By Gromer Jeffers Jr.political writer readMansfield Mayor Michael Evans gives a shout out to supporters during a meet and greet at El Primo's in Mansfield The contest in the fast-growing city was defined in part by partisan politics and a debate over diversity Evans was elected the city’s first Black mayor He jumped out to a strong lead after early voting and predicted his lead would hold Then he thanked Mansfield residents for returning him to office Breaking NewsGet the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “I’m proud of the fact that the voters of Mansfield said to the partisan world and to the outside world that we can handle our own affairs,” Evans told The Dallas Morning News on Saturday night adding that voters rejected the politics of division A coalition of partisan and conservative groups backed Short including the Tarrant County Republican Party the True Texas Project and the Keep Tarrant County Red political action committee Results: See full election results here Evans, a Mansfield pastor, did not seek the endorsement of the Tarrant County Democratic Party and didn’t fill out the group’s candidate questionnaire. The Lone Star Project, a research group that supports Democrats, backed Evans. Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French told voters to reject diversity, saying it promoted racism. He urged Mansfield residents to “homogenize around our Constitution and reject this idea that diversity is somehow a strength.” Evans countered that Mansfield, a city once known for its racial strife, was proud of its record of being inclusive and progressive. In 1956, effigies were hung near and atop Mansfield High School to deter three Black students from entering. The district had been ordered to desegregate, and officials didn’t comply until 1965. When voters in 2020 made Evans it’s first elected Black mayor, it helped symbolize how the city had move away from its intolerant past. Mansfield is 15 miles southeast of Fort Worth and 22 miles southwest of Dallas in Tarrant, Johnson and Ellis counties. In the last 25 years the population has exploded. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28,031 residents lived in Mansfield in 2000. Today there are nearly 90,000 residents. The outcome of Mansfield’s mayoral election has deeper implications. Democrats see it as an opportunity to grow their coalition and make gains in a county largely controlled by Republicans. And with Tarrant County becoming more politically competitive, Republicans can’t afford to have demographic shifts diminish their clout. Evans and Short have agreed on most issues facing the city and voted the same on issues 99% of the time. Evans, who described himself as a centrist, campaigned on continuing Mansfield economic and population growth, which he said would keep taxes low. He supports building a set of convention center hotels, revitalizing downtown and bringing businesses to the city. Short ran on shrinking city government. She said paying money to a rideshare program called the Trinity Metro, as well as partnerships with the Tarrant Area Food Bank, are examples of things Mansfield shouldn’t fund. She said social services should be left to charities and churches, not government. he was a reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Chicago Defender You can catch Gromer every Sunday at 8:30 a.m Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London He specializes in immigration policy and border security He has uncovered allegations of misconduct among border agents under investigation and exposed claims of abuse at ICE-run detention centers in the U.S He joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent He has covered the British Post Office scandal and the conflict between Israel and Hamas he studied Journalism in Edinburgh and then worked for STV News before moving to London in 2022 You can contact Billal at b.rahman@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A Texas school board has voted out three conservative members in Mansfield Voters in Mansfield Independent School District (ISD) overhauled the school board in the May 3 election with challengers unseating incumbents—including the board president and secretary—in all three contested races Texas is among the states that have seen a recent rise in book bans with the Lone Star State issuing 625 bans during the 2022-23 academic year The vote also followed a charged election season fueled by heightened outside political involvement and growing debate over the influence of partisanship in local school governance a data management professional in the event ticketing software industry defeated incumbent Keziah Valdes Farrar in the race for the Mansfield ISD school board Horn secured 60.3 percent of the 12,356 votes cast a Realtor and current board president who had served since 2021 who manages road and bridge operations in Tarrant County's Precinct 2 unseated incumbent Craig Tipping in the Place 3 race a one-term board member with experience in physical therapy and roofing sales secured 41.98 percent of the 12,269 total votes to Thomas' 58.02 percent the director of visual and performing arts for Fort Worth ISD won the race against incumbent Bianca Benavides Anderson a sales consultant completing her first term on the board Cannon led with 58.6 percent of the 12,163 votes cast More than 63,000 ballots have been cast in Tarrant County representing 5.14 percent of registered voters Overall voter turnout in the county reached 98,564 Incumbent Mayor Michael Evans was reelected to a third term One Republican said after the loss State Democrats argued that the results were a sharp rebuke of Republican Governor Greg Abbott's Texas school voucher policy The election fell on the same day that Abbott signed new legislation making more than 5 million students eligible to receive state funds for private school education It comes after the Texas Senate approved legislation that sought to increase parental control over the books available in public school libraries filed last month by Republican state Senator Angela Paxton passed with a 23-8 vote and now advances to the Texas House for consideration If enacted, the bill would shift final decision-making authority over new library materials from school librarians to local school boards It would also establish a process allowing parents to request the removal of specific books which would be taken off shelves pending a school board review Democratic Texas state Representative Chris Turner wrote on X formerly Twitter: "There is something poetic that the day Greg Abbott signs his voucher scam into law reform candidates in Mansfield ISD are running the table Voters are angry about the way our public schools have been treated in #txlege and want strong Activist Carlos Turcios wrote on X: "Horrible News in Mansfield Texas The Radical DEI Left has flipped the conservative school board Mansfield ISD has capitulated to the DEI-LGBTQ Left." The new school board members will likely push for policies that align with their pro-public education platform potentially challenging some of the recent state legislation on school choice and curriculum Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Stephen Quinn has made 178 appearances for Mansfield Town since arriving in January 2021 Mansfield Town's experienced midfielder Stephen Quinn will leave the club following Saturday's home match against Exeter City The news was announced by a statement posted on X,, external in which the club also confirmed Quinn will captain the side against the Grecians The 39-year-old initially joined the Stags on loan during the 2020-21 season before signing on a permanent deal from Burton Albion the following summer Quinn helped Mansfield gain automatic promotion to League One He has so far made 29 League One appearances this campaign scoring a solitary goal against Barnsley on the opening day of the season Quinn started his career at Sheffield United where he went on to make 237 appearances in all competitions and won 18 caps for the Republic of Ireland international side between 2013 and 2016 Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. 