Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
Poll: Democrats show gains in North Carolina races, while voters worry about money
Blue Ridge Public Radio: The latest poll, from independent think tank Carolina Forward, shows former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, leading Republican Michael Whatley by double digits in the U.S. Senate race.
ATLANTA
Clark Atlanta, several HBCUs awarded $97 million in federal STEM grants
FOX 5 Atlanta: Clark Atlanta University has been awarded nearly $10 million in federal funding to expand its science and technology programs, alongside several other Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock announced.
BALTIMORE
Maryland elections board targeted by suspicious envelope as FBI investigates nationwide mailings
WBAL-TV Baltimore: Maryland State Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis posted on social media that the Maryland State Board of Elections was a targeted agency for a suspicious envelope. He wrote that it was intercepted prior to delivery.
Illinois erases $1.4 billion in medical debt for thousands of residents
Chicago Sun-Times: Gov. JD Pritzker touted the results of the state’s Medical Debt Relief Program, which started about two years ago. The state had allocated $10 million toward the program, and Pritzker said in the Cook County Health building that he’s committed to continuing funding for the program.
CINCINNATI
How to tell Cincinnati officials your input on regulating data centers
Cincinnati Public Radio: Cincinnati officials are collecting public feedback as they prepare possible changes to city zoning to regulate data centers. The process includes two public meetings and an online survey.
CLEVELND
Lake Erie could churn up 13-foot waves as powerful winds sweep in
Cleveland.com: The National Weather Service in Cleveland expects waves to generally build to 7 to 11 feet as a cold front moves through the region. Winds could reach 30 knots — or 35 mph — with gusts potentially reaching gale force.
COLUMBUS
Vivek Ramaswamy opposes data center tax break, would resume executions in Ohio
Ohio State Public Media: A sales tax break for data centers, the death penalty, the Second Amendment and property taxes were among the issues that Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, discussed in a wide-ranging interview before the Columbus Metropolitan Club.
DETROIT
Hamtramck mayoral election vote recount
Detroit Public Radio: The 37 absentee ballots were found in the city clerk’s office just days after the election. A Wayne County Circuit judge has ordered that the ballots must be counted despite a year-long legal battle. Currently, Adam Alharbi is the mayor, contested by former Hamtramck city council member Muhith Mahmood.
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
Governor issues executive order seeking to overhaul KentuckyWired board
Kentucky Lantern: Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has issued an executive order overhauling the board overseeing the state’s broadband network KentuckyWired, throwing another wrench into a contentious lawsuit the network is entangled in.
MILWAUKEE
Letters with “suspicious substances” sent to Wisconsin Election Commission, other offices nationwide
Wisconsin Public Radio: Federal authorities are investigating letters with “suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide, including the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
MORGANTOWN
Data center threatens rare American Chestnut orchard in West Virginia
West Virginia Public Broadcasting: The former Clements State Tree Nursery in Mason County hosts the only known sexually mature orchard of American chestnuts in West Virginia and one of only a handful nationwide. But the Nscale Monarch Computing Campus is set to be built on top of the orchard.
NASHVILLE
Nashville voter turnout 15 times higher than last midterm so far
Nashville Public Radio: The number of Nashvillians casting a ballot on the first day of early voting has risen nearly 1400% compared to the last midterm election in 2022.
PHILADELPHIA
Drexel University exhibition shows video games’ potential for artistry and community in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Public Radio: “We wanted to investigate video games as an art form but also think about the ways that people are using them for creativity, for acts of resistance, for opportunities to create community,” co-curator Talia Greene said.
PITTSBURGH
Can GLP-1s trim more than weight? Effect on drug use, crime to be studied in Pittsburgh
Public Source: A new $13.3 million study in Pittsburgh will research whether GLP-1 drugs can reduce alcohol and opioid abuse – as well as a host of other social ills, including crime, unemployment and homelessness.
West Virginia woman admits to stealing $440,000 in COVID fraud scheme
WTRF.com: Leigh Ann Rinehart, 54, admitted to receiving and using benefit cards obtained through claims filed under other people’s names, according to court documents.
YOUNGSTOWN
Husted: ‘I don’t know any details’ of protest incident at Trump rally
WFMJ 21 Youngstown: Video from Monday’s rally in Youngstown shows multiple attendees pulling on a protester’s hair and hitting her in the face before security officers broke them up.
