Source Member? Enter the sweepstakes here.

Today – Blood Prison is getting ready to reopen inside one of Mansfield’s most famous landmarks, with new sets, new scares and more than 100 characters waiting in the dark.

Today – After more than a year of construction, Mansfield’s $20.3 million Main Street transformation is approaching the finish line, with city officials saying the project remains on schedule for completion by the end of October.

Today – A Lexington graduate who once simply wanted to challenge herself has emerged from West Point as one of the top cadets in her class — and says the hardest moments taught her the most.

Today – A major dog surrender in Loudonville has turned into an around-the-clock community effort, with students, volunteers and rescue groups now caring for dozens of animals — including 13 puppies born after the dogs were removed.

Curt and Effie open this week’s Inside the Lines by talking about the late-summer heat and player safety, the early battle shaping up in the MOAC and Danville’s strong start in Knox County. Then, Hillsdale senior twins Kael and Knox Lewis join the show to talk about a lifetime of playing together and their final season as Falcons. They reflect on back-to-back trips to the state championship game, lessons learned against Ohio’s small-school powers and the work that goes into a Hillsdale offseason. The brothers also discuss stepping into veteran leadership roles, chasing a conference title, what they hope to accomplish before their high school careers end and what college athletics might look like for each of them.  This episode is brought to you by Graham Auto Mall. Intro and outro music is "Story of the Sunflower Samurai" by local artist Vaundoom.  Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local journalism. Use code thegame26 for 20% OFF and to be entered into the OSU vs Michigan ticket sweepstakes. Already a Source Member? Enter the sweepstakes here. Related reading:  Brother to brother: Kael, Knox Lewis connect for 3 TDs in Hillsdale’s win over Black River Hillsdale ground attack stifles signature grit of Lucas

Today – A former telecommunications building in Mansfield could soon take on a very different role — becoming a multimillion-dollar housing community for veterans and senior citizens.

Today – Otters, sloths, zebras, kangaroos and more — one Shelby farm has turned an ordinary backyard into one of the area’s most unusual animal experiences.

This week on News Man Weekly, Carl, Zac and Hayden head into a three-week break with plenty to discuss, including a tense Mansfield town hall on police-community relations, a new pavilion bringing fresh life to Prospect Park and the first-ever Coney Fest in downtown Mansfield. Plus, Carl prepares for the approaching doom of winter by counting down his Top 5 places to see fall foliage across North Central Ohio. Later, we sit down with Mansfield native Joe Robertson, a 71-year-old retired letter carrier who has turned a lifelong love of baseball into an extraordinary quest: visiting more than 900 ballparks. Robertson has seen every Major League Baseball stadium along with hundreds of minor league, independent and college fields across the country. He shares how the obsession began, his favorite parks and baseball memories, the adventures involved in planning trips around the game and the stadiums still left on his bucket list.  This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links:  Join the Ballpark Chasers Facebook group ‘An opening to a longer conversation’: Mansfield leaders partner with NAACP on ‘Town Hall’ series A coney’s worst day: Richland Carrousel Park hosts Coney Fest to beat a dog day afternoon Public-private partnership brings new pavilion to Mansfield’s Prospect Park Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today – Seventy-two dogs are beginning a new chapter after being removed from a Loudonville commercial breeding operation — and the Ashland County Humane Society says it now needs the community’s help to care for them.

Today – Madison Primary is starting a new chapter this school year, bringing the district’s youngest students together under one roof — and putting two Madison graduates in charge of helping them build a strong foundation.

Inside the Lines is back for the 2026 school year and we start out with Centerburg tight end and Florida Gator commit Jackson Ballinger.  First, host Curt Conrad and co-host Effie James review a couple of week 1 results and pay their respects to the late Andrew Saris of Lexington.  Then, Centerburg senior tight end Jackson Ballinger joins the show to talk about his journey from small-town Ohio to becoming a Florida Gators commit. Ballinger takes us inside the recruiting process -- including NIL, agents and why he chose Florida over programs such as Indiana. He also discusses graduating early, preparing for the jump to SEC football and what he wants to accomplish before leaving Centerburg. Plus, we break down the Trojans' winning culture, their new-look offense and how Ballinger is approaching his final season as a leader.   This episode is brought to you by Graham Auto Mall and Triple P in Knox County. Intro and outro music is "Story of the Sunflower Samurai" by local artist Vaundoom.  Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local journalism. Related reading:  Explosive Centerburg roars past Utica for impressive victory Find all of our Knox County high school football coverage

Today – A neighborhood park in Mansfield has a new place to gather, thanks to a partnership that brought residents, local organizations and the city together.