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The forthcoming season at the Mansfield Playhouse should be loaded with laughs "I think that everybody decided that we need to laugh a little more," said Doug Wertz of the committee that picked shows for the 2025-26 season There will be five shows on the main stage two on the 2nd Stage and two junior productions the Playhouse has produced several dramas as well "When it comes down to the marketing aspect of the plays the fact is we're still recovering from the pandemic," Wertz said but this was a conscious decision to be a little more light-hearted." 5 with "Moon Over Buffalo," which the Playhouse put on several years ago "It's a very popular show in the theater world and so much fun," Wertz said "Moon Over Buffalo" centers around two fading stars in the 1950s but receive word they might have one last shot at stardom "Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors" will be the Halloween-season show A woman and her fiancé team up with a female vampire hunter to find Count Dracula after the woman's sister falls ill with a mysterious disease of the blood "Everybody likes the classic monsters," Wertz said "It's going to have Count Dracula in there but I know that it's more of a comic-driven classic character." The holiday season will feature "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," a show Wertz loves "It's a real classic and opens theater up for many families," he said "Sometimes that makes their first opportunity a great experience." He added there will be roles for about 15 children The play involves a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant with "the most inventively awful kids in history." Lies & the Doctor's Dilemma" will be offered in late February and early March 2026 a woman tries to hide her relationship from her overbearing sister-in-law by introducing him as her psychiatrist The final main stage production will be "The Big Five-OH," set for April A man who is turning 50 is having a terrible week and his daughter wants to marry a Republican He's also dealing with a neurotic wife and a widowed neighbor which provides a cabaret-style entertainment "Keep on Laughing" is the sequel to "Exit Laughing," which ran during the current season The ladies will be as zany and funny as ever in the play "Cheatin''' tells the story of a Texas town's major pastime which will ignite a blaze of infidelity that engulfs three couples with the "zany precision of a Feydeau farce." It will run in May 2026 The popular Youth Theatre will present two musicals "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Addition" is a spin on the classic tale "The Princess and the Pea" and is set for January A queen decides that no couples could marry until her son found a bride "Seussical Jr." features Horton the Elephant who must protect tiny people called the Whos Wertz said ticket prices will not change as they did for the current season "It's part of our mission for us to provide some of the most affordable live entertainment in the Richland County area," he said "I look forward to a lot of fun this season." While Wertz would normally direct all of the main stage productions – the 2nd Stage features guest directors – he might have to miss one to help with the Playhouse's $7.5 million capital campaign for a new building Tickets for the upcoming season will go on sale July 1 They can be purchased online at www.mansfieldplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 419-522-2883 from 1-6 p.m Tarrant County reported its first cases of measles in decades – and they are in Mansfield measles had been eliminated in the United States until January when a strain hit West Texas and began to spread across the state and the nation the United States has reported 935 cases in 2025 with 121 of those requiring hospitalization and three people dying from the virus Tarrant County reported an adult and child with measles visited Methodist Mansfield Medical Center emergency department The unvaccinated patients were in the emergency department from 8 p.m Anyone who was at Methodist Mansfield during that time and believes they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider immediately and monitor for symptoms Symptoms of the measles can begin from seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit red and watery eyes and a red blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads down the body Measles is highly contagious and spreads through airborne contact The virus can remain on surfaces for up to two hours People who are fully vaccinated (two doses) are not likely to contract the disease People who are not immune and develop symptoms should isolate and contact their doctor The Mansfield ISD has not had a case reported Students are required to be immunized for rubeola (measles) before entering school Students may be exempt if they present an affidavit from a physician stating that the immunization is medically contraindicated or poses a significant risk to the student of a member of the student’s household Students can also be exempt if their parent or guardian declines due to reasons of conscience The Mansfield Record is the only local newspaper serving Mansfield the Mansfield Record is bringing the focus back where it should be Hundreds of students came out to Kingwood Center Gardens despite the rain for the Mansfield Senior High School Prom May 3 Students voted for Prom Queen Hazel Clin and Prom King Tayson Robin at the end of the evening Students turned out for the Mansfield Senior High School Prom in rainy weather at the Kingwood Center Gardens May 3 These real estate transactions were recorded in Richland County between April 21 and April 25: Bricker to James Sheldon Enterprises LLC; $90,000 Mansfield; The Kurt Stimens Revocable Living Trust to Jeff King; $170,000 Mansfield; Johann and Maria Huprich to Christopher R Mansfield; Tony Demyan to Wesley Burson; $128,000 and Kathleen Histed to Partin Rentals LLC; $115,000 Mansfield; Melinda and Teddie Norris to Frank R Mansfield; Dream Huge Realty LLC to Regina Windsor; $65,000 Mansfield; Robert Howell to Kurtis Baker; $230,000 Ontario (two parcels); The Gathering Place Ontario LLC to JWS Holdings LLC; $500,000 Lucas; William and Cynthia Zirzow to Abigail A One parcel (5.979 acres) on Springmill North Road Bloom to Tiffany and Brandon Davis; $380,000 Mansfield; The Estate of Vanessa Lynn Hetler to Gardner Property Group LLC; $65,000 Bellville; Amanda and Wilmer Ordonez to Christa and Jeffrey Woolever; $299,900 Mansfield; Tyler and Celsey Matter to Gilberto and Josefina Medina; $160,000 Matzel Revocable Trust to Charles and Kelly Emmerich; $272,000 Mansfield; Ryan Kanz to Sarah Kanz; $207,100 Schnieders and Inge Schnieders Revocable Living Trust to Gabriel Blauser and Jaden Reddix; $125,000 Lambert to GArdner Property Group; $45,000 Teresa Laux and Shawn Laux to Home Edge Holdings LLC; $20,000 Mansfield; Knipp Properties LLC to Theresa E Merwine to Melody and Nickolas Jordan; $106,000 Butler; Alan Smith to Valerie Henry; $95,000 The woman described herself as an introvert someone who never seeks to be front and center "But my story needs to be told," she said Tuesday evening to an