Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
Early voting in North Carolina begins soon: Here’s what to know
WLOS Asheville: The early voting period in North Carolina is nearly underway, so voters can soon cast their ballots in person. Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and former RNC Chair Michael Whatley are vying for an open U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
ATLANTA
Early voting is underway in Georgia. Here’s where you can cast a ballot in your county.
Georgia Recorder: Election Day is still weeks away, but Georgia voters are already starting to cast their ballots. That’s because state law mandates that counties offer three weeks of early voting before every major election.
BALTIMORE
Gov. Moore, lawmakers back proposal to tie prescription drug costs to federally negotiated prices
Maryland Matters: Gov. Wes Moore offered his “public and loud” support for proposed legislation that would allow the state to more quickly reduce the price of some expensive drugs for non-Medicare recipients by piggybacking on the federally negotiated price limits under Medicare.
No arrests in wake of reported sexual assault at University of Chicago frat house, police say
Chicago Sun-Times: No arrests have been made in the day since the University of Chicago announced that school officials had identified a man accused of sexual assault at an off-campus fraternity party.
CINCINNATI
Cincinnati Public Schools has served hundreds with first-in-the-nation sleep lot for families
Ohio Capital Journal: Cincinnati Public Schools is the first school district in the nation to own and operate a parking lot where families experiencing homelessness can go to at night and sleep in their cars.
CLEVELND
Brook Park’s Democratic mayor says he is getting threats since endorsing GOP U.S. Rep. Max Miller
Cleveland.com: Brook Park’s Democratic mayor says he is facing threats and attacks since endorsing Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller earlier this month instead of Democrat Brian Poindexter, a former Brook Park council member who is seeking the seat.
COLUMBUS
Amy Acton campaigns at closed-door rally while Vivek Ramaswamy criticizes her at Columbus forum
Ohio State Public Media: While Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Dr. Amy Acton campaigned at a closed door rally near Ohio State University’s campus in Columbus, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, her opponent, criticized her at a community forum across town.
DETROIT
Questions remain over the future of Flock camera use in Detroit
CBS Detroit: Madison Heights has disconnected its city-run automated license plate readers while it reviews privacy and data-security concerns. In Detroit, Police Commissioner Victoria Camille says the board’s oversight is limited after approval.
INDIANAPOLIS
New Indianapolis plan would more than triple the size of the city’s trail network
Indianapolis Public Media: The newly published Indy Greenways For All plan outlines Indianapolis officials’ goal to significantly expand the city’s network of trails. The document outlines plans for 260 miles of new greenways and trails to be added to the city. That’s more than double the 120 miles of trails that exist now.
LOUISVILLE
Meta revealed as company behind Kentucky’s controversial Mason County hyperscale data center
Kentucky Lantern: The technology company Meta will invest billions of dollars for a proposed Mason County hyperscale data center and will pay millions of dollars to local schools and the county but will also receive a 40-year tax break on local property taxes, according to a tentative agreement.
MILWAUKEE
What to know about Wisconsin’s November 2026 referendums
Wisconsin Public Radio: Those proposals got to the ballot after being approved by the Republican-controlled state Legislature in two consecutive legislative sessions. If they’re approved by a majority of Wisconsin voters, those measures would change the state constitution.
MORGANTOWN
West Virginia Democrats push Morrisey for special session to cut gas tax
West Virginia Public Broadcasting: This time of year gas prices typically fall. Right now they’re at record highs nationwide for autumn, according to Triple A which tracks the prices. In West Virginia the average price is roughly $4.25, below the national average but up almost $1.30 from a year ago.
NASHVILLE
Open seat, even partisan divide make Tennessee District 59 race one to watch
Nashville Banner: Tennessee House District 59, which spans much of southern Davidson County from Belle Meade to Cane Ridge, is up for grabs in November after Nashville Democratic Rep. Caleb Hemmer decided not to run for a third term, vacating one of the closest districts in the state in terms of partisan makeup.
PHILADELPHIA
Pennsylvania measles infections climb to 1,222 cases amid statewide outbreak. Here’s what to know
Philadelphia Public Radio: A statewide outbreak of measles in Pennsylvania continues to affect primarily unvaccinated children and adults as health officials try to ramp up vaccination rates in local communities.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh debuts 1st outdoor defibrillator in city’s Lower Hill District
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The devices, which use an electric shock to help restart a person’s heart, are often locked away in buildings that aren’t open to the public or are inaccessible outside of regular business hours.
Three Maryland men plead guilty in West Virginia fraud case
WTRF.com: U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced the convictions of three men as part of nationwide enforcement actions led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, Internal Revenue Service, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation targeting tax fraud and related offenses.
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Police: If assault victim at Trump rally files a report, they will investigate
Yahoo! News: Local police in Ohio encouraged a woman protester who was repeatedly punched by a follower of President Donald Trump at his Monday night rally to file a complaint and launch a criminal investigation.
