The Issues
Recent Articles
Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors: July 6, 2020
Density in the U.P., K-12 funding in Michigan, Opening of U.P. Universities, and some quotes to make us think. Read more in this week’s Whispers, Noise & Rumors.
COVID-19 Distance Learning Response in Rural Western UP School Districts
Longtime Marquette-area educator Pamela Spady gives a detailed account on what distance learning looks like for the four school districts in Gogebic County.
Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors: June 29, 2020
UP’s most famous coach speaks out, NMU’s EAN network is slow, no UP or rural voices on State Board of Education, and UP colleges propose budget cuts . Read more in this week’s Whispers, Noise & Rumors.
Expansion of Telemedicine in Rural America
“The increased use of telemedicine and telehealth has been a breakthrough for rural health,” says Dennis Smith in his analysis of how telemedicine has expanded in America and the role this technology has played in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neighbor, How Stands the UP?
Paraphrasing Stephen Vincent Benét, William Vajda asks the question, “Neighbor, How Stands the UP?” and offers a heartening response to that question amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whispers, Noise & Rumors: June 22, 2020
Budget bills progress, Veteran involvement, Marquette beaches, and a Whispers correction. Read more in this week’s Whispers, Noise & Rumors.
Changing demographics and employment structure bring long-term challenges to the Upper Peninsula
NMU Professor of Geography and former Dean of Arts & Sciences weights in on the long-term challenges he believes the Upper Peninsula will face as a result of changes in demographics, employment structure, and economic diversification.
CRC article warns of challenges in borrowing to stabilize the state budget
In a recent article, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan provided important information and research on the risks and challenges involved with borrowing to stabilize Michigan’s state budget.
Whispers, Noise & Rumors: June 15, 2020
State revenue woes continue, more on revenue options, state prison population during COVID, and a Marquette rumor from whisperers. Read more in this week’s Whispers, Noise & Rumors.
COVID-19 and its impact on rural independent healthcare
David Aro, General Manager and Partner at Superior Rehabilitation & Professional Services, gives his perspective on COVID-19’s impact on rural independent healthcare. “Our population base and infrastructure make virtually every aspect–prevention supplies, detection, treatment supplies, and alternative treatment options–more difficult.”
