Lauren Shows was born to a preacher and a preacher's wife, and spent the majority of her earliest childhood years rollin' 'round the bible belt, to end up in Panama City, Florida. After graduating from Florida State University in Tallahassee, she spent the next several months in existential crisis, making lattes for snowbirds and spring-breakers, before moving to Kentucky to get an MFA in writing from Spalding University. A chance meeting at Spalding landed her in Yellow Springs. She was graciously hired by the News, though her only previous dealing with newspaper publication was in third grade, when she wrote a story about a bunch of skeletons rising from the dead on Halloween, which was printed in the Owenton News-Herald. Lauren enjoys cheese, giant squid, and Michael J. Fox.

• Villager’s new novel heads west

  By Lauren ShowsDecember 2, 2025

  

  “As with Geisel’s earlier work, the physical settings in ‘Orcas’ Call’ map directly onto real places: Orcas Island, the Salish Sea, the Olympic Peninsula.”

• School board to fix more eyes on state, federal legislation

  By Lauren ShowsDecember 1, 2025

  

  At its Thursday, Nov. 13, meeting, the YS school board discussed ensuring that more eyes stay fixed on state and federal legislation as lawmakers at both levels make decisions that could dramatically affect public schools.

• Miami Township Trustees talk property taxes

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 25, 2025

  

  Miami Township Trustees spoke at their Monday, Nov. 17, meeting about statewide efforts to quell rising property taxes — including a citizen-led effort to abolish property taxes entirely.

• State bills stymie schools, district leaders say

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 22, 2025

  

  In October, the Ohio House approved House Bills 186, 335, 129 and 309. The measures, if passed by the Senate, will affect the calculation of the 20-mill property tax floor and inside millage increases, and give county budget commissions authority to reduce or override voter-approved school levies.

• ‘No Visas’ for Foundry artists

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 21, 2025

  

  “NO VISAS: A Hip-Hop Journey from Jaffa to Jerusalem to Yellow Springs,” will take place Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m., at the Foundry Theater.

• Zoning changes ahead for Miami Township

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 20, 2025

  

  The work, led by the Miami Township Zoning Commission and Zoning Administrator Bryan Lucas, is aimed at clarifying and modernizing the Township’s Zoning Resolution, the document that governs how property can be used in unincorporated areas.

• Rev. Merove to come to Yellow Springs Center

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 19, 2025

  

  The Rev. Madet Merove will share aspects of that work, and answer questions about the needs of Haitians and the wider community, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 7–9 p.m., at the YS Senior Center. His talk, “An Update on the Haitian Community in Springfield,” is part of the center’s “Village Voices” series.

• District talks state report card

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 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.

• Varlotta takes the helm at Antioch University

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 11, 2025

  

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

• World House Choir honors the legacy of civil rights fireband Pauli Murray

  By Lauren ShowsNovember 7, 2025

  

  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.