Recent Articles

Thimbleberries: A Precious U.P. Treasure

In the first article of our “Rural Voices” column, Daniel Truckey shares an account of why thimbleberries are such a special treasure in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

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State Budget Deficit Projections, Feds Sending Dollars to UP Airports, and Some Interesting Wealth Inequality Facts

State budget deficit projections, Feds sending dollars to UP airports, and some interesting wealth inequality facts. Read more in this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors.

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Nearly Half of U.P. Households Struggle to Make Ends Meet

Upper Peninsula families–even those who are employed–are having a harder time making ends meet, according to the United Ways “ALICE” measurement system.

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Dark Store Battles Continue, U.P. Legislators Oppose Governor’s Tax Tribunal Appointment, and the Last U.P. Voice on the Supreme Court

Dark store battles continue, U.P. legislators oppose Governor’s Tax Tribunal appointment, and the last U.P. voice on the Supreme Court. Read more in this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors.

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Micropolitan Areas in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Scores Poorly for Education Funding Gaps, and New Book Suggestions

Micropolitan Areas in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Scores Poorly for Education Funding Gaps, and New Book Suggestions. Read about it in this week’s edition of Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors.

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Great Lakes Sports Commission Helps Sustain Important Economic Sector

Susie Fox and Kevin Korpi of the Great Lakes Sports Commission provide a great overview of the history of the commission, the role that state investment into sports and related infrastructure has played, and the economic importance of sports in Michigan.

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Delta County Veterans Food Pantry, Lack of Available Internet for Rural Students, and Returning to School Too Soon?

Delta County veterans food pantry, returning to school, lack of available internet for rural students, and more book suggestions. Read more in this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors.

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Marquette selected as local hub for new VA suicide prevention initiative

Marquette has been selected as one of the 30 projected “Together with Veterans” hub sites, a program intended to connect veterans with one another in rural areas to reduce the number of suicides.

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Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors: August 10, 2020

Corporate property tax abatements, Apollo investment and ownership in the UP, NMU COVID-19 testing, Michigan Revenue Estimating Conference, and new book suggestions. Read more in this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors.

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CRC: Michigan Supreme Court rules counties can’t keep surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure sales

Jill Roof at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan gives an overview of the Michigan Supreme Court’s recent ruling that a state law allowing county treasurers to keep surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure sales is unconstitutional, and how the ruling doesn’t go far enough to address similar issues.

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