Check out the latest news, features, opinions, and more from Appalachia, the Midwest, and other Postindustrial Communities.
ASHEVILLE
What does a soil and water supervisor do? After storms Fred and Helene, more than you might think
Blue Ridge Public Radio: Near the bottom of every ballot in Western North Carolina is a race many voters don’t know much about: soil and water conservation district supervisor. The office receives no salary and draws little attention, but after Tropical Storm Fred and Hurricane Helene, it has become a key part of flood recovery in the mountains.
ATLANTA
Inside Atlanta’s Porsche Experience: Get behind the wheel of a legend
Georgia Public Broadcasting: As Oktoberfest draws to a close, a celebration of one of Germany’s most celebrated exports, more intoxicating than its beer, and sweeter than a sheet of strudel. Porsche. There is nothing like it.
BALTIMORE
Early voting, mail-in ballots in Maryland likely to top 1 million before Election Day
Maryland Matters: Record numbers of voters in a gubernatorial election year turned out for early voting over the last week, with early voting and mail-in ballots likely to top 1 million before Election Day, according to the latest data from the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Billions of gallons of raw sewage are pouring into the Chicago River after storms
Chicago Sun-Times: The massive, still-unfinished Deep Tunnel project was supposed to be the answer. But wastewater dumped in the river now threatens human health and wildlife. Here’s why — and some ideas on what can be done.
Also reads: Postindustrial Art: Masha doesn’t like talking about herself, though she should
CINCINNATI
Ohio court strikes down some specifics in unconstitutional six-week abortion ban
Cincinnati Public Radio: The Hamilton County Common Pleas Court has ruled on some specific provisions in the six-week abortion ban that hasn’t been enforced since 2023, when Ohio voters passed an amendment guaranteeing abortion rights in the state’s constitution. The court struck down some specifics that were in that law, which was ruled unconstitutional in 2024.
CLEVELAND
Vance returns to Ohio for election eve rally with Husted, Ramaswamy
Cleveland.com: Vice President JD Vance is returning to Ohio for a rally at Toledo’s airport with Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and GOP gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy on the eve of Tuesday’s midterm election.
COLUMBUS
Ohio’s 15th Congressional District sees flood of money ahead of closer-than-expected race
Ohio State Public Radio: Two of the candidates running in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District are receiving millions of dollars in campaign donations, signaling a close race in what is usually a Republican-leaning district.
DETROIT
Michigan Democratic Party leader says Stevens is out of state party after Rogers endorsement
Detroit Free Press: Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel Jr. says U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham — who flipped a previously Republican-held congressional district for the Party in 2018 — is no longer a member of the state Party after endorsing Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in the race for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
INDIANAPOLIS
Indiana GOP pushing for Republicans to vote — and not stray from the party
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Signs of Republican jitters have popped up in turnout texts and social media posts as voters are deciding a hotly contested secretary of state’s race and the GOP works to fend off challenges to its control of congressional and legislative seats.
LOUISVILLE
Obama endorses Charles Booker in Kentucky Senate race
WLKY Louisville: “I’m proud to support Charles Booker for the U.S. Senate. Charles cares deeply about the people of Kentucky, and by sending him to Washington, working families across the Commonwealth would have a leader who understands their struggles and has what it takes to make real change,” the former president said.
MILWAUKEE
Trek CEO regrets decisions from COVID bike boom — but has confidence in the future
Wisconsin Public Radio: The demand for bikes during the pandemic gave Trek the best years in the company’s history. But after COVID, the bike bubble popped, leaving sales in the red. The Waterloo-based company has had multiple rounds of layoffs as a result, most recently in October.
MORGANTOWN
Republicans pull ahead in early voting, lagging in battleground districts in West Virginia
West Virginia Watch: Republicans have edged out Democrats in casting early in-person ballots, but are lagging behind in key battleground districts, according to data released by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office last week.
NASHVILLE
Christa Pike says she’s in constant pain and blames her failed execution on “incompetence”
Nashville Public Radio: In her first public statement since the execution, Pike said she never contemplated a life beyond her execution date and was prepared to die in peace, but woke up alone and confused in a hospital bed.
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia Public Radio: The governor, who leads his opponent in polling and fundraising, is spending his final days touring the state to campaign for U.S. House candidates.
PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild files labor charge against new Post-Gazette owners
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: A union representing employees at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the newspaper’s new owner with the National Labor Relations Board.
WTRF.com: Xander Ball, who is charged with attempted murder, escaped from the facility on Oct. 10. Authorities said he was allegedly involved in a July shooting that left a person critically injured in Star City.
YOUNGSTOWN
Stark County couple sues for $30 million over ejection from Trump’s Youngstown rally
Tribune Chronicle: A Stark County couple filed a $30 million federal lawsuit contending they suffered injuries while being removed from President Donald Trump’s Oct. 12 rally in Youngstown after shouting in the direction of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted.