audience of about 75 at Riedl Hall on the campus of Ohio State University-Mansfield She then spoke for 20 minutes about trauma that has been ongoing for more than 20 years The woman who spoke second said her abuser is still out there "I'm a survivor of intimate partner violence sexual assault and years of stalking and harassment," she said She described what sounded like an obsession on the part of her former boyfriend The woman maintained contact with him over the years after their breakup "I was sick of the constant sexual advances and innuendos he made," she said of her decision to distance herself from him The woman tried to cut ties with the man in 2018 when he proposed a bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl he would get to spend another night with her The man had dual citizenship here and in Canada and the harassment would continue," she said The woman said the harassment escalated in October 2020 when he broke into her house while her husband was at work "Panic immediately set in and I froze," she told the crowd she said she tried to stay calm and protect her children until she had an opportunity to flee with them leaving the woman feeling as if she had no control "I felt like I was waiting around to be kidnapped got closer to God and joined a self-defense program her tormenter showed up on the family's front porch and knocked on the door The harassment continued until text messages abruptly stopped in October 2022 The woman Googled the man's name to see if he had died She learned her ex-boyfriend had been charged with numerous crimes and had spent time in psychiatric hospitals He apparently even killed another patient at one mental health facility before he dated her The woman said the criminal case was dismissed on a technicality Her stalker moved to Michigan and later to Ohio the woman was successful in another attempt to secure a protection order "It's hard to see yourself as a survivor when the situation is still ongoing and the wounds are in various stages of healing," she said The woman is determined to lead her life even though she has to look over her shoulder but I'm definitely not holding my breath," she said The first survivor of sexual abuse has been dealing with her situation in the last year but "No one knows about the moments alone when I cry in the darkness." The woman credits her support system with getting her through "I can't tell you I am fully healed because that would be a lie," she said The woman did not say if her sexual abuser had been charged "I am stronger than any circumstance that tries to overcome me then returned to Riedl Hall for a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence for those who did not survive their abuse A number of vendors were on hand to dispense information Elected officials who attended included Mansfield Municipal Judge Mike Kemerer Domestic Relations Judge Beth Owens and Mansfield City Councilman Aurelio Diaz Schumacher urged everyone not to end awareness of sexual assault at the end of the month She thanked supporters and the two women who shared their stories "You being here tonight is a demonstration of your resilience," the prosecutor said "This community supports you and will continue to support you." Mansfield Timberview was right on their heels, starting fast with an explosive opening leg and maintaining strong exchanges to cross in 39.98, also dipping under the coveted 40-second mark. Carrollton Smith secured the bronze medal in 40.54 who finished just a hundredth of a second back in fourth at 40.55 The entire field impressed, with all teams posting competitive times under 41.5 seconds, highlighting the depth and quality of Texas sprinting. Unfortunately, San Antonio Alamo Heights was disqualified a disappointing end after making it to the state stage In a meet with perfect sprinting conditions Iowa Colony seized their moment in spectacular fashion stamping themselves as the team to watch not just in Texas Firefighter Phil Dollish is "a legend at the Mansfield Fire Department," his colleagues noted as they celebrated his retirement Wednesday after 33 years of service Dollish served as president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 266 for many years at the department chicken dinners," Mansfield Fire Captain Shawn Yerian said along with shrimp and grits and tortellini is a very aggressive fireman who trains a lot of the younger firefighters and brings them under his wing "He is a true firefighter and very well-respected in this department It's going to be a big gap in the fire department," he said "We look to the senior firefighters to do the training with our younger generation Now it's our responsibility to take over for Phil 1992 after taking both the police and firefighters' exams A 1987 graduate of Mansfield Senior High School Dollish began his career at 25 after serving in the Mansfield police auxiliary A woman named Pearl Adams with the city government told Dollish to take the fire exam 'Why don't you take this test too?'" he said "She thought I would make a great firefighter." "It's bittersweet," Dollish said of retiring Dollish has been lauded many times over the year He was named the 2017 Firefighter of the Year "Phil is known throughout the department as an aggressive and skilled firefighter," a Mansfield Fire Department press release stated in 2017 "Phil chose to go to Station 1 at a time when most firefighters with his seniority are going to out stations He did this to help train the younger firefighters and teach them the skills they need to excel during their careers He is a selfless and compassionate firefighter who strives every day to serve the citizens of Mansfield the best that he can." Mansfield Fire Chief Dan Crow said Dollish will be missed as they posed in front of a fire truck known for being modest and for his great sense of humor said he doesn't have any immediate plans for the future and enjoyed his retirement celebration among friends A downtown business on North Walnut Street has expressed safety concerns to the city's safety-service director about homeless people loitering and defecating around their building they are pooping and peeing next to our cars and behind (the) dumpster," Marci Dick whose husband David owns a law firm on Walnut Street "They also say disgusting things to our staff and make them afraid to get out of their cars in (the) morning and afraid to walk out of work to their cars to go home." The parking lot in question is behind the Mansfield Memorial Museum and is shared parking "My staff shouldn't have to worry about their safety to come to work or leave work; we sometimes have to walk out with them because of these homeless," Dick said "I had to call the police several times in 2024 and I am hoping you can help to solve this problem for our downtown businesses." Mansfield Councilman Aurelio Diaz said the homeless or "unhoused" situation has experienced a drastic uptick since 2020 for a variety of reasons in downtown Mansfield "Which is why the Homeless Response Team was created," Diaz said businesses and patrons of businesses conveyed concerns of violence we knew that something had to occur to ensure safety for all." across the street from attorney Dick’s office and seconds away from 34 Park Avenue West so I have the opportunity to work and interact with the unhoused community frequently "Among this growing community are individuals who are unhoused for a variety of reasons: unmet mental/behavioral needs unable to stay at Wayfinders Ohio due to a history of sexual offenses with its impactful partnership of Angela Riley and the Mansfield Police Department has helped unhoused individuals on a path to independence all while not compromising the dignity of those individuals But the reality of this growing matter is safety." Museum head has never found evidence of complaintsEd Olson president of the board of trustees at the Mansfield Memorial Museum said he has never found any evidence of human feces on the property and he is on the premises regularly to check the mail and security of the people Olson has invited Mayor Jodie Perry to come to the museum's monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m Olson confirmed Perry plans to attend the meeting and noted the meeting is always open to the public "I don't know what the origin of these messages are as they are simply broad assertions being made with no evidence ever being presented," Olson said they are being asserted by (Richland) County Commissioner Tony Vero who has no jurisdiction within the city limits of Mansfield as I served as a county commissioner for 28 years and knew the limits of my elected authority." Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann could not be reached for comment "The City of Mansfield has been aware of the homeless problem since 1985 when it was discovered that people were sleeping under the overpasses of U "There have been a number of halfhearted attempts to address this problem but all have failed when the central issue came down to 'Who is going to pay for this?'" Olson said the homeless sleeping on the museum's portico was presented to the board last fall and the police asked if they wanted them removed but the board asked the police to not bother them "Removing them from our premises would only result in them being moved to some other location for them to seek apparent illicit shelter," he said "Since there has never been a single incident of vandalism to our property that can be linked to these persons our board has chosen to give them shelter when the rest of the community has turned their back on this 40-year-old problem."  Olson has met with them and asked those who sleep on the portico to keep the area organized and free of trash and vandalism "These individuals have established a waste container on the portico in which to put their trash and have attempted to keep the portico organized so that it does not present an eye sore for those pedestrians walking past our building," he said Olson also noted that "a significant percentage" of the homeless population has mental disabilities or is composed of veterans "We have had 20 years of ongoing foreign wars since 9/11/01 that has resulted in literally thousands of military veterans suffering from PTSD from battlefield trauma," Olson said Veterans Administration has failed to properly help these victims of battlefield trauma to re-integrate them into American society I personally saw how the nation turned its back on those returning veterans These damaged human beings are now walking the streets of our cities without a support system to help them to achieve a meaningful life." Diaz said he plans to attend the May 7 meeting "Richland County has a wealth of resources and many unhoused individuals come here or are brought here as a result," he said we’ve seen these numbers increase in spring and summer and when there are complaints of people feeling unsafe Mansfield has overcome its intolerant past to become a thriving That’s far from the farm town where citizens in 1956 hanged effigies to prevent Black students from entering Mansfield High School Political PointsGet the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond In 2020 residents elected Mansfield pastor Michael Evans as mayor The former Mansfield ISD board member and Tarrant County College trustee is the first Black person to lead the city and the political climate in Mansfield is stormy On a City Council where Evans and his challenger partisan and hard-right forces are weighing heavily on the race turning it into a fight where diversity is a contentious issue in a city that has largely overcome division Early voting in Mansfield ends Tuesday and the general election is Saturday Democrats see it as an opportunity to grow their coalition and make gains in a county largely controlled by Republicans And with Tarrant County becoming more politically competitive Republicans can’t afford to have demographic shifts diminish their clout has defended her embrace of partisan groups the Tarrant County Republican Party and the True Texas Project are among the conservative groups that support Short but I think we’re not being honest with ourselves We end up aligning with the party based on our core values so you don’t set that aside just because of city government,” Short said “When you’ve got conservative policies in place Evans says he’s not seeking an endorsement from the Tarrant County Democrats and didn’t fill out their candidate questionnaire. The group has not taken a position in the Mansfield mayor’s race. The Lone Star Project “That’s not who we are,” Evans said of partisan and hard-right politics in play for the mayor’s race “I’m not going to play that card because they play it The point I’m making is that Mansfield is now a shining star on the map.” Mansfield residents and political observers say this year’s municipal elections are unlike any other in the city’s recent history “Normally elections are very quiet. They are not quiet this year,” said Amanda Rogers Kowalski, a Mansfield resident and editor of the Mansfield Record. “It seems that outside people are interested in Mansfield because we have grown so much. It’s a bigger deal now than it was when it was still just a little town.” Mansfield is 15 miles southeast of Fort Worth and 22 miles southwest of Dallas. Located mostly in southeastern Tarrant County, the city includes parts in northeastern Johnson County and northwestern Ellis County. In the last 25 years the population has exploded. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28,031 residents lived in Mansfield in 2000. That figure more than doubled to 56,368 in 2010 and shot up to 72,602 in 2020. Demographics show it’s a diverse city: 49% white, 21% Black, 18% Latino and 5% Asian. From 2010 to 2023, Mansfield’s Black population increased by 9.4% and the Latino population grew by 3.3%. The white population declined 12.4% over the same period, according to data from Mansfield and the U.S. Census. Evans, who says he identifies as a “centrist,” was elected in 2020 in a December runoff election. He replaced David Cook, who is now a Republican member of the Texas House. In January, Cook lost a bid to become Speaker of the House, a seat won by Dustin Burrows of Lubbock. Keep Tarrant County Red, a political action committee Cook is involved with, is backing Short. Mansfield’s controversial past is in contrast to how inclusive the city feels today. In 1956 a federal court ordered Mansfield ISD to desegregate, making it the first Texas school district to receive such a mandate. The Mansfield school board approved the order, but the mayor, police chief and hundreds of white citizens stood in front of Mansfield High School to prevent three Black students from enrolling. Along with blocking the students from entering the school, three Black effigies were hanged. One of the effigies, a Black man hanging from a noose, was placed atop the high school and Texas Ranger Captain Jay Banks refused to let anyone take it down. Faced with losing critical funding, the district quietly desegregated in 1965. Residents say Mansfield is not the same place that helped motivate white journalist and Mansfield native John Howard Griffin to darken his skin, travel through the south posing as a Black man before writing the 1961 book “Black Like Me.” Today the Mansfield ISD is considered