Today – Three new firefighters are beginning their careers with the Mansfield Fire Department, joining a department that hopes to return to full staffing in the coming weeks.

This week on the News Man Weekly, we're keeping it in the family. Zach Hunnell, Carl's youngest son, joins us to discuss his life in Barcelona, Spain.  First, we recap the latest news around Richland County, including the Festival of Hope at Mansfield Speedway, long-awaited plans to demolish the former West Park Shopping Center and a new series of community town halls aimed at strengthening dialogue between Mansfield residents and police. Plus, Carl ranks his top 5 summer blockbuster movies of all time.  Then, News Man Weekly goes international as Carl welcomes his youngest son, Zachary Hunnell, a Lexington High School graduate who has spent the past four years living and working in Barcelona, Spain. Zach talks about his career in global supply chain management with HP and how a kid from Richland County ended up building a life halfway around the world. Father and son also get into the fun stuff: adjusting to 10 p.m. dinners, late-night beach parties, life without a car, European soccer culture, European healthcare, traveling the continent and the things Americans get completely wrong about everyday life in Spain. This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links:  On the same track: Churches unite for Festival of Hope at Mansfield Speedway Mansfield NAACP announces 'Town Hall' meetings with mayor, police seeking improved relationship Powering down: Utility work to begin ahead of former West Park Shopping Mall's fall takedown Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today – An inclusive cheer team in Madison Township is proving that competition, confidence and belonging can all share the same mat.

Today – Lexington’s new elementary school is taking shape, with construction underway and plans calling for students to walk through the doors in the fall of 2028.

Today – Mansfield leaders are putting a five-year plan behind one of the city’s biggest economic assets, with hopes of turning Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport into a stronger engine for jobs, investment and new technology.

Today – A local bluegrass band is tuning up for a special Mansfield concert, with every ticket sold helping the Mansfield Playhouse keep the lights on as it prepares for its 101st season.

This week on News Man Weekly, it's essentially a high school football show. We invite our Managing Editor and long-time high school sports reporter, Larry Phillips, into the studio to help us preview the 2026 football season in Richland County.  But first, Carl, Zac and Hayden break down the latest Richland County headlines, including the case against a 16-year-old accused in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Elias Uzunoff, a new memorial highway honoring Vietnam War veteran Glenn S. Wingenbach Jr. and a major $500,000 donation moving the Mansfield Playhouse closer to its new downtown home. Then, Larry joins us for our special 2026 high school football roundtable. We break down the teams and players to watch across the county -- including a new era beginning at Lexington, a rebuilding Mansfield Senior, a MOAC race that includes Shelby, Ontario, Clear Fork and Galion, Plymouth's numbers issue, Lucas joining a conference and more.  Check out all of our high school football previews at the links below:  Team previews in Richland County Team previews in Ashland County Team previews in Knox County This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. More relevant links:  Richland County prosecutor will seek to try 16-year-old charged with murder in adult court Madison High School grad killed in Vietnam to have section of Ohio 13 dedicated in his name Anonymous $500K donation pushes Mansfield Playhouse closer to dream of new $5.9 million downtown theater Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today – Reece Cook is closing out a decade in the show ring with one of the biggest honors of her junior fair career — being named Showman of Showmen at the Richland County Fair.

A stretch of Ohio 13 near Mansfield will soon carry the name of a Madison High School graduate who left home for Vietnam and never returned.

Today – A major anonymous gift has moved the Mansfield Playhouse another half-million dollars closer to turning its vision for a new downtown theater into reality.

Today – A young black bear is turning heads around Mohican State Park, but wildlife officials say the animal appears to be a traveler rather than a new permanent resident.

