Mark Labutis News Today

The Newark firefighters union president said NFD is one of the lowest-paid in central Ohio, making it difficult to hire and retain firefighters.

It is a bad look for the Newark City Council to prevent people who were invited to testify from speaking.

Newark Advocate NEWARK -- Mayor Jeff Hall said civil service rules required he appoint Erik McKee as police chief, but he would have chosen McKee regardless. Hall said he had to pick from the trio remaining from last year’s civil service list and appoint the top scorer on the civil service test. “He has a very positive attitude and is well engaged in the community,” the mayor said of the new chief. Deputy police chiefs McKee, Darrin Logan and Craig Riley interviewed for the job in 2020,...

Newark Advocate NEWARK -- A survey of 23 elected officials in Newark, Heath and Licking County governments shows a majority have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Advocate asked for a response from the mayors of Newark and Heath, council members from both communities and the three Licking County Commissioners. Sixteen said they have already received a vaccine and two others plans to do so. Four did not answer the question and one said he is not sure if hell get the vaccine....