one of the best school districts in the country. The city is considered one of the best places to live in North Texas, with 11 scenic parks, and several miles of hiking and biking trails. With so many new residents, the 1956 incident is more a history lesson, than lingering stain. “I’ve seen the growth of Mansfield,” said Steven Butler, an executive at a biotech company who supports Evans. “I’ve seen Mayor Evans promote unity versus division, and I know that he’s a Christian man … I know that he’s for all, not just for black people, and that’s important to me.” After his 2020 election, Evans has become a prime target for Republicans and hard-right conservatives. In April, Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French headlined a Mansfield rally for Short and several council candidates. Dallas County GOP Chairman Allen West trekked from Garland as a special guest. “The level of governance that affects you the most is the level of governance that decides your everyday life, as in your city council, school boards, water management districts and county commissions,” West told The Dallas Morning News. “It’s very critical that we show support for these candidates that are stepping up.” For the first time ever, Tarrant County Republicans have endorsed candidates in nonpartisan municipal and school board elections. The Texas Republican Party has also endorsed Short and the party’s council slate, French said. The partisan muscle is necessary, he said. “If you want to attract radical Democrats, then elect radical Democrats,” French said during the rally for Short at Big Fellas Ice House. “If you want to attract family-oriented conservatives, then you need to elect conservatives.”  In a text message to voters, French wrote: “We need your help to keep the Democrats from raising your taxes, indoctrinating your children, and destroying Mansfield.” Last Saturday Short released digital campaign messages that featured Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, a Republican. “I know conservatives, and Michael Evans is just not one,” O’Hare says in the ad. O’Hare also posted social media support for Short and four council candidates. “Mansfield is majority Republican,” O’Hare told The News in a text message. “If our people get out to vote, we will win.” Evans criticized O’Hare’s involvement in the nonpartisan race. Evans points out that since he’s been in office, Mansfield’s tax rate has dropped from 71 cents to 64 cents, the lowest rate in 35 years. Mansfield also has a critically acclaimed school district and up until this election, not much acrimony. Throughout the campaign French has attacked the concept of diversity, for which many Mansfield residents are proud. Designed, perhaps, to motivate some conservatives, the rhetoric has rankled some residents and Evans supporters, who call French’s tactics a political dog whistle. Even so, French has been unrelenting in his criticism of diversity, charging that “diversity creates racism.” “I reject the notion that diversity is important,” French told The News and later repeated at the April rally. “I actually want people to homogenize around our Constitution and reject this idea that diversity is somehow a strength. It’s not a strength. It’s actually created divisiveness and weakness in our communities. And I think it’s a terrible thing.” Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, whose precinct includes Mansfield, called French’s comments “ignorant” and “dangerous.” “To say that ‘diversity creates racism’ is an outrageous reversal of reality,” Simmons said in a statement. “Racism is not caused by diversity; it is caused by prejudice, hate, and the refusal to see the humanity in others. Diversity is a reflection of America’s strength — not its weakness.” “French’s comments don’t reflect constitutional values; they reflect a deep fear of progress and a desire to cling to an outdated, exclusionary vision of this country,” Simmons continued. “We’re not going backward. Our communities deserve leadership that celebrates our differences and unites us around common purpose — not bigotry dressed up as patriotism.” Evans also disagrees with French, though he doesn’t want racial overtones to get in the way of Mansfield’s positive story. He said Mansfield’s success story – and the residents responsible for it – don’t want divisive, partisan politics. “We don’t need anybody coming pulling our strings from the county,” Evans added. “We don’t need anybody coming from the state.” Mansfield City Council elections are held at-large, meaning every seat is determined by a citywide vote. In contrast, the larger Dallas City council is composed of 14 single-member districts, with only the mayor running citywide. In some cities an at-large system can dilute the vote and hinder the election of a leadership team that reflects a city’s demographics. “Our council today reflects the city of Mansfield for the most part, without being divided into single member districts,” Evans said. “Now you think about how awesome that is. The people chose a council that reflects them.” Short has been criticized for a post she made about diversity on her campaign’s Facebook page. It was a quote from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “Our diversity is not our strength. Our unity and our shared purpose is our strength!” she attributed to Hegseth. The quote was under the headline “Let’s Just Be Mansfield.” “There’s been such a focus on we’re different,” Short told The News before the rally with French and West. “We’re Mansfield. This is the most generous community I’ve ever been involved with, so I wanted to quit focusing on how we’re different, because that felt separating to me, and I want to focus on how we’re alike.” Mansfield resident Scott Hensley, who is semi-retired after moving to the city from the Denver area, said he appreciates what Short is trying to accomplish. “I like what I’m hearing from her,” he said. “One thing is for sure. I’ll never vote for a Democrat.” One man at the conservative rally wanted Mansfield politics to appeal to average voters. “We could do something different and be in the middle and everybody get along,” said Brandon Hudgins, a Mansfield resident who works in the construction industry. “That’s what we want to see here, the community holding hands and being different.” The Lone Star Project is backing Evans because “he’s being attacked by people who are appealing to racial animosity,” said Democratic strategist Matt Angle, the organization’s director. Angle said Evans is not a “lefty radical,” as French calls him, but someone who works from the middle out and builds coalitions.” “Mansfield is a microcosm of what you see in a lot of places in the South and certainly in Tarrant County,” he said. “It’s a combination of Republicans who are unwilling and really politically incapable of appealing significantly to people of color, and so they see them as a political threat.” Angle added the Make America Great Again “base of the Republican Party likes politicians who really show their teeth in terms of racism.” “Whenever Bo French speaks to his groups, he makes attacks on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and diversity,” Angle said. “It’s not even a dog whistle. It’s a shrill siren call to the worst elements within not just their party, but within society.” “We need conservatives who are not afraid to tell the truth and stand up for what matters, for our communities, for our values,” he said. “We need to put a stake in the ground and say ‘no more,’ We’re not going to accept this, the invasion of foreign ideology that diminishes what it means to be a God fearing American.” At at least one conservative