Yellow Springs News

11/14/2025

District enrollment this fall stands at 608 students, with about 36% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Roughly 17% of district students are identified with disabilities.

11/14/2025

According to a press release from the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Yellow Springs resident Frederick Dane Muenchau-Peterson, 23, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated murder and tampering with evidence.

11/14/2025

This week's "Feeding the Village" column—

11/13/2025

Good news! The 2025-2026 Redbook — the Yellow Springs community directory and local phone book — has arrived!

The Redbook will be mailed with this week’s issue of the News to all subscribers in 45387, and is free with the purchase of the paper from local stands.

Extra Redbooks are for sale at the News office for $1.50.

11/13/2025

From the Nov. 3 Village Council meeting—

Council member Carmen Brown made a motion to reopen Short Street until Village administration presents a more clear vision of what a permanent community space would look like.

Brown and Gavin DeVore Leonard voted in favor of the motion; Brian Housh and Kevin Stokes voted against it. With only four members at the dais on Monday — Trish Gustafson was absent — and with a split 2–2 vote, the motion failed.

The street remains closed.

Now, Village Manager Johnnie Burns and his administrative team will go to the drawing board to craft two options regarding the future of Short Street for Council’s consideration: conceptual designs for how Short Street would look and function as a permanently closed space, and designs for how it’d work as a “pop-up, pop-down” temporary space.

As Burns wrote in a memo to Council, Village staff will provide Council preliminary quotes, cost estimates and potential funding sources for both options at Village Council’s forthcoming Feb. 2 meeting.

Council member Carmen Brown made a motion to reopen Short Street until Village administration presents a more clear vision of what a permanent community space would look like. Brown and Gavin DeVore Leonard voted in favor of the motion; Brian Housh and Kevin Stokes voted against it.

11/12/2025

A 185-acre farm along Dayton-Yellow Springs Road is actively under contract for purchase by a local family who is working with local farm conservation nonprofit Tecumseh Land Trust to place a conservation easement on the entire farm, thus precluding any future attempts to develop the land in any way.

A 185-acre farm along Dayton-Yellow Springs Road is actively under contract for purchase by a local family who is working with local farm conservation nonprofit Tecumseh Land Trust to place a conservation easement on the entire farm, thus precluding any future attempts to develop the land in any way

11/11/2025

Dr. Lori Varlotta took office as the 23rd president of Antioch University in August.

In a recent interview with the News, she discussed her visit to the village and potential future plans for the Midwest campus at 900 Dayton St.

When Lori Varlotta took office as the 23rd president of Antioch University on Aug. 11, she jumped right into getting acquainted with Yellow Springs.

11/10/2025

On Monday, Oct. 27, Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Carl Aveni again hampered Gov. Mike DeWine’s attempts to ban the sale of h**p products, allowing retailers to continue selling those products until at least Dec. 2.

As the News reported last month, DeWine’s executive order — had it taken effect — would have significantly impacted the business of several downtown Yellow Springs retailers of h**p products.

As the News reported earlier this month, DeWine’s executive order — had it taken effect — would have significantly impacted the business of several downtown Yellow Springs retailers of h**p products.

11/09/2025

Some Yellow Springs residents are among the 40 million Americans whose SNAP — the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — benefits have been thrown into jeopardy by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The need in Yellow Springs is apparent: Tom's Market owner Jeff Gray told the News that the local store receives about $360 from SNAP purchases each day.

Read more about how some village organizations have doubled their efforts to keep the community fed:

With funding appropriations at a halt, 1.4 million Ohioans were put at risk of losing critical food access on Nov. 1, when SNAP benefits were set to renew for the month — but a number of Yellow Springs organizations have stepped in to keep villagers fed.

11/07/2025

According to DDC’s preliminary plat application, which was sent to Planning Commission members on Friday, Nov. 7, 120 of the units will be attached single-family — 12 structures with 10 dwelling units in each — and the remaining 70 units will be detached single-family homes.

11/07/2025

Pauli Murray was a civil rights advocate, lawyer, poet and Episcopal priest whose work left lasting impacts on the ongoing efforts toward equal rights for women and people of color.

World House Choir will perform “Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray” Nov. 7 and 9 in the Foundry Theater at Antioch College.

This weekend, the 10-movement dramatic cantata, “Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray,” will be performed in Yellow Springs Friday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 9, and in Cincinnati on Nov. 8.

11/06/2025

Village Council held its second and final budget session on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when Council members were given the chance to make their case for including Council-sponsored initiatives in the 2026 budget.

Finance Director Michelle Robinson said that the projected deficit is close to $558,100 — down from an earlier estimation of $820,000 and including the Council initiatives.

Village Finance Director Michelle Robinson said at Village Council's second and final budget session, Oct. 15, that the projected municipal deficit for 2026 is around $558,100 — down from an earlier estimation of $820,000, and now accounting for several Council special initiatives.