Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman are the long-time hosts of Under the Radar Michigan, airing on PBS.

Arts and Culture

The duo behind Under the Radar Michigan

Jennifer ChampagneWednesday, February 5, 2025

Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman are the duo behind Under the Radar Michigan, a popular PBS travel series that has been around more than a decade. The hidden gems of the U.P. are among their favorite Michigan spots. ,

Feature Story

Community Development

The race is on in Sault Ste. Marie to raise money for a permanent pavilion at the International 500

Rosemary ParkerWednesday, February 5, 2025

A permanent pavilion on the grounds of the International 500 in Sault Ste. Marie would provide a warm spot for fans to watch the popular winter race. Officials hope to raise $50,000 and receive a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Longform

Tara Poore, manager of Children’s Services, left, and Megan Ford, manager of Autism and Intellectual

Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

Michigan student loan repayment program helping to tackle mental health workforce shortage

Brianna NargisoTuesday, February 4, 2025

Michigan has long faced a critical shortage of mental health professionals, impacting access to vital care for communities across the state. To address this growing challenge, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched the Behavioral Health Now Loan Repayment Program, a strategic initiative aimed at attracting and retaining mental health professionals by alleviating the financial burden of student loans.

Feature Story

An intern at work at Northern Michigan University.

Community Development

New NMU program aims to keep graduates in the U.P.

Jennifer Donovan Wednesday, January 29, 2025

A new program at Northern Michigan University -- Wildcat Collective Leaders of Honor and Ambition -- will pair students with businesses, providing them mentorship and internships to encourage them to remain in the U.P. after graduation.

Feature Story

Economic Development

Limestone, golf, and a few things in between: Operation Action U.P. announces awards

Rosemary Parker Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Operation Action U.P. honors four businesses with its annual Excellence Awards. The recipients will receive the awards at Operation Action's annual meeting in February.

Longform

Entrepreneurship

Trailblazer: Rhonda Lassila and the Munising Bay Trail Network

Jennifer ChampagneWednesday, January 22, 2025

Thanks to the efforts of Rhonda Lassila and the Munising Bay Trail Network, the woods and hills around the Alger County community have become a mountain biking and outdoor mecca.

Feature Story

Kids and Education

New Keweenaw fund to enhance early childhood education

UPword StaffWednesday, January 22, 2025

The Keweenaw Community Foundation, in collaboration with the Copper Country Great Start Collaborative, has launched a fund to provide grants to enhance early childhood education programs in Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga counties.

Feature Story

Arts and Culture

Michigan Tech to honor alumnus and hockey great Tony Esposito

Brice BurgeWednesday, January 22, 2025

Michigan Technological University is awarding its highest honor to the late Tony Esposito, a graduate of the Class of 1967 who became a hockey legend.

Feature Story

The slopes at Marquette Mountain Resort, located just a few miles from Marquette.

Economic Development

Marquette Mountain adds year-round activities, expands snowmaking to keep skiers on slopes

Sarah SpohnWednesday, January 15, 2025

Last year’s mild winter remains a harsh memory for many ski resorts in the U.P. and Michigan. To help bring in visitors to their hills year-round, many ski areas like Marquette Mountain Resort are adapting with more programming and activities for all four seasons. They're also bolstering snowmaking capabilities.

Feature Story

Could a social district be created in downtown Gladstone? City officials are surveying residents and businesses about the proposal.

Economic Development

Cheers: Gladstone proposes a downtown social district

Rosemary ParkerWednesday, January 15, 2025

Gladstone is surveying residents and businesses about creating a social district in the Delta County community's downtown. If created, Gladstone would join communities like Marquette and St. Ignace with social districts.

Feature Story

Community Development

Beyond books: Libraries in the U.P. and rural Michigan expand services

Rosemary Parker | UPword StaffWednesday, January 8, 2025

It's not just about books at libraries. Libraries in the U.P. and across rural Michigan have expanded their services to meet the needs of their communities. Those services range from costume and tool rentals to household repairs to Notary needs.

Feature Story

Snowmobiles line up outside the Bear Trap restaurant in Van Meer,

Economic Development

Winter tourism bounces back in the U.P.

Brice BurgeWednesday, January 8, 2025

With heavier than usual snowfalls early in the season, outdoor recreation businesses, hotels and restaurants in the U.P. are upbeat about winter tourism.

Feature Story

Dr. Rehab (Ruby) Alhajjar is the founder of FlowShield-Nano and holds a doctorate in biological sciences, specializing in water microbiology and nanotechnology, from Michigan Technological University.

Entrepreneurship

Houghton entrepreneur develops real-time monitoring of water contaminants

UPword StaffWednesday, December 18, 2024

A Houghton startup has developed a prototype of a monitoring device that can test for contaminants in water and beverages in real time.

Feature Story

Advanced Motorsports student analyzes data on computer.

Kids and Education

Enterprise program connects students with industry

Jennifer DonovanWednesday, December 18, 2024

The Enterprise Program at Michigan Technology University teams students with companies and industries to help them build skills and gain real-world experience for future jobs.

Feature Story

Arts and Culture

NMU's Wildcat Willy extends paw to South Dakota

Brice BurgeWednesday, December 11, 2024

What's in a logo? Everything. Northern Michigan University found a positive solution to work out a copyright infringement with a South Dakota school that had unknowingly used the university's familiar Wildcats logo.

Feature Story

Arts and Culture

4-H art exchange program connects U.P. and rural Michigan students with China and beyond

Dawn KempWednesday, December 11, 2024

School children in the U.P. and across rural Michigan have been exchanging their artwork with students in China and elsewhere. Thanks to the Michigan 4-H China Project, students don't have to travel across the globe to gain cultural awareness.

Longform

The program reduced postpartum depression by 50% among participants.

Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

MSU public health researchers seek to expand successful preventive postpartum depression program

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaTuesday, December 10, 2024

ROSE program trains expectant mothers on how roles and relationships change postpartum and teaches assertiveness skills so expectant mothers can ask for the support they need.

Feature Story

Economic Development

NCAA extends partnership with U.P.-based court provider

UPword StaffWednesday, December 4, 2024

Connor Sports, the U.P. company responsible for the intricate arena floors for the Final Four and other championship games, has officially extended its partnership with the NCAA.

Feature Story

A Feeding America truck delivers food in Northern Michigan.

Healthy Communities

Groups work to address food needs in the U.P.

Jennifer DonovanWednesday, December 4, 2024

With concerns about food insecurity on the rise, organizations in the U.P. and across Michigan are working to provide local food and support food distributions.

Partner Content

Healthy Communities

One Hospital, One CommunityMyMichigan Medical Center Sault expands medical access while maintaining community-centered focus

Gabrielle HaidererWednesday, December 4, 2024

MyMichigan Medical Center Sault recently received the Governor’s Award of Excellence, among other recognitions, for its impact and contributions to the health of the community. Looking forward to the next 100 years of serving the community, the hospital is expanding medical access and making care more convenient for locals.

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