Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
Asheville residents tell City Council to do more about bear issues
Blue Ridge Public Radio: State government has backed off a plan to kill a bear that entered a North Asheville home Aug. 18 and injured a woman inside. But three residents told Council the city needs to do more to prevent similar conflicts between people and bears going forward.
ATLANTA
Georgia senator urges greater federal oversight of automatic license plate readers
Georgia Recorder: Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is calling for federal guardrails around the use of automatic license plate readers, citing multiple cases of law enforcement misusing the cameras to stalk and harass U.S. citizens.
BALTIMORE
Maryland order established data center task force to track projects, water use, power demand
WBAL-TV Baltimore: Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order that establishes an advisory task force to steer policy around data center growth and take steps to create a dashboard for tracking data center projects across the state.
Maryland Matters: Roughly 4 in 10 voters said they oppose Question 3 in a poll by Protect Maryland Votes, a group that is opposing the proposed amendment to the Maryland Constitution. The poll comes just as mail-in ballots begin to go out to Maryland voters and one month before early voting begins.
A trio of candy-obsessed artists relocate their Wonka-esque gummy production to Chicago
Chicago Sun-Times: The actor Martin Starr and musicians and identical twins Ezra and Adeev Potash cofounded Sweet Stash last fall with an additive-free gummy with the complex flavor and texture dimension of candies they discovered over years of globe-trekking.
CINCINNATI
“We’re just stuck”: Ohio farmers contend with higher-than-average diesel prices
Cincinnati Public Radio: Farmer Nathan Gillespie grows row crops and sells freezer beef from his 1000 acres of land in Butler County. He said most of his equipment runs on diesel these days, including his tractors, trucks, skidloaders and combine.
CLEVELAND
Why Cleveland ran short of road salt with a salt mine beneath Lake Erie
Cleveland.com: Cleveland rationed road salt on neighborhood streets in January as its inventory fell to about 6,000 tons amid delayed deliveries and heavy winter demand — roughly enough for one major citywide storm.
COLUMBUS
Les Wexner’s political contributions make Epstein files a focus of Ohio’s US Senate race
Ohio State Public Media: Billionaire Les Wexner has long been a magnet for political campaigns seeking contributions — especially in his native Ohio, where the retail tycoon directed a generous portion of his giving to candidates from both parties. Then came the Epstein files.
DETROIT
Detroit Lakes Schools facing legal challenge over rainbow ban
FOX 9 Detroit: The Detroit Lakes School Board voted in July to remove “non-school-sponsored materials” referring to “rainbow” items as an example. This policy has gotten pushback from the community, which led to a packed August school board meeting.
INDIANAPOLIS
Indiana officials tout state management of disaster cleanup
Indianapolis Public Media: In 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing state and local governments to play a more active role in disaster preparation. At the time, Trump said he even considered getting rid of the Federal Emergency Response Agency, or FEMA, altogether.
LOUISVILLE
Kentucky newspaper layoffs have a reporter asking: Can local journalism be saved?
Louisville Public Media: Newspapers are shutting down and shedding reporters across the country, especially in Central Appalachia. Does a community mourn when its newspaper shutters, or loses most of its staff, or do people even notice?
MILWAUKEE
Foxconn says it plans to add 700 jobs in Wisconsin’s Mount Pleasant by mid-2027
Wisconsin Public Radio: In addition to building manufacturing capacity in Wisconsin, Foxconn is also looking to expand in Texas, Ohio, California, Taiwan and Mexico.
MORGANTOWN
Morgantown pottery studio pairs story time with painting for kids
WDTV 5 Morgantown: The WOW Factory offers pottery painting, glass fusing, mosaic, and clay hand building along with canvas painting and board art at special events. Employee Willow Henlon said events like this give kids opportunities to get creative and have fun.
NASHVILLE
Federal judge denies request to block TN Highway Patrol traffic stops conducted in tandem with ICE
Tennessee Lookout: The coalition had sought the injunction as part of its ongoing challenge to the constitutionality of state troopers conducting traffic stops of motorists suspected of being noncitizens and then allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — riding along or stationed nearby — to demand immigration papers and detain drivers.
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia Public Radio: The milestone comes three years into Parker’s term, and just months after her administration released $400 million in bonds for the first phase of the multifaceted plan, known as the Housing Opportunities Made Easy, or H.O.M.E., initiative.
PITTSBURGH
From Kabul to Pittsburgh: Book profiles women who fled the Taliban
WESA Pittsburgh: A new book tells the stories of four of those women, some of whom ended up in Pittsburgh: “The Last Free Women: A Daring Escape from Afghanistan & Coming of Age in America.”
WHEELING
Portion of Heritage Trail near Wheeling Suspension Bridge to close for construction
WTRF.com: A section of the Heritage Trail near the Wheeling Suspension Bridge will close Sept. 24, for construction of the Gateway Center. Closure signs will be posted in the area.
YOUNGSTOWN
Who can access Flock data, and are Youngstown police held accountable for any misuse?
WFMJ 21 Youngstown: The Mahoning and Shenango Valleys have been no exception to the national backlash against Flock Safety license plate readers and other surveillance cameras.
