Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
Jamie Ager’s victory in WNC part of windfall of wins for Democrats throughout South
Blue Ridge Public Radio: “ It’s time for the revival of the mountain Democrats because folks in these mountains have been left behind for way too long,” Ager told supporters at an election night watch party in Asheville.
ATLANTA
Zoo Atlanta announces loss of Southern white rhino
Atlanta News First: Zuri, Zoo Atlanta’s Southern white rhino, has died after a brief illness, Zoo Atlanta said. “Zuri experienced a sharp decline in her health and behavior earlier this week, and blood tests revealed severe anemia,” the zoo said in a statement.
BALTIMORE
Maryland Democrats pick up more legislative seats as mail-in ballots are counted
Maryland Matters: The blue wave had maybe slowed to a trickle, but the tide was still moving toward Democrats, who appeared to have ousted a GOP senator and picked up two more seats in the House of Delegates as mail-in ballots were counted in Frederick County.
After Democrats won big during midterm election, Chicago supporters rally for “productive change”
Chicago Sun-Times: Over 100 Democratic supporters gathered at Federal Plaza in the Loop Saturday afternoon to rally following Tuesday’s midterm election results. The rally comes days after Democrats won big in Illinois and across the nation — regaining control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
CINCINNATI
Amy Acton is Ohio’s first elected woman governor, but not the first female governor
Cincinnati Public Radio: Many Ohio media outlets have called Amy Acton Ohio’s first “female-elected” governor. Those words were chosen carefully, because simply calling Acton Ohio’s first female governor is not accurate.
CLEVELAND
Experience, influence and a ticking clock: What Sherrod Brown’s Senate return means for Ohio
Cleveland.com: Sherrod Brown’s victory put him in an exclusive club: senators who lost their seats, then won their way back. Only six others have done that since World War II. But two years after voters cast him out, he returns from the wilderness, albeit without some of the clout he left behind.
COLUMBUS
LISTEN: Blue governor, red legislature: How will Ohio budget unfold next year?
Ohio State Public Media: After the inauguration, Acton has just two months to get her ideas on how Ohio will or won’t fund various agencies and services to members of the Ohio General Assembly. The executive budget proposal is due to lawmakers by March 15.
DETROIT
All the ways Michigan made history in the 2026 midterm election
Michigan Public: In the new year, Democrats will hold the governor, attorney general and secretary of state seats, as well as having majorities in both the Michigan House and Senate.
INDIANAPOLIS
Bears meet with Illinois leaders to “explore” stadium legislation as Indiana site work continue
Indiana Capital Chronicle: The Chicago Bears are completing due diligence for potential stadium sites in Indiana even as the franchise acknowledges meeting with Illinois leaders ahead of state lawmakers returning to Springfield later this month.
LOUISVILLE
Louisville Public Media: Republican Congressman James Comer won re-election this week for a sixth term serving Kentucky’s First Congressional District. But signs seem to be pointing toward the GOP lawmaker hitting the campaign trail again soon in a potential bid to be Kentucky’s next governor.
MILWAUKEE
Gov.-elect David Crowley discusses blue wave, goals for office
Wisconsin Public Radio: “Well, right now, my biggest focus is on my transition team. You know, it’s about making sure that we not only have the best team in place, but also, while we’re pulling our transition team together, we’ll also be going through the budget process.”
MORGANTOWN
Former West Virginia US Sen. Rockefeller, ‘a compassionate, decent, and true leader,’ dies at 89
West Virginia Watch: A native of New York and heir to the Rockefeller family fortune, Rockefeller first came to West Virginia as an anti-poverty worker in 1964. He was elected to the House of Delegates in 1966 and to secretary of state in 1968, according to his biography with the National Governors Association.
NASHVILLE
Tennessee’s failed executions will now factor into lawsuit challenging lethal injection protocol
Nashville Public Radio: The lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol is getting a major update. On Friday morning, a Davidson County judge signed off on a re-written complaint that documents issues in each of the executions carried out under the new protocol.
PHILADELPHIA
Boycott of Jewish-owned Philly businesses draws counterprotest
ABC 6 Philadelphia: A boycott targeting six Jewish-owned businesses in Philadelphia drew demonstrations and long lines of supporters, as protesters biked through the city in support of Palestinians.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Shapiro, in an interview with “Meet the Press,” said embattled Democrat John Fetterman needs to re-earn the trust of voters if he wants to win reelection to a second term in the Senate as a Democrat in 2028.
Cute! Festival of Trees gives stuffed animals a health check at Oglebay
WTRF.com: Kids from all over the area had the opportunity to bring not only their teddy bears but their favorite dolls and stuffed animals to Oglebay Park’s Pine Room for a complete and comprehensive checkup.
YOUNGSTOWN
Ohio communities push back on data centers with moratoriums
WFMJ 21 Youngstown: The state had more ballot initiatives about data centers than any other state, with 21. Thirteen municipalities, including Hubbard, put data center bans on their ballots.
