Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
Two years after Helene, survivors are still rebuilding their lives
Asheville Citizen Times: Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Helene, recovery can be measured in dollars and cents, but it can also be measured in what returned, what emerged, what was born or reborn. A general store is rising again beside a battered river.
ATLANTA
Studies on dementia have largely left out Black communities. New research aims to change that.
Atlanta News First: Much of what is known about Alzheimer’s and dementia has come from studies that largely left out Black and other minority communities. In Georgia, Black residents are facing cognitive decline at higher rates than their white and Hispanic neighbors.
BALTIMORE
“Skip the traffic”: MTA gives Marylanders free bus, light rail and MARC rides
WBAL-TV Baltimore: Transit leaders are asking Marylanders to “skip the traffic” and “hop aboard free transit” today as the Maryland Transit Agency celebrates Car Free Day.
Chicago Sun-Times: More than two years into his weight loss journey, Gov. JB Pritzker says he wants to talk about it, largely in part because he knows millions of Americans are suffering from obesity-related health conditions.
CINCINNATI
Cincinnati receives $2 million state grant to prepare former shopping center site for new housing
LOCAL 12 Cincinnati: The funding comes from Ohio’s Residential Economic Development District program and will support work at the 17-acre MidPointe Crossing site, formerly home to the Swifton Commons Shopping Center.
CLEVELAND
Ohio secretary of state urges voters to confirm registration ahead of October deadline
Cleveland.com: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that his office has published a list of 208,856 inactive voter registrations scheduled for removal from the state’s voter rolls in January 2027, urging Ohioans to check their registration status ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election.
COLUMBUS
Ohio leaders push for Space Academy to come to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Ohio State Public Media: It could be a total federal investment of $1 billion, Ohio GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno said while speaking at the Ohio Defense & Aerospace Forum at Wright State University.
DETROIT
Michigan man charged with threatening to kill Whitmer, Benson and Michigan Supreme Court
CBS Detroit: A Lake Orion man faces nine terrorism charges and a $5 million bond after prosecutors say he emailed a Michigan journalist threatening to kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the Michigan Supreme Court, Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said.
INDIANAPOLIS
An Indiana psychiatric hospital chain promised reform. Allegations of abuse and neglect continued
Indianapolis Public Media: Measures to increase oversight at the state level have faltered. The independent office Indiana law created to investigate complaints about mental health care facilities sat unstaffed from 2022 until 2025, and a bill that would create more oversight for psychiatric hospitals failed in the last legislative session.
LOUISVILLE
Gov. Beshear says state agency, 3 KY counties in line for FEMA flood funding
Kentucky Lantern: “From the 2022 floods in Eastern Kentucky to flooding events in February and April of last year, the impacts were widespread and devastating, and these dollars will make a difference,” Beshear said in a statement.
MILWAUKEE
USDA restricts spending on dairy marketing after lawsuit from Wisconsin producers
Wisconsin Public Radio: The announcement comes after three Wisconsin dairy farmers filed a lawsuit in June challenging the federal dairy checkoff for using farmers’ money to fund so-called “Environmental, Social and Governance” initiatives.
MORGANTOWN
West Virginia Republican House candidate under fire for comments about Black women, Muslims
West Virginia Watch: Republican candidate Chris Clagett, who is running in Berkeley County for a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates, posted several racist posts on social media that targeted Black women and Muslims.
NASHVILLE
No shade: Half of Nashville’s parks have less than 33% tree canopy cover
Nashville Public Radio: Half of Nashville’s parks have less than 33% tree canopy cover, according to a new report from the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps. “I think that’s scandalous,” said Chris Leonard, the group’s board chairman.
PHILADELPHIA
Are Gen Z Philadelphians drinking less?
Philadelphia Public Radio: Like every new generation, Philadelphians born after 1997 are dealing with socioeconomic shifts and cultural hurdles unique to them. Gen Z has grown up in a time of smartphones, shifting marajuana laws, inflation and a COVID pandemic — all of which could affect drinking habits.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh has cataloged its surveillance technology. Experts say there’s more work to do
WESA Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh city government has plenty more to learn when it comes to regulating surveillance technology, according to a panel of national experts who testified before City Council.
WHEELING
Wheeling University welcomes new vice president of enrollment and student affairs
WTRF.com: A seasoned educator and Ohio Valley resident, Denise Mirasola, Ed.D., is the new vice president of enrollment and student affairs at Wheeling University. The Weirton resident most recently served as principal of Weirton Elementary School in the Hancock County School District.
YOUNGSTOWN
Rising fuel prices threaten Mahoning County road funding
WKBN 27 Youngstown: Another area potentially impacted by rising fuel prices is at the Mahoning County Engineer’s office. Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti said the work they do relies heavily on fuel, and when gas prices rise, the money coming into the county usually drops.
