America’s Largest Inland Port is Running Out of Water
The proposed solution — a thirty-one-mile-long pipeline draining Lake Michigan — is dividing residents of Joliet, Illinois.
The Englewood Line–Not Just the Anti-606
The elevated rails-to-trails project will bring green space to Chicago's South Side.
Gary’s Gold Coast
This historic apartment district in Gary, Indiana is a museum of architectural styles.
Pro Basketball’s Rust Belt Roots
The Goodyear Wingfoots, General Electrics, and the heyday of industrial basketball.
Chicago Public Schools Students on Why They Walked Out
In January, students protested in support of COVID safety and student representation.
How Ohio Created the NFL—and the 2022 Super Bowl Matchup
The story of this weekend's game runs through Canton, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
A Locals’ Guide to Gary, Indiana
Plan your trip to the heart of the Rust Belt.
The Ohio Bribery Scandal Behind “The Worst Energy Policy in the Country”
Hidden recorders, dirty politicians, and the corrupt companies that financed it all.
The Ohio Organization Rekindling Indigenous Foodways
How 'Native American street food' is helping to keep tribal cultures alive.
Wisconsin’s Shipwreck Coast
America’s newest National Marine Sanctuary tells the tales of the Great Lakes.
Belt’s Top Stories of 2021
Ten pieces our readers kept coming back to.
Mr. Jingeling is Coming (Back) to Town
The retail celebrity—and ‘Keeper of the Keys’ to Santa’s workshop—was staple of Cleveland’s Christmas scene.