Up North Lowdown

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a massive logging project in the Ottawa National Forest, which covers the furthest western corner of the Upper Peninsula, where it borders Wisconsin. The proposed project could log more than 80,000 acres of forest land. An environmental assessment by the federal government says the project would have, quote, “no significant impact.” But environmental groups say...

A taxpayer-funded report on Michigan’s tribal boarding schools was shelved by the state and never released to the public. Bridge Michigan's Ron French talks about what was in the report and why it was covered up. Read the full article on Bridge Michigan's website. Also in this episode, senator Gary Peters reacts to the Trump Administration's war in Iran.

About 11 months ago, a devastating ice storm hit northern Michigan. Trees snapped. Utility poles snapped. Roads were impassible. Hundreds of thousands of people were without power, and a lot of them took shelter at warming centers. Climate solutions reporter Vivian La tells us about a storytelling event this week where people shared their tales of the storm. And Ellie Katz brings us the story of a...

About a year ago, Grand Traverse County created a job in its jail — aimed keeping people who didn't need to go to jail from ending up there. A year later, the sheriff is calling the move a success, and hoping to expand it. IPR’s Maxwell Howard has that story. Plus, "Big Gretch, Out!" Those were the final words of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's final State of the State address. Our capital bureau chief wr...

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday about whether state or federal court will have the final say on the future of the controversial Line 5 pipeline. Though the question before the Supreme Court is a procedural one — whether courts can excuse Enbridge from missing the deadline to request moving the case to federal court — the justices recognized that the decision could have far-reachi...

James Beard nominations. Accolades from the press. Northern Michigan's food scene is booming, from counter-service diners to high-end restaurants. Today, we talk about why. Emily Stewart and Andy Elliott, the husband-and-wife chef team that co-owns Traverse City's "Modern Bird," says the region itself plays a big role. They tell us more over lunch at one of their favorite places in town to eat. An...

Skiier Kaila Kuhn, from Boyne City, and her teammates won gold in the mixed aerials at Milan on Saturday. She was, as you'd expect, ecstatic. Journalist Ed Klajman tells us all about it, and what Kuhn says she'll do when she returns to Boyne City. Also, two Michigan cases are in front of the U.S. Supreme Court this week. We'll hear the details of each and some other Up North headlines.

The controversial project planned for Gogebic County was considered for a huge state grant, but that never came through. Now it's starting to get nibbles from other funding sources. IPR's Ellie Katz gives an update. Plus, Interlochen hosts "Winterlochen" this weekend.

Winter Vinecki, from Gaylord, and Boyne City's Kaila Kuhn didn't medal in freestyle aerial skiing this week, but journalist Ed Klajman says they have a lot of reasons to be proud. Kuhn's hometown fans have been following Klajman's coverage in the Boyne Citizen. He talked with IPR about the athleticism and artistry needed to compete in aerials, and the backstories of the two northern Michigan athle...

Two members of Congress visited Michigan's largest immigrant detention center this week and they say they want more oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. Reps. Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten, both Democrats, said they spoke with four of the 1,500 detainees inside North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin. We also speak with Joe Beyer, one of the organizers behind the Fresh Coast Film...

Politics, whether national or local, has become a game of camps. You’re either in the red camp or the blue camp. And most people stay pretty entrenched. Today on the Up North Lowdown, we introduce you to a third camp: Purple. Tina Allen is one of the founding members of the Purple Assembly, which has a kickoff event tonight at the Traverse Area District Library. She talks with the Up North Lowdown...

When someone buys an illegal drug, there can be a difference between what they’re told they’re buying and what the drugs actually contain. That's because drugs on the illegal market are often mixed with other substances that pose an even greater risk for users. A lab in Traverse City works to sort it all out. IPR's Maxwell Howard spoke with the people who run those labs and know exactly what’s in...

John James Witherspoon was 28 when he died while fighting Russian forces in January of 2025. His remains were recently released and returned to the United States. Witherspoon was a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. His mother is the band's chairwoman. She and Witherspoon's father reflect on their son's life. We hear from one of his friends, too.

Today, we have two stories about how we use ice — from temporary caves along Lake Michigan to 'cryofarming' in the Upper Peninsula. First, Brian Freiberger from the Leelanau Enterprise tells us about the beauty and danger of ice caves, which have formed in our robust winter. And while this winter has indeed been pretty potent, the season has become less predictable over the years. Journalist Roxan...

Last month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced plans to make Michigan a hub for geologic hydrogen. So what is it? IPR climate solutions reporter Vivian La dug deep into what this potential clean fuel source is and why Michigan might be a pretty good place to look for it right under our feet.

As far as anyone knows, there's no data center eager to locate in Hayes Township, north of Charlevoix. Still, community officials have imposed a 180-day moratorium on such projects. Why? IPR's Claire Keenan-Kurgan listened in on a township meeting and heard what members of the public have to say. Some even worried that just talking about the topic might pique the interest of developers. We'll also...

Michigan is losing farms. Farmers are retiring and there are fewer people to take over their work. A new program wants to change that by acting as sort of a matchmaker. The idea is to pair retiring farmers with people looking to advance in farming. The farms create a sort of dating profile, and prospective farmers see if they're a good fit. Today, we talk with reporter Miles MacClure, who looked i...

Every four years, everyone goes crazy over curling. It shows up in the Olympic Games, which seems to give it a boost in popularity (at least in the countries where it's not already popular). And, since the games get underway tonight, we sent Austin Rowlader out on the sheet at the Traverse City Curling Club, to see what all the hype is about.

Data centers could be big business for communities in Michigan. They also raise serious concerns about their impact on energy grids and the environment. Today, we talk with the planning director in Garfield Township, just outside Traverse City, about the prospect of data centers there. Also: Deer baiting is a hot topic here in northern Michigan. That’s when you leave a big pile of, say, apples or...

Each year, volunteers fan out in northern Michigan — and around the country — to try and take a data snapshot: How many people are living without shelter? The point-in-time, or PIT, count provides data that informs federal funding. But where the government sends that money might soon change. Also: Grand Traverse Bay has frozen over for the first time since 2019. We hear how scientists are going ba...

America's groundhogs (and other creatures) have weighed in. But how accurate are they? And what do, you know, the actual meteorologists at the National Weather Service say about our long-term forecast?

Fred Birdsee was born in Empire in 1899 and was still telling stories when IPR met up with him in January of 2000. We listen back to a story from Michelle Corum. Plus, forget Punxsutawney Phil! Michigan has its own weather-predicting rodent, thank you very much. Woody issued her proclamation this morning. And, of course, we wrap up the headlines.

On this episode, invasive species mitigation and a ride in an intergalactic snowplow. To limit invasive species in Michigan forests, state regulators are hoping to ban the transportation of firewood from across state lines. But are these bans effective? We'll hear from IPR environment reporter Ellie Katz. But first — we're going to a galaxy far far away...to plow snow.

Michelle Jokisch Polo visits the North Lake Processing Center with a retired pastor. Headlines include data centers, snowplowed mailboxes, and a new book store in TC. 1300 people are being held in the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin. Most have not been charged with a crime. "We don't know these people," said retired pastor Dale Dalman. "But we care for them because they're our neighbor...

We talk with Suzanne Mettler, political scientist and author of "Rural Versus Urban."