Up North Lowdown

Local entrepreneur John Velis joins us to talk about how his company is giving Alzheimer's patients access their past. Using pictures, videos, and audio stories 'Memory Bright' gives people suffering from Alzheimer's and their caretakers an easy place to store and play memories from their past, before the disease took hold. It's called 'reminiscence therapy' and a Northern Michigan business is bri...

When you flush the toilet, it has to end up somewhere. That "somewhere" is the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment plant. The plant, which has been at the north end of Boardman Lake since 1932, is undergoing millions of dollars in upgrades over the next few years. We took a fascinating — and, yes, at one moment quite smelly — journey inside to learn what's going on and why it matters.

It's been about three years since millions of dollars started flowing into Michigan — and other states — to help fight the opioid crisis. The money came from settlements with drug makers, distributors and pharmacies. The funds are starting to make a difference but many communities have been slow to spend much of it. Or any of it. That includes Grand Traverse County. Ron French from Bridge Michigan...

Around one in six people in northern lower Michigan has a concealed pistol license, or CPL. That's the highest concentration in the state. Soon, they might not need it. A bill in the Michigan Legislature would allow eligible gun owners to carry a concealed weapon without a separate license or training. Plus, springtime in Michigan means orange barrels on the roads. We take a look at some big road...

After their father was detained at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, two sisters from Grand Rapids committed to helping other detainees. When people are released from North Lake, they offer rides through a network of volunteers. They also help reconnect people with their families. We hear about it from journalist Jacob Wheeler, of the Glen Arbor Sun. We'll also hear about an old-but-new...

The 1st District of Michigan has been represented in the U.S. House for nearly a decade by U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet). He's running for reelection. The best known Democrat in the race is Callie Barr. And neither plans to be at a "Meet the Candidats" event held by the group Traverse Indivisible Education & Solidarity. Still, organizers hope people will come see the two Democrats, one Rep...

A year ago — in the throes of an ice storm that had scattered tree limbs and power lines across northern Michigan — Wanda Whiting suddenly needed to get her husband to a hospital. So she drove through the storm's aftermath, right across the power lines. Would any of that have happened if the lines had been buried? And one year later, do we have any plans to do that? IPR's Vivian La digs into that...

The 850 members of the Michigan Nurses Association who work at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City have been working without a contract since March 10. They took their message to the public this week. Their concerns include staffing issues, mandatory overtime and other working conditions. They're planning what's called a "practice strike" on April 9. IPR's Claire Keenan-Kurgan explains what's g...

Two years ago, homelessness advocates in northern Michigan made a longstanding ideal a reality. Goodwill Northern Michigan bought an apartment complex in Traverse City called East Bay Flats and turned it into what’s called “permanent supportive housing,” for people who were homeless. IPR’s Maxwell Howard visited the Flats to see how that idea is actually working in practice. We also have some news...

Maple season is in full swing here at Hidden Acres Sugar Bush in Gaylord, a business run by Jennifer RiChard and her husband. But it wasn’t so long ago that none of this seemed possible. A look at how the sugar bush is recovering a year after an ice storm devastated tens of millions of trees across northern Michigan, including many sugar maples.

Most of the time when you hear about real estate investment, you hear about big banks or private equity firms. They are becoming some of America’s biggest landlords. One group in Emmet and Charlevoix counties is trying to reverse that trend. It’s starting up a community investment fund — with a focus on housing — that would let community members invest in housing in their home towns. We also hear...

A review of court documents shows a disturbing trend — contractors taking money without performing any work. Some of them rack up complaint after complaint but continue to find "work." The court system hasn't been able to keep up. Reporter Mardi Link fills us in. Also, state legislators hope to combat high housing costs by restricting local control over zoning and land use laws.

Our colleagues at Michigan Public, Lindsey Smith and Adam Yahya Rayes got a hold of emergency calls coming out of the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin. 56-year old Nenko Gantchev died in the facility in December. Michigan Public shares some of the 911 calls from the detention center to emergency dispatchers. We'll hear how a legislative holdup in Lansing put medical licenses in peril. And S...

Today, we look at government transparency with a primer on how to access your local government, and how adept Up North governments are at keeping in touch with their constituents. We also have the latest on the storm. Lights are coming back on. And an Olympian returns home to Boyne City.

Home insurance rates in Michigan are increasing because of climate change, according to new national data. That follows national patterns as states deal with more severe weather and increased climate risks. Climate solutions reporter Vivian La tells us more. Plus, we talk with state Sen. John Damoose about the aftermath of this storm and some newly announced relief money from the last major winter...

The storm seems to be easing. We'll have more snow today, but not nearly as much as yesterday, and sub-freezing temperatures. But a warmup is coming later this week. The National Weather Service brings us up to speed. We'll also hear from two businesses — one in Traverse City, one in Kalkaska County — about how they fared Monday. And the winning word for a 12-year-old, two-time spelling bee champ...

A serious winter storm has dragged its way across northern Michigan, fouling up roads and taking out power to more than 100,000 utility customers. Even the IPR news team is stuck. Today, we hear from our reporters about how Monday began, and from the National Weather Service on how it might end. By the way, you can get the latest from the Weather Service here.

Right now, most glass that's put into recycling bins in our region gets used for building roads in landfills. But Emmet County has found a way to recycle the material. Could they lead the way for others? IPR's Ellie Katz has that story. We also talk with two high school seniors who are starring in the Traverse City West High School production of "Little Shop of Horrors," opening this weekend.

Most plastic you recycle ends up in the landfill. Some of it joins local and national supply chains to be made into new products. And some actually power a northern Michigan factory. Today and tomorrow, we take a look at recycling in northern Michigan, with this surprising story from IPR's Vivian La.

Six months ago, state lawmakers heard weeks of testimony about Michigan's struggling mental health system and a critical lack of providers. That lack is especially pronounced here in Michigan. Lawmakers and advocates want to see a report that was supposed to come out of those hearings months ago. IPR's Maxwell Howard explains why we haven't seen it yet. We also check in with IPR music director Ama...

"What's a Yooper Without Winter?" That's the title of a short story by Sault Ste. Marie author Sara Maurer. It's part of a new collection titled "On an Inland Sea: Writing the Great Lakes," exploring what it means to live in our part of the country. Maurer's story looks at what it means to live in the Upper Peninsula amid a changing climate. She shares an excerpt with us and talks about her Yooper...

A northern Michigan tribe has lost an appeal to keep federal conservation funding. But it’s not the end of the road for the restoration efforts. It’s the next chapter in a story we’ve been hearing about from IPR environment reporter Ellie Katz, who joins us this morning with the latest and what’s next.

The Rev. Julie Delezenne is senior of the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City. The Rev. Linda Stephan is lead pastor at Central United Methodist Church. And both traveled to Washington, D.C., to ask for changes in how the U.S. handles immigration. They tell us about the productive conversations they had on Capitol Hill and how those are a stark contrast from the way the debate plays out in other...

Federal judges tend to rule in favor of immigrants held at North Lake Detention Center, saying the government is illegally detaining them. An analysis by Michigan Public shows that hundreds of habeas corpus petitions have been received by detainees at the Baldwin facility. We talk with reporters Michelle Jokisch Polo and Adam Yahya Rayes. Also, a big zoning vote in Banks Township tonight could cle...

Last year, northern Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman received one of the largest individual donations given to a Michigan congressional candidate. The $289,100 donation from a California couple, including Elliott Broidy, highlights the growing influence of megadonors in Michigan politics. Reporter Maxwell Howard walks us through the details. We also round up some headlines from around the state a...