This week on News Man Weekly, it's Richland County Fair week and Carl gives his top 5 fair foods. The crew also digs into the latest Richland County headlines, including the investigation into the May killing of 18-year-old Le’Ondra Messner, new economic development projects taking shape across the county and a debate at Mansfield City Council over whether more resources should be directed toward proactive youth violence prevention. Later, we sit down with Mansfield native Tom Joudrey, creator of Passenger Seat, a three-part podcast revisiting the harrowing 2012 kidnapping of Jennifer Hurst. Joudrey explains what drew him back to a story from his hometown, how he reconstructed Hurst’s 12-hour ordeal and why the series ultimately became about much more than the crime itself.  The conversation explores Hurst’s remarkable composure during the kidnapping, the collateral damage of addiction, Joudrey’s trip to Grafton Correctional Institution to interview Nathan Taylor and the ethical challenges of telling a true-crime story involving real people and lasting trauma. Joudrey also discusses why, more than a decade later, Hurst still feels compelled to tell her story — and what creating Passenger Seat taught him about storytelling, journalism and his hometown. This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links: Listen to Passenger Seat on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mansfield police seek public help in finding 4 'persons of interest' from May homicide Prevention vs. OT: Mansfield lawmaker pushes city to target root causes of youth violence Manufacturing expansions and historic revivals anchor Richland County growth, officials say Find all of our 2026 Fair coverage Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism. GET 10% OFF when you sign up through Aug. 16. 

Today – Richland County leaders say years of behind-the-scenes economic development work are now paying off in a wave of manufacturing expansions, downtown redevelopment and new opportunities across the county.

Today – Two Columbus men are in custody after authorities recovered 27 firearms and a taser stolen during an early-morning break-in at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters in Ashland.

Today – A Mansfield councilwoman is urging city leaders to invest more directly in preventing youth violence, rather than relying primarily on police overtime and crime analysis after violence occurs.

Today – A suspicious early-morning fire at a Mansfield transitional housing facility sent two men to the hospital and brought both fire and police investigators to the scene.

This week on News Man Weekly, Carl, Zac and Hayden mark the unofficial beginning of Ohio's march toward fall with another edition of Carl's Top 5. The crew also discusses several major local headlines, including Buc-ee's officially purchasing land in Mansfield, a $20 million fiber optic expansion along U.S. Route 30 and the opening of the new Bad Magic Skatepark at Maple Lake Park. Later, we sit down with Mansfield actor, filmmaker and videographer Beau Roberts. From his starring role as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at the Renaissance Theatre to his work in independent films and behind the camera at DRM Productions, Beau shares stories from decades in the performing arts. We talk about the differences between stage and screen, memorable moments from live theater, the realities of pursuing an acting career and why Mansfield's arts community continues to punch above its weight. This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links: Broadway Blowout: Case from 'Guys & Dolls' celebrates with the audience at the Renaissance Get tickets to Guys & Dolls at the Renaissance See Beau's IMDB page Mansfield Lahm Airport Day offers up-close look at aircraft and automobiles Property transfers: Buc-ee's closes on $2.6 million land purchase in Madison Twp. Lincoln Highway to broadband internet: Contract signed for $20 million U.S. 30 high-speed connection across Ohio From tennis courts to kickflips: Skat Ohio opens new Bad Magic Skatepark in Mansfield Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today: A first-year soap box derby racer turned a win in Mansfield into a third-place finish on the world championship stage in Akron.

Today: Former Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus will face a judge rather than a jury in his Mansfield Municipal Court voyeurism case, but the bench trial cannot be scheduled until the Ohio Supreme Court selects a visiting judge.

Today: A historic Mansfield home built to showcase the future could soon begin a new chapter as a museum, but only under strict operating limits designed to protect the surrounding neighborhood.

Lexie Miller balances her work as an ICU nurse with her new role as Miss Ohio while promoting heart health and preparing for Miss America.

