Memorial Day weekend is big business in northern Michigan, but many people are working through the consequences of last month's historic flooding. WCMU's AJ Jones spoke with local marinas along the Indian River in Cheboygan County to see how they're coping.

Also on the show, state regulators have opened public comment for a key water permit for the Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac and Republican-sponsored bills to cut property taxes passed in the Michigan House of Representatives this week.

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Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of Between the Lakes was edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

A new state report says Michigan is in a mental health care crisis.

Findings show the state ranks 47th in the country for bed availability for mental health patients.

It also shows that 100% of children in northern Michigan travel 100 miles or more to receive care.

WCMU's Tina Sawyer recently talked with Kate Dahlstrom from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Grand Traverse about how they're trying to convince state lawmakers to support a new mental healthcare campus in the region.

Also on the show, officials began assessing homes and businesses around the region this week to build a case for federal disaster relief following several extreme weather events in recent months.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of Between the Lakes was edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

The results are in for the highly anticipated state Senate special election in the Saginaw Bay region. Tuesday’s race garnered national attention as the balance of power in the Senate was up for grabs.

The race is also viewed as a key bell weather for the upcoming November midterms and temperature check on Michigan voters for what is going to be a big election year in state politics.

WCMU News Director Rick Brewer breaks down the results and what they mean for the legislature now that Democrats were able to maintain their slim majority.

Also on the show, a metro-Detroit businesswoman is facing felony charges for allegedly misusing over $1 million in state money.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of Between the Lakes was edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

Mass flooding swept across Michigan in April, rapidly raising water levels that destroyed roads and homes.

During the height of the flooding, six dams were in critical condition, and officials are still working around the clock to lower water levels at the Cheboygan dam.

WCMU’s Emma George-Griffin reviewed dam safety research and spoke to various officials to find out how Michigan plans to address dam safety moving forward.

Also on the show, gas prices had people gasping across the region as many areas hit just underway $5 a gallon.

And this week's brain teaser will make your brain roll.

Dive into a series of stories on the staffing crisis in the Michigan Department of Corrections from the Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of Between the Lakes is edited and mixed by AJ Jones. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

As our climate changes… extreme weather events are happening more often.

That’s been especially true throughout Michigan and the Midwest this spring…. with huge temperature swings, flooding, drought, wildfires and even ice storms.

As Harvest Public Media’s Emma George-Griffin reports, these weather events can have serious consequences for farms and ranches.

Also on the show, the Michigan Court of Claims has ruled against around 2-thousand property owners who were suing the state for damages following the 20-20 Edenville Dam collapse.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of Between the Lakes is edited and mixed by AJ Jones. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for nearly half the state this week after widespread flooding devastated communities, caused evacuations, washed out hundreds of roads and put massive pressure on dams across the region.

We break down this week in severe weather with WCMU News Director Rick Brewer.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

Right before a historic blizzard hit northern Michigan in mid-March, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a snowmobiler that was stranded on an ice bridge in the Straits of Mackinac.

Since then, as WCMU's Emma George-Griffin reports, the man has been deported. With little information available to the public, George-Griffin looked deeper into the incident and breaks down what she found with Host Tina Sawyer.

Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Kristin McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, calls on Congress to end its spring recess early to address issues related to the war in Iran.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

The city of Saginaw is known for many things. It’s the birthplace of Stevie Wonder, home to basketball star Draymond Green and it’s one of the original homes of Michigan’s auto industry.

It’s also unique for something you’ve likely never heard of, it’s the only city in Michigan that limits the amount of property taxes it can collect. WCMU's AJ Jones brings us a story about the movement trying to change that.

Also on the show, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has promised to challenge an executive order signed by President Trump and the U.S. Supreme Court has left standing a decision in a case over Enbridge Energy's oil and gas pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode is edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

As the spring temperatures emerge here in Michigan so do ticks.

And Michigan health officials are reporting that cases of Lyme disease are already showing up.

WCMU's Tina Sawyer recently spoke with Jody Sroka from a local public health department covering parts of northwest Michigan, otherwise known as DHD10, to talk about the uptick in cases and what you can do to stay safe.

And for this week's brain teaser, a Michigan trivia question that will freeze your brain!

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.

A major winter storm crushed northern Michigan this week. Areas of the Upper Peninsula reported up to 4 feet of snow, 60 mph winds and impassable roadways.

Further south in communities like Cadillac, Alpena and Roscommon, heavy ice brought down thousands of trees and caused widespread power outages in sub-freezing temperatures. At its peak, over 100,000 utility customers were in the dark for days.

Host Tina Sawyer speaks with WCMU's Emma George-Griffin who was on the ground to survey some of the damage in Roscommon County, one of the most impacted parts of the region.

And this week's brain teaser question isn't "watered" down, but it may make your brain go topsy turvy.

Like what you hear? Support local journalism by making a gift to WCMU.

Want an email version of this podcast? Subscribe to the Between the Lakes newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Read stories from WCMU on our website, and while you're there, find out how to listen to your local WCMU radio station.

This podcast is produced in part by the members of NABET Local 412. This episode of edited and mixed by Rick Brewer. Our theme music comes from Gabe Schall. Mike Horace is our executive producer.