The loss of local news has an insidious effect on democracy.

Why it matters: The trend is "contributing to polarization, decrease in voting and government accountability," the nonprofit American Journalism Project found through an analysis of independent research.

Yes, but: Groups like the Knight Foundation see reasons for hope as newer journalism outlets take hold — some of which are increasingly being funded by philanthropy.

State of play: A declining share of adults are following the news closely, and traditional media audiences for newspapers, TV and radio are shrinking, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.

• Digital devices are now the most common way Americans get news.

By the numbers: Nearly 90% of adults say they often or sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet, per Pew.

• That's compared to around 65% for television, 42% for radio and 25% for print publications.

Stunning stat: Almost a third of all U.S. newspapers have shuttered since 2005, according to the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University.

• There are roughly 6,000 newspapers left in the U.S., down from 8,891 in 2005.

Threat level: Most communities that lose a local newspaper don't get a replacement, even online.

• More than 200 counties in the U.S. now have zero news outlets, per Medill's report.

What they're saying: Having a reporter monitor city hall, police or local businesses serves the public good by promoting civic engagement and helping communities make better decisions, according to Knight.

What we're watching: Axios's growth to 30 local markets in the last four years — with more on the way — is just one example of new investments in local journalism across the country.

• A collection of more than two dozen philanthropic groups, including Knight, pledged more than $500 million last year to a new initiative that has committed to support local journalism across the country.

The bottom line: Support local news.

• Our Axios Local membership program is just one way to do so.

👋 Hi there! Holly Moore, executive editor for Axios Local, here.

This week, 115 Axios employees from 30 cities across the U.S. are meeting in Minneapolis for our annual Local team retreat.

Why it matters: Getting together allows us to share best practices, setting the foundation for our continued growth as we aim to prove that our model for local news is sustainable nationwide.

Between the lines: Axios Local launched four years ago, with 13 reporters covering five cities. We don't intend to waste our head start.

• With a newsroom that stretches from Seattle to Miami, in-person time is incredibly valuable.
• This week allows us to peel away from Zoom meetings and other distractions and focus on how our product best serves you.

What's next: Watch for more Axios Local cities in 2025.

The bottom line: Thank you for allowing us the time and space to do this.

• As a subscriber, you are part of the vanguard of our local news revolution, and we couldn't do it without you.

If you have feedback on your newsletter or want to brag on your reporting team, feel free to reach out at any time: [email protected].

🏗️ Tennessee lawmakers are pondering lifting development protections for thousands of acres of wetlands. (Tennessee Lookout)

💻 Nashville's health care industry faces serious cybersecurity threats. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

🏈 Tennessee football ascended to No. 5 in the latest AP top-25 poll. (ESPN)

A storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico is predicted to grow into a hurricane that could do damage to the 30A area where many Nashvillians vacation over the upcoming fall break.

Driving the news: The storm, which will likely be named Helene, is expected to make landfall later this week between the Florida panhandle and Tampa, according to yesterday's prediction from the National Hurricane Center. Nashville's fall break is Oct. 5-12.

• A far broader region would be affected by high winds, storm surge flooding and heavy rains, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports.
• The storm could bring heavy rain to the Nashville area as well, though it's too soon to predict its impact.