Veterans Day of Caring and Services, Busy Labor Day Around the UP, Copper Mine Status, and Third Grade Reading Scores Down Across State

– INFORMED BREVITY –

Next Week in Rural Insights

Next Wednesday we will be publishing “To Mow or Not to Mow” by Joslin Brown and Michael Broadway.

Around the Upper Peninsula

Veterans Day of Caring and Services

Veterans can receive exams, cleanings, x-rays and fillings and simple extractions. Space is limited. Call to make an appointment at 906-226-9992. Appointments will happen on October 16, 2025 at My Community Dental Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Marquette.

This service will also be available in Iron Mountain on November 8, 2025 at the John Fornetti Dental Center, 100 S. Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain. At the Iron Mountain location service will be provided on a first-come first-served basis. Registration begins at 8 am.

Thanks to Mike Rutledge the NMU Veterans Coordinator at NMU for this important information for veterans.

Labor Day Was Busy Round the Upper Peninsula

Lots of tourists everywhere, lots of parades, speeches and tributes. Traffic at the Mackinac Bridge was backed up for miles in both directions. Airports reported sold out flights. All this was great for hotels and restaurants.

Will Upper Peninsula Universities Follow U.S. Enrollment Trend?

We will hear in the next couple of weeks about official final numbers on student enrollment  for this Fall. Nationally we are hearing predictions of enrollment declines this Fall all across the country. Michigan Tech numbers will be interesting to watch since they have a significant number of international students, and that is one demographic that is predicted to significantly decrease due to federal immigration policies. We shall see if that hits the UP. Northern Michigan University is predicting a slight increase, or at a minimum a flat enrollment number for this Fall. No report yet on Lake Superior State University. Mid-September is the time for official numbers to be reported to the state by universities. Enrollment declines have an impact on economic activity in these university towns.

Cooper Mine in Western Upper Peninsula Status

Local officials and citizens in the Western UP are awaiting news from the state legislature about a second $50 million request for the Highland copper mine. The development of the $425 million Canadian copper mine is located by the Porcupine Mountains. Democrats and Republicans have been asking lots of questions about the state investment and listening to local folks and folks all around the Upper Peninsula.

The legislature is expected to finalize its decision in late September. (Bridge Michigan).

Around Michigan

Third Grade Reading Scores are Down Statewide

This Spring’s tests recorded the lowest grades in English language arts in the 11 year history of the state test.

The passage scores were reported at 38.9%. Last year the reported score was 39.6%. One observer said that if you went into a third grease class it would mean that six out of ten students could not read proficiently.

Michigan Unemployment Rates

More than half of Michigan’s counties–54 of 83–reported unemployment rates of 6% or higher, with rural communities hit the hardest. The Michigan statewide number was 5.3% as of June 2025, compared to the national average of 4.1%. (Michigan Advance, 9.2.25)

America’s Two-Year Colleges

They educate 40 percent nationally of all undergraduate students.

Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Desmond Tutu.

“Manners are of more importance than laws. Upon them, in great measure, the laws depend.” Edmund Burke.

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