Up North Lowdown

IPR's newest reporter is focused on hearing your voices about the issues that matter to you and the things you think are undercovered. In today's episode, we talk with Astrid Code about a new approach to journalism at IPR. We'll also round up some northern Michigan headlines, from worries about Flock cameras to the reopening of Sugar Loaf!

Northern Michigan has some enormous state House districts. The 104th District, for example, is 1,700 square miles. We find out how candidates cover that ground — and talk to them about the pressing issues they see, as they run for a seat in the Michigan Legislature.

Grayling used to be all over Michigan's rivers and streams. The freshwater fish could make a return if efforts by northern Michigan tribes succeed. We go to the Boardman-Ottaway River for an update. Also, a look ahead at an Indigenous People's Day celebration planned in Leland. And we pull over for a minute to watch part of Traverse City's Central Grade School come down.

The 2026 Cherry Pie Debates brought four candidates for the Michigan Legislature together to discuss a wide range of issues. In some places, they even found agreement. Listen to our recap.

After devastating ice storms hit northern Michigan in 2025, the federal government promised money for reforestation efforts. That was a big deal for people who count on those trees to make their living. But now, that money doesn't look like it's coming. Also: You like pie. You like being an informed voter. We can help.

Audio from the Sept. 17 crash of an F-16 in Grawn reveals details about what may have brought down the plane and just how quickly the pilot was forced to eject. We hear from another fighter pilot who survived a crash by pulling the ejection handle.

Safety complaints in a Traverse City park are causing leaders to consider stiffer penalties for "prowling," which could bring 90 days of jail time. As police step up enforcement, we visit Hull Park to hear from people who are homeless and spend time there.

It took a few tries in front of the Board of State Canvassers, but Ashley Areeda has the green light to circulate a recall petition against Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop. She talks to IPR about what the effort will entail, and then we speak with Votebeat Michigan's Hayley Harding, about the bigger picture. IPR has made multiple requests to interview Bishop. The invitation remains open.

Today, we pick up the phone and call the latest winner of the Up North Lowdown Puzzle. Test your wordplay mettle with Heather Huffstutler of Petoskey. But we start by rounding up some northern Michigan headlines, including a delay of absentee ballots in Antrim County.

Margaret has dedicated her life to sewing. She even has tattoos on her hands to help her measure stitches. Today we take a trip to her small but mighty sewing studio in Traverse City. Rena Barch brings us this story as part of the Transom Story Workshop.

Hear our special episode, broadcast live from the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026! Authors, booksellers, a white whale who just wants a friend! What more could you ask for?

A new listening event in Traverse City, and a half century old rock shop closes its doors.

Today, the story of Therese O'Brien. Her family became the caretakers of the Carmelite Monastery in Traverse City when she was 17. She still takes care of the grounds today.

Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop made 128 unauthorized changes to the Qualified Voter Files (QVF), in violation of Michigan election law. 58 voters were canceled completely.

The fall equinox arrives today. On the Lowdown, we hear from political candidates and officeholders weighing in on affordable housing, hate speech, rising healthcare costs, and more. Also, hope rises for lake sturgeon with a recent hatchery release on the Boardman-Ottaway River.

A toxic underground chemical plume is making its way through parts of Antrim County. We'll get an update on that, as well as the fighter jet crash and fall seed saving techniques.

We'll get the latest on the F-16 fighter jet that crashed in Grand Traverse County Thursday.

Once upon a time, Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) was a quiet rural airport frequented by regional puddle-jumpers and small prop planes. Nowadays, jets, airliners, military aircraft and almost a million passengers from all over the world travel each year in and out of TVC. To accommodate the increasing number of travelers, the airport is building a new concourse — Concourse B. We'll take an inside lo...

When wildfire smoke blanketed northern Michigan in July, a lot of us turned to the AQI, or air quality index, for guidance on how to protect ourselves. But gaps in Michigan’s air quality monitoring network, particularly in rural areas of northern Michigan, mean many of us don’t have accurate information. Reporter Miles MacClure takes a deep breath and guides us through the facts.

The group Youth for Christ is suing Leland Township, which denied its permit to hold ministry activities at a building overlooking Leland's historic Fishtown harbor. Jacob Wheeler, editor of the Glen Arbor Sun, says the case has all the hallmarks of something destined for the U.S. Supreme Court. He walks us through the story and how it's affecting the community.

A Bellaire resident is making another attempt to recall the Antrim County clerk. The League of Women Voters wants you to know about tax proposals. And what's up with the possible sale of a baker's dozen dams in Michigan?

Ten people from the Transom Story Workshop have been at IPR for a week, gathering stories from throughout northern Michigan. They'll present those stories on Saturday in Traverse City. We talk about they've learned. Also, it's been a busy week for Line 5 news. Reporter Vivian La brings us up to speed.

Michigan Department of Corrections inmate Dylan Leenheer alleges his prisoner temporary ID was doctored to make it appear he was wearing stereotypical depictions of Native American garb. Reporter Sierra Nadeau tells us more. We also hear about a 9/11 memorial ceremony planned for Friday and get an update on Line 5 — and Michigan's governor giving a second look at some permits for the controversial...

Months after historic flooding washed out roads and bridges across northern Michigan, the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District says buses have much longer routes and some students have transferred out to avoid the drive. That costs the district money at a time when it's spending more than usual to handle its transportation needs. Reporter Charlie Brooks tells us more.

Every year on Labor Day, thousands of people walk across the Mackinac Bridge — that iconic span between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas. It's a tradition that goes back to the late 1950s, when the bridge first opened.