Happy Monday, Cincinnati. Victoria Moorwood here, The Enquirer’s watchdog reporter covering Butler, Warren and Clermont counties.
This Daily Briefing takes us around 40 miles north of Cincinnati to Middletown . Heard of it? If you know this small industrial city, it might be because it’s the hometown of Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance .
Middletown has been thrust into the national spotlight more than once by Vance, with many viewing the city through the lens he painted in “Hillbilly Elegy.” But there’s a lot more to the city’s story .
A once-thriving steel town, Middletown’s local economy rose and fell with its homegrown steel plant. The company’s decline was just the first domino in a string of setbacks. Now Middletown is digging itself out , in a new era of investment and growth.
Vance has said a lot about his hometown, and he’s blamed its struggles on Democratic policies. Here’s what really happened .
What else you need to know Monday, Oct. 21
🌞 Weather: High of 78 . Nice and warm with plenty of sunshine.