Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
I lived in Asheville for over a decade—this llower-filled gem is the city’s most serene spot
Travel + Leisure: At first glance, Flora looks like a beautifully curated plant boutique. But linger for more than a moment and the space reveals itself as something more. It’s part botanical studio, part design haven, and part neighborhood gathering space.
ATLANTA
Enrollment jumps after lawmakers ease access to Georgia’s medical cannabis program
Georgia Recorder: The patient registry grew from 36,595 patients in late June to 44,854 earlier this week, an increase of more than 22% in just over a month. The increase of over 8,200 active patients marks a significant change of pace for a decade-old program that grew sluggishly under the previous law.
BALTIMORE
Gov. Wes Moore says there is no Triple Crown without the Preakness in Baltimore
WBAL-TV: The future of the Preakness Stakes has come into question after Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association announced a new six-race thoroughbred series set to begin in 2027, which does not include the historic Baltimore race.
CHICAGO
Gun case against Chicago anti-violence volunteer a “travesty”
Chicago Sun-Times: Nakia Smith, a volunteer with the anti-violence group run by Duncan, was arrested at a Far South Side police station in 2023 as he tried to turn in an unwanted gun.
CINCINNATI
Haitians in Ohio face ambiguity as their TPS ends
Cincinnati Public Radio: In late July, Haitian immigrants began receiving summons letters requesting that they appear at the Cincinnati Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Blue Ash, Ohio. Many Haitian immigrants were seen leaving the offices with ankle monitors.
CLEVELAND
House Ethics Committee opens investigation into Rep. Max Miller
Cleveland.com: The U.S. House Ethics Committee announced that it is investigating allegations that U.S. Rep. Max Miller, a Bay Village Republican, “may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use.”
COLUMBUS
Ohio State researcher explores causes of loneliness and develops therapy to help men cope
Ohio State Public Media: A recent Gallup poll says 1 out of every 4 men under the age of 35 reported feeling lonely. Dr. Nik Allan with Ohio State’s College of Medicine and the OSU Wexner Medical Center has researched this topic and developed a new type of therapy to help men sort out their emotions.
DETROIT
Click on Detroit: Detroit election officials reported a smooth voting process during the gubernatorial primary, with all polling locations opening on time and no major issues preventing voters from casting ballots.
INDIANAPOLIS
Indiana Public Radio: Indiana officials say the state’s push to ensure criminal defendants are competent before trial has reached a breaking point, and it leaves little room for other patients who need psychiatric care.
LOUISVILLE
Louisville mayor calls for a data center moratorium as city considers regulations
Kentucky Lantern: The mayor of Kentucky’s largest city is calling on city council members to pass a temporary ban or moratorium on data center construction within the city while the local government mulls over potential regulations restricting the siting and impacts of large data centers.
MILWAUKEE
Women behind the bar: A brief history of Wisconsin’s bartenders
Wisconsin Life: Wisconsin has one of the highest concentrations of bartenders in the country, employing more than 24,000 bartenders. A good percentage of them are women. But as writer Patti See tells us, that hasn’t always been the case.
MORGANTOWN
After years of pleas to address water crisis, West Virginia governor begins two-day listening tour
West Virginia Watch: The tour comes after residents in the coalfields have spent years — and, for some, decades — sounding the alarm on the crises unfolding in their backyards. Residents
NASHVILLE
Nashville Public Radio: Tennessee is one of five Republican-led states under federal consideration to store the nation’s nuclear waste. An agreement would mean $50 billion in capital investments for the state. But some of the specific communities that could potentially host a nuclear waste site were redacted from the public-facing version of Tennessee’s proposal.
PHILADELPHIA
Bucks County DA will not charge Quakertown police chief in student ICE protest response
Philadelphia Public Radio: The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office this week released findings from its investigation into Quakertown police’s response to a Quakertown Community High School student walkout that ended in a violent confrontation.
PITTSBURGH
How ICE and a data center turned a small Pittsburgh suburb into a civic battleground
Public Source: Springdale Borough was long a sleepy square-mile suburb dominated by a power plant, but over the last 12 months has become a local flashpoint for two of the nation’s most contentious issues: data centers and immigration enforcement.
WHEELING
Classic Broadway musical gives travelers one more reason to discover historic Wheeling
West Virginia Explorer: Oglebay Institute‘s Parcel Players will present Guys and Dolls Aug. 6-9 at Towngate Theatre, bringing a new generation of performers to the stage in a production of the Tony Award-winning classic.
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown police find stolen excavator, suspect escapes through woods
WKBN 27 Youngstown: When the man was asked to put his hands behind his back, reports said he jumped off a ledge to a creek bed and ran through the woods. Other officers were called in to help look for the man but could not find him.
