The Issues
Recent Articles
Surviving the Snow of the Decade, New Big Bay Environmental Center, Access to Higher Education, UP Gas Prices, Millages, & NCAA Playoff Representation
Surviving the Snow of the Decade, New Big Bay Environmental Center, Access to Higher Education, UP Gas Prices, Millages, & NCAA Playoff Representation. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
A strong foundation of local democracy in the U.P.
Local democracy often gets overshadowed by national politics, but the health of our communities starts closer to home. New research looking at Upper Peninsula local officials shows how leaders here view the strength of democracy at the federal, state, and local levels. The results offer an interesting snapshot of how democracy is functioning across the U.P.
President Trump, Canada, the Upper Peninsula and Tourists
Fewer Canadians are crossing the border into Michigan, and U.P. businesses are beginning to feel the impact. New data shows a sharp decline in cross-border travel and its potential effects on the local economy.
Prayers for Massey Family, LSSU Gets Large Grant, Tightening of Michigan Voter Rules, Michigan K-12 Reform, Veterans Hotline, and Michiganders in Mexico
Prayers for Massey Family, LSSU Gets Large Grant, Tightening of Michigan Voter Rules, Michigan K-12 Reform, Veterans Hotline, and Michiganders in Mexico. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Maintenance, Not Growth: U.P. Local Leaders Reflect Statewide Funding Strains
A new Michigan Public Policy Survey report highlights what many U.P. communities have been feeling for years: local governments are stretched thin, costs are rising, and there are limited options to bring in new revenue.
Ice and Ice, Warming Centers in Your UP Community, and Four Dead People to Dine With
Ice and Ice, Warming Centers in Your UP Community, and Four Dead People to Dine With. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Viewing Nature: An Analysis of Exposure to Nature in the Upper Peninsula
New research shows that trees and greenspace don’t just make our communities look better–they actively support mental and physical health. In the U.P.’s cities, tree cover varies widely, meaning some neighborhoods benefit more than others. Planting trees is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to improve long-term health outcomes.
Change isn’t the problem—Profitizing Michigan’s mental health system is
Tom Watkins wrote in Michigan Advance recently about the importance of community-based mental health, and the dangers of “profitizing” these critical services.
Big Year for Michigan Politics, Facts from 2025, UP Institution Changes Leadership, and Some Political History
Big Year for Michigan Politics, Facts from 2025, UP Institution Changes Leadership, and Some Political History. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Happy New Year and Goodbye Blizzard, Big Bay Mine Changes Ownership, Love and Weed, University License Plates, and a Welcome to the UP
Happy New Year and Goodbye Blizzard, Big Bay Mine Changes Ownership, Love and Weed, University License Plates, and a Welcome to the UP. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
