Ben Ledbetter, MPA, is a former journalist. Down Ballot covers local and state news in the U.S.
Upstate South Carolina
SC Department of Public Health will have mobile units in Landrum, in northern Spartanburg County on Monday, Nov. 17 and Tuesday, Nov. 18; Brunswick County to oppose Fuquay-Varina’s interbasin transfer
Mission Hospital
Wisconsin Worker’s comp bill with first raise in a decade for permanently disabled up for public hearing; Simple, short-term solutions to Asheville’s Black population decline are difficult to find, implement
North Carolina
Fuquay-Varina's current water supply is projected to fall short of future demands by 2030
South Carolina
Spartanburg City to meet Monday, Nov. 10 and Spartanburg County to meet Monday, Nov. 17; Municipal runoffs scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18
Virginia governor's race
Many across the country still awaiting SNAP benefits
SNAP lapse
No progress for poor areas despite years of NC tier system designed to spark growth; Family awaits results of independent autopsy on Delta State student Trey Reed
State and Local Government
N.C.'s DEQ accepting public comments on modified air quality permit for Domtar Paper in Martin County
North Carolina
Arizona sues over House Speaker’s refusal to seat Adelita Grijalva; New Orleans officials still unable to say why voter education on redistricting was lacking
South Carolina
Spartanburg City is the second municipality in Spartanburg County to approve a hate crime ordinance. It follows Wellford, which approved its ordinance in 2024.
State and Local Government
NC DEQ schedules public hearings in Lexington and Mooresville in November to consider air permit modifications for Transco’s proposed pipeline expansion
UNC Greensboro
Cops on Ketamine? Largely Unregulated Mental Health Treatment Faces Hurdles, Mississippi prison chief reopens homicide cases following news investigation
South Carolina
Spartanburg and Greenville counties are located on Interstate 85 between Charlotte and Atlanta