Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
North Carolina sees surge in early voting turnout
Blue Ridge Public Radio: About 486,000 North Carolinians have cast ballots in-person since Oct. 15. That’s about 50% more than at this point in the last midterm election cycle.
ATLANTA
Diners at Georgia Longhorn Steakhouse could have been exposed to measles
WSB-TV Atlanta: The Georgia Department of Public Health says they have been tracking potential exposures related to a case of the measles in Macon County earlier this month.
BALTIMORE
Dan Cox outlines plans to make Maryland more affordable in bid to unseat Wes Moore
CBS Baltimore: Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox says Marylanders are struggling with the rising cost of living, and he is promising to make affordability a priority if elected.
Gov. JB Pritzker signals more optimism on Bears stadium deal as election nears
Chicago Sun-Times: “I believe that in November, we’re going to be able to get something done to keep the Bears in the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said. “But I’m not going to do it at the expense of the taxpayers.”
CINCINNATI
Yellow Springs cinematographer contributes to PBS documentary on Haitians in Springfield
Cincinnati Public Radio: Academy Award-winning documentarian and cinematographer Steve Bognar of Yellow Springs worked on the film “Haiti Deportation Crisis” this summer, including as ICE agents apprehended Haitian immigrants. He captured behind the scenes images of these individuals adjusting to a new level of uncertainty.
CLEVELND
Ohio man’s fight to make whiskey at home reaches US Supreme Court
Cleveland.com: “It is legal to brew beer at home, and it fueled this whole craft brewing revolution,” said Robert Alt, president of the Columbus-based Buckeye Institute, which was involved in both cases. “But if you distill an ounce of liquor, it’s a federal crime.”
COLUMBUS
Ohio is taking action against companies that allow illegal betting
Ohio State Public Media: Polymarket, Robinhood, and Kalshi are some of the companies that offer bets based on sports predictions. Bettors can bet on one-off actions that athletes take during a game.
DETROIT
Dan Gilbert commits $1 billion to new nonprofit to redevelop RenCen, surrounding riverfront
CBS Detroit: Leaders unveiled plans for a new nonprofit organization that will oversee the redevelopment and operation of the Renaissance Center and the surrounding 35-acre East Riverfront District.
INDIANAPOLIS
Amelia Earhart expedition crew finds “no conclusive evidence” during search for plane wreckage
WTHR Indianapolis: The expedition crew from Purdue searching for Amelia Earhart’s missing plane said it found “no conclusive evidence” to support the hypothesis that wreckage was located on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean.
LOUISVILLE
Louisville dance group supports wellness in veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries
Louisville Public Media: Seven out of 100 military service members will have post-traumatic stress disorder in their lifetime, according to the National Center for PTSD. A 2025 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that physical activity can improve overall sleep, anxiety and sadness attributed to PTSD.
MEMPHIS
Tennessee attorney general touts success of Trump task force in Memphis
Tennessee Lookout: The presence of hundreds of federal law enforcement officers as well as National Guard has drawn criticism for over-policing in the majority Black city. Four black men have been fatally shot by task force members this year.
MILWAUKEE
Wisconsin will examine environmental cost of data centers in lawsuit settlement
Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin regulators will conduct a full statewide review of the environmental impacts of data center development under a legal deal reached among environmental groups, a data center developer and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
MORGANTOWN
West Virginia Watch: Ed Ryan, founder of Reshore WV, is helping West Virginia college students find passion and jobs here with products manufactured in the Mountain State.
PHILADELPHIA
One Philly HBCU Week returns with football, music and more
Philadelphia Public Radio: The celebration of historically Black colleges and universities features two football games at Lincoln Financial Field, a performance by Ludacris and a Battle of the Bands.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Steelers fans press on with plans for Paris game despite protests
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: A reported 2,400 people have been arrested in the weekend demonstrations in cities across France. The initial movement, starting in late September, sought to express concerns about conditions in French public schools; they have since expanded to broader anti-government sentiments.
Wheeling Symphony Orchestra set to debut new music season
WTRF.com: The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra hosted a photo opportunity to kick off its 2026 season. The event was held at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Wheeling, and the focus is on their first concert of the season featuring “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Orthopaedic Will Join Cleveland Clinic in November
Youngstown Business Journal: The announcement follows weeks of speculation throughout the Mahoning Valley about the move. It also follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the Surgery Center at Southwoods contending two of its shareholder physicians are in breach of obligations due to their intent to sell the assets of Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