This week on News Man Weekly, Carl, Zac and Hayden recap the weekend, review The Odyssey and hear the latest chapter in Carl's ongoing feud with the neighborhood wild turkey that has apparently claimed his driveway as its own. The crew also breaks down the week's biggest local stories, including Richland County's looming road salt shortage, the grand opening of the Bad Magic Skatepark at Maple Lake Park and Mansfield City Schools' strongest financial outlook in years. Later, we welcome Jennifer Kime, president and CEO of Downtown Mansfield Inc., for a wide-ranging conversation about the city's ongoing transformation. They discuss the progress of the Main Street reconstruction project, the return of two-way traffic, the momentum behind Downtown Forward, the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses and Jennifer's vision for the future of downtown Mansfield. This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links:  Quite the predicament: Richland County gets no road salt bids for upcoming winter season Skate Ohio planning 'micro park' in Mansfield's Maple Lake Park New lights along North Main Street placed as part of improvement project in Mansfield Mansfield City Schools ends fiscal year on a high note Follow Downtown Mansfield Inc. on Facebook and visit their website Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today – What began as two friends searching for challenging gravel roads has grown into a sold-out cycling tradition attracting riders from across the United States and beyond.

Today – A longtime Lexington educator and graduate of the district is stepping into its top leadership position.

A Mansfield pastor is pressing city leaders for answers about a controversial police stop involving a local man who was later charged in a sweeping federal drug-trafficking case.

Today – A family outing near the Scioto River ended in tragedy after five adults apparently entered the water during a series of rescue attempts.

This week on News Man Weekly, Carl, Zac and Hayden recap another unforgettable Inkcarceration weekend and react to the festival's impact on Mansfield. The crew also counts down Carl's Top 5 favorite Moonshiners personalities before discussing the week's biggest local headlines, including a new strategic vision for Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, the Tyger Park Takeover basketball tour and Lexington Superintendent Jeremy Secrist's departure after 15 years with the district. Later, we welcome Scott Palmer and Jeff Nupen, co-owners of the Ohio Shine Company, Richland County's only legal craft moonshine distillery. They share how the business came together, what makes their spirits unique, the challenges of opening a distillery in Ohio and why they believe downtown Mansfield is the perfect place to build a local brand.  This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links:  Find all of our Inkcarceration coverage here Cleared for takeoff: Mansfield unveils 5-year plan for Lahm Regional Airport Tyger Park Takeover introduces playground basketball to a new generation Lexington Local School Supt. Jeremy Secrist announces resignation Find Ohio Shine Co. on 126 N. Franklin Ave. Follow them on Facebook and visit their website here.  Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today – Fans came to Mansfield from across the country — and across the world — for Inkcarceration at the Ohio State Reformatory.

Today – A federal lawsuit is raising new questions about a violent arrest in Butler that left a fleeing man seriously injured beneath a former mayor’s vehicle.

Today – A mysterious newspaper reference suggests 1912 Indianapolis 500 champion Joe Dawson once called Mount Vernon home—but exactly how he was connected to Knox County remains an unanswered piece of local history.

Today – A federal policy reversal has renewed an Ohio debate over whether child care providers should be paid when enrolled children are absent.

This week on News Man Weekly, Carl, Zac, Hayden and special guest Chris Kelly get you ready for one of Mansfield's biggest weekends of the year: The Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival. The crew also breaks down some news of the week, including why Ohio was named CNBC's top state for business, the grand opening of Rural King in Ontario and plans to transform a longtime Ontario eyesore into new community green space. Then we welcome Rasan Leathers, host of the She Shreds podcast, for an insider's look at the heavy metal community and what makes Inkcarceration unlike any other festival in the country. We discuss the rise of women in metal, how Rasan gets musicians to open up in interviews, the unique culture surrounding Ink and who we're most excited to see. We do our best to educate Carl on current metal culture as well as convince him to attend the Ohio State Reformatory for the fest this weekend.  This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. Relevant links: Chris Kelly: Thanks for letting me be a part of your life through local radio for two decades 'Ohio is now a powerhouse for business': Romanchuk hails CNBC study ranking states Ducklings, rabbits and chicks, oh my! Rural King brings unique variety to Ontario Ontario clears the way for safer streets with Park Avenue property purchase Find and subscribe to the She Shreds podcast with Rasan Leathers Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Today – A young bald eagle found weak and starving beneath her nest is getting a second chance after a rescue that arrived with remarkable timing on America’s 250th birthday.

Today – In Shelby, a thousand rubber ducks are getting ready to race for a little boy whose story still moves a community.

Today – Amy Walker is stepping into a new leadership role at Springmill STEM Elementary, bringing years of classroom, administrative and school board experience with her.

One local mental health counselor is urging parents to be aware of a resurgence in the Benadryl challenge, a viral trend that encourages overdoses of the common allergy medication.