MANSFIELD — A second inmate death at the Richland Correctional Institution is listed as “probable” for COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction website. Also, three more staff members and two inmates at the Mansfield Correctional Institution have tested positive for coronavirus since Thursday, according to the ODRC website. The RICI inmate […]
Carl Hunnell
City editor. 30-year plus journalist. Husband. Father of 3 grown sons and also a proud grandpa. Prior military journalist in U.S. Navy, Ohio Air National Guard. -- Favorite quote: "Where were you when the page was blank?"
Posted inElections, News
Richland County residents answer the call as election poll workers, says Hankins
MANSFIELD — It appears Richland County residents have answered the call to work in the polls for the Nov. 3 general election, though recruitment efforts continue in other areas of the state. More than 200 local residents participated in poll worker training sessions this week with the Richland County Board of Elections, according to local […]
Posted inCovid-19, News
Death of Richland Correctional Institution inmate listed as COVID-19 ‘probable’
MANSFIELD — The recent death of a 76-year-old Richland Correctional Institution is listed as “probable” for COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction website. The inmate passed away Tuesday at The Ohio State University Medical Center, according to ODRC spokeswoman JoEllen Smith. The inmate entered RICI in January 2018 after being convicted […]
Posted inCovid-19, News
COVID-19: DeWine says color-coded system not tied to state restrictions
MANSFIELD — Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday the state’s color-coded COVID-19 Public Health Advisory System — which ranked Richland County as “red” again this week — is not tied to any state-ordered restrictions. The county triggered five of the system’s seven indicators in keeping a level three designation, one less than last week, when it earned […]
Posted inCovid-19, News
Richland County stays ‘red’ in COVID-19 state rating
MANSFIELD — Richland County remained “red,” or level three, Thursday afternoon in the state’s color-coded COVID-19 Public Health Advisory System. The county triggered five of the system’s seven indicators, one less than last week, when it earned a spot on the state’s “watch list” for level four. There had been concerns the county would become […]
Posted inNews
Richland County commissioners keeping mobile hotspot program for schools
MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners will proceed with a plan to fund mobile internet hotspots for local students, despite new guidance from the federal government that puts some of the funds at risk. New instructions now say any local governments spending coronavirus relief funds must receive all goods or have all services performed by Dec. […]
Posted inNews
Obhof plans to seek repeal of DeWine’s 10 p.m. alcohol curfew on bars, restaurants
COLUMBUS — Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof said Wednesday he plans to introduce legislation next week aimed at repealing the state’s orders prohibiting the ban of alcohol sales after 10 p.m. The commission, acting at the request of Gov. Mike DeWine, adopted the rules on July 31 as part of the state’s efforts to curb […]
Posted inElections, News
COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t slow in-person voting in Richland County
MANSFIELD — The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t slow early, in-person voting in Richland County on Tuesday. More than twice as many Richland County residents took advantage of “opening day” in the 2020 presidential election campaign, as compared to 2016. Richland County Board of Elections Director Paulette Hankins said 1,066 residents voted in-person on Tuesday, up from […]
Posted inCovid-19, News
COVID-19: DeWine pledges no ‘punitive actions’ if Richland County goes ‘purple’
COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine said the state plans no “punitive action” against Richland County if it becomes Ohio’s first “purple,” or level four, county on Thursday under the COVID-19 Public Health Advisory System. “These color codes are really meant to inform people about the nature of the problem,” DeWine said during his Tuesday press […]
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Mansfield City Council OKs COVID-19 relief funds for police, fire department payroll
MANSFIELD — Moments after Mansfield City Council approved more than $1 million in COVID-19 relief dollars for police and fire department payroll, Safety-Service Director Lori Cope offered a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by first responders. “We have 11 firefighters off right now, either for testing positive for COVID-19 or being quarantined for working […]