America’s obsession with manicured lawns—once a status symbol of wealth and order—faces growing backlash over water waste, chemicals, and loss of biodiversity. From “No Mow May” to native plant rebellions, cities like Marquette are seeing a quiet shift toward pollinator-friendly, sustainable yards despite ordinances and HOA rules.
More Articles
Veterans Day of Caring and Services, Busy Labor Day Around the UP, Copper Mine Status, and Third Grade Reading Scores Down Across State
Veterans Day of Caring and Services, Busy Labor Day Around the UP, Copper Mine Status, and Third Grade Reading Scores Down Across State. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Canadian Tourists, Boycotts and the Eastern U.P.: An Update on Summer 2025
Canadian tourism to the Eastern U.P. has dropped sharply in 2025 due to tariffs, political tensions, and travel boycotts. Border crossings and tourism-related searches are both down, with Sault Ste. Marie and Chippewa County seeing the biggest impact. Mackinac Island, however, continues to thrive thanks to strong domestic tourism.
Rural Voices
Global Service from Upper Peninsula Roots: Talking to Karen Ogle About Her Foreign Service Career
In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Karen Ogle, a Marquette native who has carved out a distinguished career in the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service.
Diplomatic Paths: From Marquette to the World with Robert Hilton
In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Robert Hilton, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army and a Marquette native with a storied international career.
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More From Our Articles
The Big Beautiful Act, Medicaid and the Upper Peninsula
The new “Big Beautiful Act” slashes $1 trillion from Medicaid and CHIP, cutting at least 10.5 million people from coverage. For the U.P., this means fewer insured residents, struggling hospitals, job losses, and longer drives for care.
Blues on the Bay, Housing for Teachers, Federal Cuts to Radio and TV, Possible Hole in Michigan Budget, and Stats from Beyond the UP
Blues on the Bay, Housing for Teachers, Federal Cuts to Radio and TV, Possible Hole in Michigan Budget, and Stats from Beyond the UP. Read this week’s Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Charging Into the Future: Can EVs Thrive in the UP?
Electric vehicles remain a rare sight in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula due to limited charging infrastructure, cold climate challenges, high vehicle costs, and slow-moving local policy. But with the right investments and political will, EV adoption in the UP could unlock new economic and environmental opportunities for the region.
Research
Assessing Socioeconomic Trends and Disparities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: A County-by-County Analysis
We occasionally publish research by NMU students, and this article is an…
Earned Income Tax Credit: Max Steele’s Analysis
Rural areas have several demographic components that lend themselves to having a…
Recent Population Changes in the U.P. Amidst the Pandemic
The population dynamics of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are well documented. Its population,…
Boom and Bust: Calumet and Keweenaw National Historical Park 30 Years On
Many communities throughout the Upper Peninsula have developed their sense of place…
Survey Shows Diversity of NMU’s Student Veterans
Diversity is something that members of America’s armed forces inadvertently come to…