Featured News
Election Day 2026: On the ground with Licking County voters
Throughout the day, journalists from The Reporting Project will be on the ground at Licking County’s 27 polling locations, meeting with voters and discussing election results with candidates. We’ll share those results as soon as we have them.
2026 General election results: Licking County communities overwhelmingly support large-scale data center bans
The final, official results will come after all absentee ballots have been counted and the vote certified by the board of elections.
Republican Mark Van Buren will be the next Licking County commissioner
Van Buren received 58.63% of the vote across the county against Democrat candidate Kathy McLeish, who received 40% of the vote. Write-in votes comprised another 1.37% of the vote.
Visitors from around the country attended moonrise at the Newark Earthworks at peak of 18.6-year cycle
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Newark Earthworks hosted a gathering open to the public to witness the moonrise at its northernmost position in the sky, a cycle that repeats every 18.6 years.
Local News
Licking County residents pack meeting to hear Sheriff Thorp and staff explain use of Flock surveillance cameras
So many people showed up to a Licking County Commissioners’ meeting Monday afternoon to hear Sheriff Randy Thorp talk about how his staff uses Flock surveillance cameras that they had […]
River Road at Rt. 16 to close except for emergency responders as soon as summer 2027
With a unanimous vote on Monday morning, the Licking County Commissioners approved a request by state officials to close the intersection of Rt. 16 and River Road in Granville to […]
Early voting totals climb in Licking County midterm election
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, alone, 1,288 people cast their ballots early in the county – a significant spike compared to the average 600 daily voters they were seeing earlier this month.
Ramaswamy campaigns in Hebron in final days before November election
The visit to Hebron was the first of three stops statewide Republican candidates made on Tuesday as part of an 11-day, 31-county tour across Ohio.
Things to Do in Licking County
Events
Kindness
Scrappy Soil lets Granville residents compost everyday food waste
The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that more than a third of all U.S. municipal waste – roughly 100 million tons – is organic material like food.
Superintendent steps up to be the new teacher for Par Excellence’s sixth-grade class
Gisele James has had a lot of support from the administrative team for taking on the teacher role, and other teachers have helped her get into the swing of things.
Newark’s medical loan closet works to reduce one-off medical equipment purchases
Community members can visit in person or call to borrow assorted medical equipment, like a book from a library.
Homeless resource center opens in Coshocton
Homeless Hearts of Coshocton, located at 616 Walnut Street, offers showers, spaces for preparing and eating food, laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi to people experiencing homelessness.
Arts & culture
See photos: 2026 Trick-or-Treat around Licking County
The sun brightened the sky on an unseasonably warm day for trick or treating in Granville this year. Starting at 5:30 p.m., trick or treaters had plenty of daylight to […]
Newark best friends have been singing the same song for over 50 years
Miriam Miller and Joyce Chaney both joined the Crystal City barbershop chorus in the 70s.
Ninja knitters: Annual “yarn bombing” hits Granville
For 15 years, a group of Granville residents has quietly transformed the village through an annual tradition known as yarn bombing. Knitted installations appear overnight, remain for only a few days and then disappear.
Dawes Arboretum celebrates semiquincentennial with tree dedicated to the America 250-Ohio Commission
The arboretum has a long history of dedicating trees to historically significant people, including astronaut John Glenn, the Wright brothers, Jesse Owens and Jack Hanna.
Sports & recreation
‘Crazy is a really good word for it:’ Working Granville High School’s concession stands
Behind the hot dogs, popcorn and candy concession stand at athletic events is an operation that generated $107K last year for the district’s sports, arts and other student organizations.
Licking Park District breaks ground on new park, will provide improved river access and new trails
The new park is slated to be completed by the summer in 2027, and will feature additional walkways and two new boat launches into Licking River and a nearby pond.
What’s it like atop a bucking bull? The rodeo finale at the Hartford Fair was a wild ride
The final night at the Hartford Fair was a show of endurance, skill and speed. It was big bulls and brave riders, fast horses and skillful speed doing turns about […]
After bike crash sidelined him from Pelotonia, Granville cyclist returns for 100-mile ride
A year after a bicycle crash left him unconscious, erased about 10 minutes from his memory, and prevented him from riding in Pelotonia, Granville resident Mike Rossetti returned to the […]
World, nation & state
Democrat Amy Acton defeats Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio governor’s race
By JULIE CARR SMYTH | Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dr. Amy Acton delivered a stunning victory in the race for Ohio governor on Tuesday, overcoming more than $100 […]
Voters to decide Ohio governor’s race after Vivek Ramaswamy ran ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother
Republican biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy will learn Tuesday whether a decision to double down on a widely criticized attack ad against his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, in the race’s closing days saved or sunk his campaign for Ohio governor.
Democrats and Republicans make a final push one day before midterm elections
There’s plenty of angst among U.S. voters on the eve of Election Day.
Supreme Court agrees to review a Reconstruction-era ban on distilling spirits in private homes
A three-judge panel from the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal ban in a case brought by John Ream, a brewpub owner from Newark, Ohio, who wants to distill whisky at home for his personal consumption.
Bright Spots
Community resources
The Reporting Project community resource calendar
This resource is filled with low- to no-barrier resources that community members can use to receive assistance with food, access to healthcare, veterans services and more.
Events
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Breakfast at the Main Place
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Breakfast at the Community Drop-In Center
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Free clinic of Licking County at the Community Drop-In Center
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Lunch at the Main Place
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Lunch at the Salvation Army
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Free clinic of Licking County
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Lunch at the Community Drop-In Center
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Dinner at the Salvation Army
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Dinner at the Champion’s Network
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