Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
A record 2.8 million North Carolinians voted early in this midterm election
Blue Ridge Public Radio: The number of people who cast ballots early was 30% higher than the 2022 midterms, when the GOP did well. The 2026 early vote was also 25% higher than the 2018 midterms, when Democrats had a strong performance.
ATLANTA
Hundreds retain housing through Atlanta homelessness prevention program
Georgia Public Broadcasting: Atlanta is four months into a homelessness prevention program. Over 200 households have received assistance through the Right at Home program since July. The pilot is part of Atlanta Rising, a citywide initiative to end unsheltered homelessness.
BALTIMORE
Maryland governor says Trump policies are driving up gas and food prices in Maryland
WBAL-TV Baltimore: Gov. Wes Moore is taking credit for helping Maryland break free from the clutches of Trump administration policies that the governor said harm the state.
Chicago Sun-Times: The contract with Appriss Insights, which runs the state’s crime victim notification system, allows the company to share data with third parties like ICE, advocates say.
CINCINNATI
How one Ohio pharmacy is filling free prescriptions across the state
Cincinnati Public Radio: The St. Vincent de Paul charitable pharmacy in Cincinnati has filled more than a million prescriptions – free of charge. Still, the need hasn’t subsided over the pharmacy’s last two decades of service. Community members are facing difficult financial choices, said vice president of pharmacy Rusty Curington.
CLEVELAND
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony returning to Cleveland for December show
Cleveland.com: The group of proud Cleveland natives last performed in the region in early September as openers for The Wu-Tang Clan’s “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber” show at Blossom Music Center.
COLUMBUS
Conservative group suggests Ohio lawmakers pass bills pulling some power from governor
Ohio State Public Media: An influential conservative think tank has said it’s concerned about unelected bureaucrats having too much authority over the policies that come out of state agencies. So it wants state lawmakers to pull some of that power back during the lame duck session after the election, before a new governor takes over in January.
DETROIT
Michigan voters call for unity and help with affordability
Detroit News: Michigan voters on Election Day urged their next U.S. senator, governor and other elected officials to unite the state and ease high prices at home amid a bruising midterm election marked by religious differences over the war in the Middle East.
INDIANAPOLIS
Indiana makes progress in cutting childcare voucher waitlist
Indiana Capital Chronicle: The waitlist for a childcare voucher in Indiana declined from 41,175 children in May to just 9,006 children at the end of October — a 78% decline Gov. Mike Braun credits to a major investment by his administration following a year-and-a-half hiatus for new sign-ups.
LOUISVILLE
Kentucky economic incentive board creates new requirements for data centers tax breaks
Kentucky Lantern: Hyperscale data center developers are eyeing a potentially massive, controversial sales tax break passed by Kentucky state lawmakers, but they might have to meet a number of requirements recently outlined by a state board to get it.
MILWAUKEE
The surprisingly complicated science of perfect curling ice in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public Radio: Canadians have been known to bury lucky coins beneath Olympic ice, hoping a little superstition might help their curlers bring home gold. At the Wausau Curling Club, Pete Susens relies on considerably less mysterious factors: water, cold and an almost obsessive attention to detail.
MORGANTOWN
Voices: Why West Virginia is one of the few states still supporting Trump
Jack Bernard writes for West Virginia Watch: “West Virginia is plagued with many ills. For example, it has some of the worst physical and mental health problems in the nation, coming in 46th on America’s Health Rankings. And the state faces economic problems due in large part to its reliance on a failing industry — coal mining. One study rated its economy as the worst of any state.”
NASHVILLE
Nashville must cut council in half, Tennessee Supreme Court rules
Nashville Tennessean: The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 2 that Nashville must reduce the size of its Metro Council from 40 to 20 members to comply with a 2023 law.
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia Public Radio: That’s according to new numbers in the Vision Zero Annual Report 2026, which found that Philadelphia has nine traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents compared to New York City, which has less than three per 100,000.
PITTSBURGH
Another way Donnie Iris fans can pay tribute to the Pittsburgh musical icon
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh music fans will have another opportunity to remember and pay tribute to musician Donnie Iris. Citizens Live at the Wylie in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District will host “A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Donnie Iris,” beginning at 11 a.m. Nov. 9.
Wheeling health officials warn fast-spreading flu could spike as holiday gatherings near
WTOV 9 Wheeling: “The concern is how fast that can move across,” said Howard Gamble, administrator of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department. “We are monitoring the sewage right now. We are not seeing increased amounts in our sewage, or within our sentinal provider in the state of West Virginia. That can all change overnight. All it takes is a couple trips, large groups, gatherings and you have a spike.”
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown-based big band celebrates ‘Long Shot’ album release
WKBN 27 Youngstown: Youngstown’s First Class Big Band first formed 34 years ago, and after all those decades of making music, released its first album. Most of the First Class Big Band are graduates of Youngstown State’s Dana School of Music. Several are original members who thought it was time to release an album.