event, supporters of Evans have confronted French. “I think they’re running a dirty campaign. It’s not an honest campaign by any means,” said Katie Smith, who joined several others to protest the conservative rally for Short. “Mayor Evans has done great things for the city, and they need to focus on that, especially since Julie has worked with Mayor Evans for so long.” “Obviously, Mansfield is a very diverse place,” Smith said. “We should definitely embrace everybody that we have here, not just their group.” Short says her partisan backers aren’t the only reason she’s challenging Evans. “Our mayor and I have some different ideas about what city government’s responsible for, and I don’t want to see us spending a lot of tax dollars on social programs and things that I think Mansfield has done a very good job of taking care of,” she said. “I don’t want us using tax dollars to bring in outside help.” She said paying money to a rideshare program called the Trinity Metro, as well as partnerships with the Tarrant Area Food Bank, are examples of things that Mansfield shouldn’t fund. She said social services should be left to charities and churches, not government. “Where I’ve differed from him is on a couple of items,” Short said, adding that developing those social programs is like “opening Pandora’s box.” Evans said that Short has been a partner in the council’s success, voting with him for all but seven times. “My opponent can’t even run against me regarding the record,” Evans said during a meet-and-greet at the Green Jacket in Mansfield. Short, who has served on the council since 2018, said she was supportive of the mayor when he first got elected. “It was my hope when our mayor got elected that it would be even more unifying,” Short said. “After I won, my husband and I met with him, and I said, ‘Hey, I really feel like God has put you in this position to not only bring more unity to Mansfield, but to this whole region, but it hasn’t worked that way.” Short said a lot of anger has come her way during the campaign. I’ve been cussed out on multiple voicemails. I’ve gotten hateful text messages, hateful emails,” Short said. Her gender has been mocked by some, Short said. “There’s been ‘this is ‘man’s field not no woman’s field,’” she said. “‘‘Go back to the kitchen and make us some cookies.’” Short added she was downplaying the potential history she could make by winning in May. “I would be the first female mayor,” she said. “I don’t push that because it shouldn’t be because I’m a woman. It should be because I’m the best person for the job.” Evans says he’s running for reelection to continue Mansfield’s momentum. He supports building a set of convention center hotels, continuing to lower taxes, revitalizing downtown and bringing more businesses to the city. Voters recently approved a sports complex in partnership with FC Dallas as part of a 200-acre development at U.S. 287 and Texas 360. There also was great excitement when an HEB grocery store opened in the city. “We are building, we are moving, we are noticed. And that’s why folks are saying, let me come and grab some of what you all got,” Evans said. “Let me be a part of that.” Much of the time, votes on Mansfield City Council are unanimous. “That’s not Democratic or Republican, that is not red, that is not blue, that is just mainstream, common things that people want in regard to enhancing their quality of life,” Evans said. “That’s what everybody wants, no matter if you’re black, white, Jewish, Muslim, whatever. It’s about making sure that people receive those things.” Evans said he’s not radical, and criticized opponents who mischaracterize his past relationships with Democrats. “They can line up with misogynists. They can line up with people that race bait and, oh, that’s just them,” he said “And then, because of some affiliations that I’ve had over the years with politicians who they now deem as liberal, oh, that’s a bad thing.” Evans said he’ll keep his focus on moving Mansfield forward. “We’ve come from a mighty long way,” Evans said. “I would be crazy if I could say to you that I did that by myself.” Meanwhile, Kowalski said the contentious election has taken a toll. “I think everybody’s ready for this election to be over, including the candidates,” she said. Search autocomplete is currently not responding The City of Mansfield City Council will canvass the May 3 election results at a May 14 Canvassing is the official process used by election officials to confirm an election’s accuracy by reviewing every valid ballot Joint Work Session with the Mansfield Park Facilitie.. The City of Mansfield received its 39th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association The association’s recognition is the standard for industry best practices The City of Mansfield became the sixth Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas in the inaugural year of the program after completing the multi-step certification process.  The Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community designati.. Mansfield City Council joined with team members from Crystal Window and Door Systems to celebrate the start of construction on the company's new advanced manufacturing facility and regional corporate headquarters on Oct Mansfield is now a Team Base Camp option for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ A Team Base Camp serves as a team’s “home away from home” throughout the international tournament’s group stage announced today that it will play all its home games at the future Mansfield Stadium within the Staybolt Street Entertainment District of Mansfield Delivering Resources for Education Around Mansfield The addition of Mansfield Public Library’s mobile outreach vehicle allows library staff to develop and implement new ways to reach the Mansfield community Mansfield Parks and Recreation named a 2025 National Gold Medal Finalist The City of Mansfield was named today as a finalist for the 2025 National Gold Medal Award a prestigious national honor given by the American Academy for Park and Recre.. Mansfield Parks and Recreation offers more than 30 different camps for every age and interest; keep reading to learn more and register online now while spaces are available considering just how much dirt has to move to bring Mansfield a stunning adaptive and inclusive destination playgrou.. Mansfield Parks and Recreation and Visit Mansfield is excited to announce its first-ever comic-con style festival, Fansfield Fan Expo The one-day inaugural event celebrating pop culture The City of Mansfield is proud to announce the execution of a public private partnership with KemperSports and REV Entertainment to serve as the new management team of Mansfield Sports Park the City-owned facility formerly known as Big League Dreams Mans.. Mayor Michael Evans and the Mansfield City Council were joined by State Representative David Cook and Rep for an official ceremony marking the start of just one of this year's exciting park projects Julian Feild Park The City of Mansfield has purchased 100 acres of lush undeveloped land between West Broad Street and Newt Patterson Road to serve as a future nature preserve One of the largest park additions in the City’s history Your favorite park is about to get a whole lot more remarkable Mansfield City Council approved Phase II plans for  Katherine Rose Memorial Park today clearing the way for the future of how Mansfield families gather a group of volunteers built Julian Feild Park with just a few handmade tables and swings to give the small rural town of 1,200 a place to gather together with nearly 76,000 residents and a bustling e.. 1200 E. Broad St.Mansfield, TX 76063Phone: 817-276-4200 