Nine minutes of northern Michigan, every weekday, featuring in-depth reporting from the Interlochen Public Radio newsroom, conversations with reporters and local newsmakers, and more.
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Dolly Parton, among the seemingly endless list of her life's accomplishments, also wrote a musical. "9 to 5" will be playing at Old Town Playhouse. IPR's Ellie Katz is a big fan of Dolly Parton. In fact, Ellie's radio origin story begins with Dolly's podcast "Dolly Parton's America." Ellie sits down with Michelle Perez, director for the Old Town Playhouse's production of the musical "9 to 5." Also, we'll hear from Betsy Moore, director of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. A program that delivers over 4,000 books to northern Michigan children every month.
A truck backed into a section of the Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin, causing a spill of natural gas liquids. We'll check in with Katie Thoresen, news director at WXPR public radio in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Also, we hear about how Michigan farmers are trying to save money by fixing their own gear.
Farmers have lots of land. Data centers and large scale solar need lots of land. We all need energy and we all need food. So what gives? We'll hear how some northern Michigan farmers navigate this tension. And did you know that Dolly Parton played a show in Traverse City? Those details, and more, on today's Lowdown.
A literacy program in five northern Michigan school districts shows some promise for students who need extra help with reading skills. We talk with Ashley Troy at Northwest Education Services, the intermediate school district based in Grand Traverse County, about how big a deal this is. Plus, Leelanau County housing advocates want to hear what gets in the way of people living, affording to live in the county.
Anne Stanton steps down in September after years as executive director of the National Writers Series, a program that brings notable authors to Traverse City. She talks about how it all got started and what's next after 17 years leading an organization she helped build into a staple of northern Michigan's arts and culture scene.
The documentary "Coldwater Kitchen" takes us inside Lakeland Correctional Facility in southern mid-Michigan, where inmates are learning to become gourmet chefs. Co-director Mark Kurlyandchik says the film asks us some fundamental questions about the purpose of incarceration. Several of the film's subjects have gone on to careers in the restaurant industry.
Last week, the federal government approved a permit for the proposed Line 5 tunnel project. Austin Lowes, chairman of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, said the permit approval is "one of the most disgusting things I’ve been confronted with as a tribal leader." What does it mean for tribal treaty rights?
Our gardening expert, Dylan Kulik, talks about cover crops and how they can help prime your garden for next year. And we hear about a big land sale in the U.P. — thousands of acres along the Keweenaw Peninsula.
After only a few months of operation, the Prism News’s network of more than 200 AI-generated publications – posing as local newsrooms and hobby sites – has closed. This includes one focused on Grand Traverse County, which produced AI-generated news articles about northwest Michigan. Emily Horne wrote about Prism News in her substack Spin Class. She joins IPR's Maxwell Howard and Ed Ronco to talk about what happened. And if you've ever wondered about the etymology of 'pink slime' as a term for AI news, stick around to the end for an answer.
A mass shooting on Friday claimed the lives of six people and left a 16 year-old girl severely injured in Missaukee County. We'll have an update on what we know so far. Also, FEMA money is making its way to northern Michigan after April flooding. Vivian La tells us where those funds are headed. And a second petition to recall Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop will be in front of the Board of State Canvassers this morning. Austin Rowlader tells us what to expect.
Puzzle master Jonathan Baude tries to stump this week's IPR Puzzle winner Marilyn Kaczanowski from Mancelona. She plays a puzzle on-air that highlights some familiar places around the region (and the world). Also, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians wrote checks totaling $1.66 million dollars this year through their 2% allocations. We'll hear about a township on Beaver Island that received some of the funding.
For many seniors, food assistance from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline to afford their monthly groceries. Drastic cuts this month caught some Traverse City seniors off guard. We'll hear from people who were affected. Also, a Line 5 permit approval and piping plover protections (and pronunciation).
An 87-year-old village president. Another village almost voting itself out of existence. And a model of government that predates the Civil War. These are some of the problems facing Michigan's rural townships and villages. We talk with Ron French at Bridge Michigan about what that means for how we pay taxes, vote and even live in our communities.
Patrick Preusser left a job as the COO of public transit in Denver, Colorado. Now he's the new CEO of BATA. He jumped on board the #2 line with IPR's Austin Rowlader. Also, an update on Camp Grayling's drone testing facility, and a possible expansion of uses for opioid settlement funds in Grand Traverse County.
The Traverse City Food and Wine Festival is coming up August 19 - 23. Whitney Waara from Traverse City Tourism fills us in on the more than 80 events happening around Traverse City. Also, what do The Accidentals think about roundabouts? Find out in today's episode.
What do pickles and jazz music have in common? Austin Rowlader finds the answer from a couple of musicians hanging out in their mom's garage.Also, the people own the lakes — not the government. Vivian La's got the scoop on how the recent MI Supreme Court decision on Line 5 will affect the public trust doctrine.
Bart Stupak was the last Democrat to represent northern Michigan in the U.S. House. He weighs in on the road ahead for Callie Barr, running in the 1st District. And a new study shows a whole world of rock-eating fungi on the Antrim Shale.
An unknown Senate outcome (as of recording), decisive gubernatorial decisions, and a rematch in the 1st District: We'll take a look at election results for the 2026 midterm primaries with Votebeat Michigan reporter Hayley Harding. We'll also hear from voters, poll workers, and a township clerk in an audio postcard from Antrim County.
On this Primary Election Day, we take you to Antrim County, where the county clerk is under investigation for sowing doubt about voter registrations. IPR's Austin Rowlader talks to us from a polling place and updates us on an effort to recall Victoria Bishop. Plus, the two candidates in a hotly contested Democratic U.S. Senate primary say no matter who wins, the party plans to come together tomorrow.
Tribes in Michigan and other Line 5 opponents celebrated a major victory over the weekend. A near unanimous decision by the Michigan Supreme Court throws the future of the Line 5 tunnel project into uncertainty. Vivian La joins us to discuss what might be next for the project. Also, iconic printmaker Gwen Frostic's 21,000 sq. ft. studio gets new owners.
"Everyone up here loves it," say Tim Mulherin, "but everyone loves it in a different way." His book, 'This Magnetic North,' explores the tension between people who live here full time, and those who come here for just part of the year. He sat down with Ed Ronco to talk about his experience as a part-time resident. Also, an update from the district attorney's office on the Interlochen report.
Grape growers and experts in northern Michigan say “smoke taint” from this month’s hazy skies isn’t an immediate threat, but is likely a new impact of volatile weather that the industry might need to adapt to. We take a look at how the state's valuable wine industry is preparing for a future that could very well bring more smoke — and greater threat to their crop.
In this extended episode, we present the full audio of our conversation with Interlochen Center for the Arts President Trey Devey, about the findings of an independent investigation into sexual abuse at the institution from the 1950s through the 2010s.
Interlochen Center for the Arts released the findings of an independent investigation that showed decades of sexual abuse committed by adults against students. On today's episode, we talk to Interlochen President Trey Devey. The report spells out 70 separate instances of sexual abuse against students committed by faculty, staff and other adults, from the 1950s through the 2010s.
The Wexford Joint Planning Commission voted against recommending a proposed solar project in Wexford County. IPR's Vivian La tells us about this project and a surprising detail on who actually owns the land meant to hold it.
