Up North Lowdown

This week: Michigan tribes say a federal lawsuit out of Wisconsin could affect their sovereignty, summer roadwork already getting started in Traverse City, and Kate Botello takes us to the spelling bee.

Two stories about pressure: One on youth mental health in the Grand Traverse region, and the other about a local singer-songwriter feeling pressure to produce new work.

This week: Saving whitefish and what microplastics do to minnows — both important species for the Great Lakes. Also, art and cults. (Two different stories, to be clear.)

Are northern Michigan winters always going to be this warm? Ski areas and others are making changes to adapt. Plus: Microplastics, college scuffles, and the headlines.

This week: A historic verdict, what a permitting debacle could mean for biodigesters, low pay for child care workers, and we visit with a sculptor in Leelanau County.

History has some difficult things to tell us. This week on the Up North Lowdown, two stories about how we remember, heal, and pass our history on to others.

This week: Northern Michigan needs housing, but adding it is complicated. And Senate hopefuls weigh in on the environment. Plus, some love for the Lions.

This week: Churches look to solar power, and musician Dana Falconberry tells us about how art helped her through cancer treatments.

Michigan's Supreme Court hears all about regulating large animal farms. And this year's first big snowfall shows up just in time for a big birthday.

This week: Getting more restaurants to compost their food scraps, rural communities struggle for grants, and sprucing up a lighthouse.

This week: We wrap up our examination of northern Michigan's childcare crisis by hearing from providers and learning about a new approach near Northport.

This week: Rising rents make TC living harder, and we hear how employers are responding to a lack of childcare in our region.

This week: Parents struggle to find good, affordable childcare for their little ones, and we hear about a holiday variety show in Leland.

Come for the updates on two serious stories. Stay for the joyful (and mischievous) chat with famed composer Jerry Bilik.

Should there be more commercial fishing on Lake Michigan? A bill in Lansing has reignited the debate in some Up North communities.

A break from the news this week as we spend some time with classical guitarists Matthew Cochran and Matthew McAllister.

Fewer people are deer hunting in Michigan. And even if you're not a hunter, you should take notice, say experts.

Ashley Christopher cut her teeth as a musician playing at small festivals and house parties. But she found her musical community in northern Michigan.

This week: A debate among anglers as the state decides how many steelhead they can harvest, and we revisit another Steelhead — the state's first research vessel.

Jamie John's artistic journey delves deep into the intricate connections between personal experiences, ancestral stories and the natural world.

They've tried bubbles, sound and electricity. What's next in the fight to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan? Also, how might climate change affect our fall colors?

Traverse City is known for a concentration of plein air artists. But one local artist is determined to put his own stamp on the genre.

This week: Some stats about northern Michigan's housing crisis, and possible solutions. Plus, curling!

After seven decades of playing the trumpet, Jim Bekkering still feels the same passion as he did as a kid when he first picked up the trumpet. We meet him in this special midweek bonus episode of the Up North Lowdown.

This week: Microplastics, mentorship and the proper way to say "mmmunchy."