Calling All Veterans, Public TV and Radio Cuts Felt in UP, School Libraries Facing Loss of Librarians, and Child Care Crisis

– INFORMED BREVITY –

Next Week in RI

Next week (Wednesday) we’ll be publishing the next installment of the UP Scholars series: Charging Into the Future: Can EVs Thrive in the UP? by Tristin Smith. Watch for that next week.

Calling All Veterans

Veterans of all ages are needed to help with a few volunteers projects according to Mike Rutledge, NMU Veterans Coordinator:

• Veterans tombstone cleaning, Negaunee cemetery on Saturday, September 6th from 10 am to 2 pm. Mike can give you more details if you want to volunteer. You can reach him at 906-227-1402.

• The Marquette Maritime Museum has an annual fundraising event called the Ghosts of Lighthouse Point. NMU and community veterans have always been a big part of this even and provided a volunteer force. The event is on two evenings–September 9th and October 11th. You can plan a role as a ghost or just help with the many other evening tasks. Again, if you want to volunteer call Mike Rutledge at the above number.

Public Television and Radio Hit by Federal Cuts–Impacts Felt in Upper Peninsula and Rural Areas

Hundreds of rural public television stations and radio stations will feel the impact of these cuts. WNMU Radio and Television will face around $1million in lost federal revenue. If you want to make a donation please contact WNMU Television and Radio at the university.

Libraries in Public Schools Facing Loss of Librarians

The state released some data recently that only 9% of Michigan Public Schools currently have a full-time certified librarian.

Michigan has been trying to increase its literacy rate which is at historically low numbers. One way to do this is of course through our K-12 schools. Many school kids only have books available to them at their schools libraries.  School librarians help these kids learn about books and to find books that are age appropriate for them that they might enjoy reading.

The state legislature has been debating amendments to add to school aid budgets money dedicated for school libraries. Let your local state legislators know what you think about this issue.

Child Care Crisis and Major Shortage of Workers

Child care workers on average earn just 61% of Michigan’s annual income in 2023. Many, many of them receive no benefits. These workers often make too much to be eligible for Medicaid and earn not enough to pay for private health insurance.

Result of this is a shortage of child care workers and this has caused a shortage of slots for children at child care centers. Working families in many areas have no child care available to them because of this child care worker shortage.

Federal and state lawmakers are being urged to take a look at this very serious issue confronting young families throughout the state.

Send us information about what is happening with child care in your communities and we will share it with our readers.

Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm

“As this Congress begins a bit of advice for new Members that I received back in 1955: For the next six months you’re going to wonder how the hell you got here. Then one day you’ll come onto the House floor, look around, and wonder how in the hell all the other fools go here.” The late Congressman John Dingell of Michigan, the Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. 2019.

Books Recommended By Our Readers

Culpability. Bruce Holsinger. 2025. “This book explores a world newly shared by chatbots, autonomous cares, drones and other nonhuman forces in ways that are thrilling, challenging and unimaginably provocative.”

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