The Issues
Recent Articles
UP Boat Building, Michigan Municipal Execs Meet, Update on Dark Store Issue, Tourist Tax, & Free Community College Tuition
UP Boat Building, Michigan Municipal Execs Meet, Update on Dark Store Issue, Tourist Tax, & Free Community College Tuition. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
The Challenge of Job Creation in the Upper Peninsula
In his latest article, Michael Broadway analyzes job growth among Michigan’s counties between 2006 and 2023, and compares the Upper Peninsula’s job creation performance with other areas in the state.
Budget Proposals Backtrack on State’s Recent Commitment to “At-risk” Students
In an opinion piece for Bridge Michigan, Craig Thiel examines Michigan’s proposed changes to the K-12 education budget, which could allow school districts to divert “at-risk” student funding for general expenses, potentially undermining support for low-income students with unique educational needs.
Chippewa County Gets Massive New Industrial Park, Ironwood CEO Wins Award, From the World Around Us, and Survey Questions for our Readers
Chippewa County Gets Massive New Industrial Park, Ironwood CEO Wins Award, From the World Around Us, and Survey Questions for Our Readers. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Proceed With Caution
In her latest “CLOSUP on the UP” article, Katelyn Jasmin discusses the unchanged perceptions of climate change seriousness among Michigan local officials despite increasing climate disasters, emphasizing the need for urgent action and preparation.
Congratulations to High School and Higher Ed Graduates, Citizen Journalism Presentation, Homeownership in the UP and America, Finnish-American Classes, & Transparency in Nonprofits
Congratulations to High School and Higher Ed Graduates, Citizen Journalism Presentation, Homeownership in the UP and America, Finnish-American Classes, & Transparency in Nonprofits. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.
Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Expands Veteran Care with New Specialists and Improved Access
The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center is expanding access to healthcare for Veterans by hiring new specialists, including its first gynecologist and gastroenterologist, and implementing gap and surrogate providers to reduce wait times.
Shrinking Population: Why It Matters
Michael Broadway explores the implications of population decline in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, using Cairo, Illinois as a case study to highlight the economic and social challenges faced by communities with shrinking populations–particularly the impact on local businesses, schools, housing values, and government pensions.
Big Pinwheels in the Sky
According to survey data, a significant majority of UP officials oppose large-scale wind projects within their own jurisdictions. Check out this second article in the “CLOSE UP on the UP” project, a collaboration between CLOSUP, U-M’s UP Scholars Program, and Rural Insights.
Local Government Officials’ Assessments of Community Poverty in the Upper Peninsula
In her recent article, UofM Research Assistant Mia Brodeur explores the issue of poverty in the Upper Peninsula and how local government leaders perceive and address this challenge. This is the first in a series from the “CLOSE UP on the UP” project, a collaboration between the UofM Ford School of Public Policy’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP), UofM’s UP Scholars Program, and Rural Insights.