MANSFIELD, Texas – FIFA has officially announced the addition of 14 new Team Base Camp options for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with Mansfield Stadium included as one of the newly listed venues in the United States The designation places Mansfield Stadium in a global spotlight recognizing the venue’s state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to delivering an elite training and operational experience for international teams competing in the world’s most prestigious soccer tournament Currently under construction and set to be completed in 2026 Mansfield Stadium will serve as the home venue for North Texas Soccer Club – the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of FC Dallas – starting next year FIFA Team Base Camps are official locations where teams train and reside during the tournament Each camp is evaluated for its ability to offer comfort and performance-level amenities for players and staff “We’re incredibly excited to see Mansfield named as one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 base camp cities This shines a global spotlight on a vibrant and growing community that we’re proud to be a part of our partnership with REV Entertainment and the City of Mansfield represents an incredible opportunity to grow the game and build something special in a world-class venue Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer of FC Dallas “This is a tremendous honor for everyone involved in bringing Mansfield Stadium to life Being selected by FIFA as a potential training site for the World Cup reflects the world-class caliber of Mansfield Stadium and exemplifies the vision we share for bringing global sports to the venue.” About Mansfield Stadium: Mansfield Stadium is a multi-use soccer stadium complex located in Mansfield The facility is expected to open in the summer of 2026 The project is a partnership between the City of Mansfield REV Entertainment and FC Dallas will serve as the operator of the venue upon completion the proposed 250-acre Staybolt Street development includes residential hotel and conference center and entertainment venues will play their future home games at Mansfield Stadium as the venue’s primary tenant finished her final route after more than three decades of delivering people their mail Tammy Colegrove celebrated her last day at work on Wednesday April 30th, celebrating 35 years of mail deliveries and community connections "I’m glad I ended up in Mansfield doing the mail route I started in Galeton for three years and then transferred to Mansfield and I’ve never regretted it I’ve made so many friends and they’ve all actually become like family to me This has been my family for the last 35 years and [it's] been a bittersweet day of having to say goodbye to everybody," said Colegrove she and her sister would watch the mail carrier come and deliver the mail She said they'd get excited and think it was a cool job I would always cut little clippings out of the Sears catalog or get my mom’s mail and we would set up little things to be our mailboxes. I was the postal carrier and my sister wanted to teach so we always had to play school for her It’s crazy to think back and realize I did that as a kid and here I am today doing it," said Colegrove Colegrove's route took her 10 miles across Mansfield every day nor gloom of night stays these couriers [like Colegrove] from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.' Colegrove trekked over one million miles over the last 35 years earning her the 'Million Mile Award.' The Award recognizes letter carriers who drive one million miles or 30 years without a preventable incident Colegrove said her job allowed her to make lasting connections "I’ve been through a lot with a lot of them [where] you get to know their routine and if something’s not right you know [to] check on them You’re only there for a few minutes and some days the elderly/people who live by themselves only see the mail carrier we kind of make each other’s day," said Colegrove Colegrove's retirement party will be held at the Mansfield Fire Department on Saturday "I could not ask for a better community [it's] been fantastic; The people I don’t regret [any] of it," said Colegrove two Commonwealth University-Mansfield fisheries students traveled to Wheeling to present their student research projects at the Ohio West Virginia American Fisheries Society Joint Meeting won best PA poster presentation for his research titled "Total Phosphorus Dynamics in Tributaries of the Tioga Watershed." "The meeting was such a good place to talk and network with other fisheries professionals," Pennington said gave an oral presentation of his research titled "Total Phosphorus Dynamics in Tributaries of the Tioga Watershed." His work was a collaboration with Luanne Steffy of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission along with Commonwealth University professors Dr of the Physical and Environmental Sciences Dr Steve Rier (Biological and Health Sciences Department and Moyer of the Biological and Health Sciences Department "It was well worth the trip to get an opportunity to present my graduate research at a meeting of fisheries professionals," Zechman said Funding for the trip was provided by a grant awarded to Moyer from the Susquehanna Basin River Commission "It's nice to see students that are passionate about fisheries research succeed at the venues - to start with a hypothesis and end up presenting their original research is one of the greatest rewards a professor could have and is something we biology faculty at Mansfield really take pride in," Moyer said ©2025 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Thunderstorms with strong winds are forecast Thursday afternoon The weather service has issued a severe-weather outlook for the following Ohio counties: Richland "Some of the storms do have the potential to become severe with strong damaging winds which is the primary threat," Campbell said There's even a small chance a tornado could pop up somewhere in the Buckeye State in the afternoon Thursday "Those would be super isolated," Campbell said "Your main concern is going to be the the gusty winds." "That's enough to to potentially cause damage to things like trees loose objects and stuff like that," Campbell said Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Therese Ann Keegan Mansfield passed away on April 9 Therese Ann went on to graduate from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in early childhood education and later earned a Master's Degree in Pastoral Theology from Loyola University She married Charles Mansfield and moved to McKenney beginning at McKenney Elementary as a teacher She went on to work for the Catholic Diocese She spent 23 years serving the parishes of Immaculate Heart of Mary She was awarded the Benemerenti medal by Pope St the highest honor that a lay person can receive in the Catholic church She is survived by her husband of 53 years and Bridget Stacy (Todd); and 16 grandchildren and Rosemary Palmateer (Don); numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends include A Christian Wake service and visitation will take place on Sunday A Rite of Christian Burial will take place on Monday donations may be made to the Hope Center at P.O Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight A 50-year-old Mansfield man was pronounced dead at the scene and a passenger in another vehicle was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital following a two-vehicle accident in Piatt County Sunday afternoon MONTICELLO — A 50-year-old Mansfield man was pronounced dead at the scene and four others were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash