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FIELD NOTES
Power and Peril at the Great Lakes
Lessons from one 1971 near-disaster for the future of nuclear power in the region.
PERSONAL HISTORY
Paper House
"I never would have called it homelessness, if you’d asked."
CULTURAL STUDIES
ON THE RAILS
The Rebirth of a Regional Library
After a long period of disinvestment and decline, Chicago’s first regional library is returning to prominence.
The Rebirth of a Regional Library
After a long period of disinvestment and decline, Chicago’s first regional library is returning to prominence.
Independent, context-driven regional writing. Support Belt Magazine today. »
More Stories
Trouble
"The jukebox at Pizza King didn’t bump any songs past / 1978 but we fed it quarters anyway"
From Wasteland to Wildlife Habitat
A former Chicago dumping ground finds new life with restoration efforts.
Solidarity, Trauma, and a Moment of Relief in Minneapolis
Snapshots from the streets of Minnesota, where the fight is far from over.
What the USDA Still Owes Farmers of Color
The American Rescue Plan offers debt relief for farmers of color, but structural factors have kept many from obtaining loans in the first place.
“The King of the Hoboes”
“A-No. 1,” the legendary rambler, spent thirty years riding the rails and thirty more preaching against that lifestyle.
The Great Railroad Strike in Pittsburgh
Excerpted from "An Alternative History of Pittsburgh."
Envisioning a Progressive Future for Lima, Ohio
Lima’s current mayor is retiring after thirty-two years. Sharetta Smith, his current chief of staff, says “it’s time for the next generation to lead.”
Ode to Olcott
Olcott, New York—"The French Riviera of Lake Ontario"—has sunk and rebounded in a way so minor, yet major enough to feel like a triumph.
What Michael Stanley Meant to Cleveland
His story is the story of the rise and fall of rock 'n' roll in Cleveland—and of the city itself.
Documenting Home
Meet the panelists for our March 31 event in partnership with PEN America.
The Suburbs are Stunned
An excerpt from the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guidebook.
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From the Archives
Fear and Loathing on Euclid Avenue: Dispatches from the RNC in CLE
“I’m not here because I agree with everybody.”
How Michigan’s Municipal Policies Led To Crises In Detroit and Flint
Michigan has the most decrepit cities in the United States...It’s not just a result of neglect. It’s a result of policy.
Belt News
The Best of Belt Magazine 2019
Announcing a new anthology of regional writing, available exclusively to Belt members.
Call for Submissions: Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guidebook
Announcing the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guidebook, to be published by Belt Publishing.
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