Some say utilities should bury power lines to prevent outages. The costs outweigh the benefits, utilities say.
Northern Michigan
Posted inMichigan Government
Family of Michigan ICE detainee offers mutual aid for fellow immigrants
After their father was detained, two sisters launched a network of advocates who help ICE detainees inside and outside the Baldwin detention facility.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
EMS providers battle money, staffing woes in rural Michigan’s ambulance ‘deserts’
Rural emergency medical services in Michigan are burdened by the high cost of keeping crews ready and insurance payouts that fail to cover calls. Hospital closures and mergers and a lack of local dollars aren’t helping matters, leaving local residents in a bind to keep services afloat.
Posted inQuality of Life
One year after ice storm, Michigan maple syrup producer back to tapping
The 2025 ice storm toppled tens of millions of trees and destroyed about a third of the state’s maple syrup production. This year’s ice storm wasn’t as bad for most syrup producers.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan pits small, big schools for funding. It’s an unfair fight, leaders say
Michigan increasingly requires schools to apply for grants to fund special programs like career tech. That may disadvantage small schools, where superintendents complete applications between plowing school and substitute teaching.
Posted inTalent & Education
Up North Michigan, schools struggle between pull of home and promise of college
Students’ stark choice in northern Michigan: Go to college and never come back — or stay with smaller paychecks. That’s put school districts in a conundrum about how best to educate them.
Posted inTalent & Education
Northern Michigan school bans screens to boost literacy. Will it work?
Mesick’s superintendent hopes his ‘no screens literacy initiative’ will improve standardized test scores and help students engage with books.
Posted inOutdoors Life
UP residents bet on start to spring, when a structure falls through ice
The tradition is part of a fundraiser run by the Negaunee Lions Club. Roughly half of the pot goes to the person with the closest guess.
Posted inQuality of Life
Northern Michigan digs out of another devastating winter storm
Sunday’s storm brought nearly 3 feet of snow to parts of the Upper Peninsula and a quarter-inch of ice to the northern Lower Peninsula. Tens of thousands remained without power Monday.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Appeals court allows Mackinac Island authority over ferry rates — for now
The federal appellate court tossed out a lower court’s injunction that prevented Mackinac Island from enforcing an ordinance regulating ferry rates, but upheld a ruling that the city can’t control parking rates.