Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
Asheville bear break-in shows why wildlife officials urge residents to secure food
WLOS Asheville: A black bear broke through an Asheville garage window to reach trash inside, with her cubs waiting nearby, according to video shared by a homeowner. Wildlife officials say food-driven encounters such as this can become more common as bears prepare for winter.
ATLANTA
At an Athens town hall, residents voice their concerns about Flock camera abuses
Georgia Public Broadcasting: Athens residents voiced their concerns about Flock cameras during a town hall hosted by State Rep. Eric Gisler. The representative expressed some skepticism about Flock cameras, but one of his constituents, Ellen Walker, said she’s concerned that this conversation about safety and cameras is too little, too late.
BALTIMORE
Baltimore City State’s Attorney unveils dashboard to track charges and case outcomes
WBAL-TV Baltimore: “The public deserves access to meaningful information about how the criminal justice system operates and how our office is truly performing,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said.
University of Chicago theoretical physicist honored as MacArthur Fellow
Chicago Sun-Times: Vincenzo Vitelli, 48, a theoretical physicist and tenured professor at the University of Chicago, deals in mind-bending ideas every day, but the notion that he’d just won a MacArthur Fellowship and the $800,000 of no-strings-attached money that comes with it seemed beyond the pale.
CINCINNATI
How Cincinnati plans to pave more streets by cutting costs
Cincinnati Public Radio: Cincinnati is expected to repave more than double the number of lane miles this fiscal year compared to last fiscal year, thanks to a bigger budget and a significant reduction in costs. City officials hope to reverse a trend of spending more to pave less, while the citywide average pavement condition declines.
CLEVELAND
LOOK: Cleveland’s skyline is changing. See the latest from the air
Cleveland.com: The downtown Cleveland skyline south of Public Square is undergoing a transformation of sorts because of separate projects now taking shape from Dan Gilbert’s family of companies.
COLUMBUS
Invasive burrowing beetles threaten Ohio’s largest native fruit
Ohio State Public Media: Pawpaw trees, which grow Ohio’s largest native fruit, are resistant to a lot of pests: Many insects, rabbits and deer largely leave the understory plant alone. But in recent years, invasive ambrosia beetles have been wreaking havoc on pawpaw trees in parts of southeast Ohio.
DETROIT
Detroit dispatcher accused of warning family about FBI raid
Detroit Free Press: A longtime Detroit fire dispatcher is accused of tipping off family members about an impending federal search warrant and then lying to investigators who questioned her about it, according to a criminal complaint filed Sept. 28 in federal court.
INDIANAPOLIS
2-time Indianapolis 500 champion Gordon Johncock dead at 90
FOX 59 Indianapolis: Officials with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway confirmed Johncock, who was 90 years old, died of natural causes at his home in South Branch, Michigan, earlier this week.
LOUISVILLE
How one Kentucky county is grappling with a national tick-borne scourge
Kentucky Lantern: It wasn’t until two or three years ago that most people in Owen County had ever heard of alpha-gal syndrome, according to one local family doctor. Cases of other tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis would sporadically pop up in Larry Johnson’s health clinic.
MILWAUKEE
In Wisconsin elections, write-ins are frequently wrong
Wisconsin Public Radio: “If you vote for other candidates throughout the rest of your ballot, that would still be counted, but the vote for Mickey Mouse just wouldn’t be tallied, if Mickey Mouse has not registered,” said Bryna Godar, a staff attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
MORGANTOWN
West Virginia Watch: The state’s Medicaid program, which reimburses behavioral therapists, pays providers at the lowest rate in the nation. These therapists deliver Applied Behavior Analysis therapy to children with autism that can help them with speech, daily living and staying safe.
NASHVILLE
Nashville Symphony suspending season amid “financial emergency”
Nashville Public Radio: The symphony’s board said the unanimous decision comes amid a “financial emergency” and follows one week after the organization announced a $10 million budget deficit. The board plans to restructure to find long-term financial stability.
PHILADELPHIA
Here’s everything that’s happening for “Rocky Season” in Philly
Philadelphia Public Radio: It’s the 50th anniversary of the first “Rocky” movie’s release, and the Philadelphia Visitor’s Center is kicking off two months of citywide celebrations to celebrate the iconic Philly figure.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Controller urges caution, slowed funding for housing and anti-violence programs in 2027
WESA Pittsburgh: Mayor Corey O’Connor is set to release his draft for the 2027 Pittsburgh city budget. But already there are signs of what the discussions around that spending plan could look like, thanks to a letter sent Tuesday by City Controller Rachael Heisler certifying revenue projections for the next five years.
WHEELING
WTRF.com: A new piece of legislation in Congress could have a big impact on economic development and historical preservation for West Virginia.
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Council looking to address staffing issue
WFMJ 21 Youngstown: During a recent meeting, council members discussed the ongoing hiring process in the hopes of adding at least a few new employees to the ranks.
