Michael Broadway
Joslin Brown was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They are a student at Northern Michigan University, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability with a minor in Biology.
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.
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.
President Trump, Canada and the Upper Peninsula
Canadian travel to the U.S. is down sharply in 2025, and border towns like Sault Ste Marie are feeling the impact. Michael Broadway and Joslin Brown’s latest article explores how Trump-era policies are straining one of North America’s closest relationships.
Keweenaw National Historical Park and Calumet: What You See is What You Get
Historic preservation is a major force in shaping the American landscape. Each year millions of Americans flock to historical sites to experience places that authentically represent the past. Michael Broadway and Joslin Brown examine some of the unique challenges surrounding Keweenaw National Historical Park’s development in Calumet.
Recent Population Changes in the U.P. Amidst the Pandemic
The population dynamics of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are well documented. Its population, like most rural…
New Paper: Recent Population Changes in the U.P. Amidst the Pandemic
A new research paper by NMU professor and Rural Insights contributor Michael Broadway and NMU student and research assistant Joslin Brown looks at the population changes in the Upper Peninsula amidst the Covid pandemic.
Boom and Bust: Calumet and Keweenaw National Historical Park 30 Years On
A new research publication by Rural Insights contributor Michael Broadway and NMU student researcher Joslin Brown takes a look at the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Calumet, MI in the Upper Peninsula, and the park’s impact on the Calumet area’s economic development.
Boom and Bust: Calumet and Keweenaw National Historical Park 30 Years On
Many communities throughout the Upper Peninsula have developed their sense of place from the mining…