in Piatt County Beck died after his vehicle was struck near the area of 2500 North Road and 800 East Road Piatt County sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene at 3:21 p.m Their initial investigation indicates that a vehicle driven by Jason M of Farmer City was traveling westbound on 2500 North Road and “disobeyed the yield sign” at 800 East Road Beck “appears to have been northbound on 800 East Road when it was struck on the passenger’s side” by the other vehicle Sharp and two of the three passengers in his vehicle were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital by ambulance with the third passenger airlifted to the Urbana hospital Sharp was issued a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and failure to obey a yield sign Illinois State Police and the Piatt County Coroner’s Office are investigating the incident Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Piatt County Sheriff’s Office at 217-762-5761 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Our websites may use cookies to personalize and enhance your experience. By continuing without changing your cookie settings, you agree to this collection. For more information, please see our University Websites Privacy Notice This litter cleanup event fosters the growing relationship between students at UConn and the local community while conserving the environment The University of Connecticut and Town of Mansfield are partnering again for the second “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” community litter cleanup on April 27 after a successful pilot event in November drew 140 volunteers and collected 116 bags of trash “Participating in ‘Don’t Mess with Mansfield’ and being able to physically see the litter that you’ve removed from the environment – litter that’s not going to make its way down through waterways to the ocean litter that’s not going to trap little creatures – is like a concrete action that you can take to do something good for the environment but also to take care of your home for yourself and for other people who share the community,” says Betsy Mortensen communication outreach and education coordinator at the Office of Sustainability The inaugural “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” in November was the first major collaboration between the town and Office of Sustainability Its success moved organizers to continue their efforts “We really want to have an established relationship with the Town of Mansfield and the Office of Sustainability and then UConn in general,” says Amanda Stowe’ 26 (CAHNR) “A lot of times I feel like people look at UConn and think students are polluting and students are throwing their litter on the side of the road but we want to wipe that perception and show that students want to give back to their community and clean up.”  The Town/University Relations Committee of Mansfield and the Office of Sustainability came up with the idea of a cleanup after citizens brought up the issue of litter in neighborhoods surrounding UConn “It was out of a desire to do something good for the town together and to enhance relationships between students and community members,” says Mortensen This event is a way to work together for environmental improvements while cultivating relationships between town residents and University students communications specialist Margaret Chatey and recycling coordinator Virginia “Ginny” Walton have worked closest on this project  “Everyone can go out for a few hours enjoy the outdoors together and benefit the community,” says Chatey “We want to host it twice a year,” adds Mortensen “Once after the leaves are gone and another time before they start falling again.”  After assessing the success of the first cleanup the Office of Sustainability has been expanding its goals “This semester we are focusing on targeting the areas that have the biggest buildup of litter and getting more volunteers to come out,” says Claire Lawrence ’26 (CLAS) Chatey says she wants students who take great pride in their university to have the opportunity to put forth that same attitude for their university’s locale even if they only live here from August to May that when they’re living here in Mansfield they really consider this as their new hometown,” says Chatey “It’s such a bonus to the Town of Mansfield to have all residents no matter what age or what their longtime relationship is to Mansfield recognize that litter is a detriment and want to clean it up.”  Mansfield has several other townwide litter cleanup initiatives including “Adopt a Road,” a program in which residents or organizations make a commitment to clean up a portion of a road throughout the year Greek organizations have been working on keeping Hunting Lodge Road and Separatist Road clean “We’re excited to have UConn and these organizations helping us especially among those well-traveled roads,” says Walton UConn’s Center for Fraternity and Sorority Development is a partner sponsor of the event bringing in a large number of volunteers for the day’s work volunteers will have the opportunity to address areas of campus such as its core near the Student Union “It’s very meaningful because it’s an engagement with the University on roads that are outside of the campus orbit,” says Walton there’s this connection between the town and the University and I’m really happy that these organizations have been stepping up and participating.”   “I think it is important to acknowledge that how we treat our campus and surrounding areas impacts not only students but wildlife and neighboring towns,” says Lawrence “If everyone would do their part and take the afternoon to look after our common spaces we could keep the environment happy and healthy.”  The success of these cleanup events is only anticipated to grow “I hope that it can be a fun event with hundreds of students and community members participating and building connections while also cleaning up our town,” says Mortensen “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” falls on the same weekend as the town’s Earth Day initiatives In addition to volunteering at “Don’t Mess with Mansfield” on April 27 residents have the chance to participate in events on April 26 including a townwide tag sale and activities and exhibitions at the Mansfield Community Center “It benefits everyone to have an active role in their community and sometimes that is the simple action of going out and picking up litter for a few hours with people you’ve never met before,” says Walton “That’s what is an authentic experience Mansfield Announces Addition of Emoni Bush for 2025 April 25 Lydda is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Bronson and Florence Kitchen and her mother-in-law Sr.; as well as her host families in Australia She attended Ohio State University and graduated from Miami University with a degree in Aeronautics Later she received a Master's Degree in Education at the University of Dayton through the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship student teaching in the Dayton Public school system.  Lydda worked at Cincinnati Financial Insurance at Springfield-Clark CTC and at Troy High School She supported many activities for her son and his friends in their theatre and sports she enjoyed going to plays and concerts with her friends reconnect with her friends and sing in the car.  She was very caring to all of those in her life Lydda was passionate about social justice and the under-represented people in her community donations may be made in Lydda's memory to 4 Paws For Ability or a pet rescue near you To share a memory of Lydda or leave a special message for her family