Welcome to THE UPSTATE AMERICAN, by Rex Smith — longtime newspaper editor and columnist, always watching apart from the center of things from hometowns all over America. Boomer, dad, musician, citizen, preacher's kid.

You’ll want to read Rex’s insights each week, along with what he has found from his wide-ranging survey of what’s going on all over the country. It only costs a few bucks to get the report in your email every week.

In the meantime, tell your friends!