Rural Insights

Revisiting Our Conversation With Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham, CEO of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham was recently appointed to the NMU Board of Trustees, and so we wanted to revisit the podcast discussion we recorded with her back on November 2021. We think you’ll find it interesting if you haven’t watched or listened yet!

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Chatting with Duane DuRay, Airport Manager at Sawyer International Airport

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Duane DuRay, Airport Manager for Sawyer International Airport–the Upper Peninsula’s largest airport.

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CRC: Growing City Tax Rates Approach Rate Limits

The Citizens Research Council recently released a report that examines how municipal property tax rates have changed from 2004 to 2020. In this article, the Michigan CRC explores the extent to which local governments have approached and surpassed tax rate limits.

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Looking Back: Talking to Gina Thorsen, Stormy Kromer President and Co-Owner

Occasionally we will be republishing transcripts of Rural Insights Podcast episodes we’ve done in the past. Here is a conversation we had with Gina Thorsen, President and Co-Owner of Stormy Kromer, originally published May 17, 2022. If you missed this episode when it was posted originally, you’ll want to check this out!

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Catching Up With Brian Chapman, Sault Ste. Marie City Manager

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Brian Chapman, City Manager for Sault Ste. Marie to catch up on the latest issues surrounding municipal finance and rural government.

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Talking to Gina Thorsen, Stormy Kromer President and Co-Owner

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Gina Thorsen, President and Co-Owner of Stormy Kromer, one of the most well-known and successful UP brands and manufacturers.

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Discussing the New Office of Rural Development with Gary McDowell

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down once again with former U.P. legislator and current director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Gary McDowell to discuss the newly-created Office of Rural Development.

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Talking To Cheyenne Marlin, Assistant Director for University of Michigan’s U.P. Scholars Program

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Cheyenne Marlin, Assistant Director for the University of Michigan’s U.P. Scholars Program. This program provides scholarship aid at U-M for students from the Upper Peninsula.

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Karen Kovacs, City Manager of Marquette, Michigan

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Karen Kovacs, the new City Manager for Marquette. Kovacs was officially appointed as the Marquette City Manager on May 24, 2021.

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Talking to Dirk Wierenga and Paul Sturgul About Their New Documentary “Route 2 Elsewhere”

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Dirk Wierenga, director of the documentary “Route 2 Elsewhere” and his colleague Paul Sturgul who helped promote the film.

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