This week on Currently, Christal Frost and Traverse City Ticker head writer Beth Milligan are joined by returning guest Bill Froehlich from 9&10 News.

This episode is brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

🕊️ The Death of Pope Francis Bill Froehlich shares how he and his newsroom navigated breaking global news during a live morning broadcast — and what the local response has been from the Diocese of Gaylord and beyond.

🏫 Big Decisions for TCAPS Beth breaks down Traverse City Area Public Schools' plans to potentially rebuild Central Grade School, modernize Central High School, and upgrade district music facilities.

🛣️ $3.2 Billion for Roads? A new road funding bill passed the Michigan House last week — but what's in it, and what could change in the Senate? Bill offers insight on where the money might land.

🏛️ City Commission Updates Beth gives a quick look at recent City Commission actions that could affect Traverse City neighborhoods.

Plus: food trucks return, Nashville trips, trivia nights, and Olympic-level gymnastics excitement.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the full show on YouTube or Facebook.

This week on Currently, Christal Frost and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) are joined by special guest Michelle Perez, News Director at WTCM Radio. From storm recovery to restaurant buzz, it's a jam-packed show covering the stories shaping Northern Michigan.

This episode is brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

In this episode:

🌨️ Historic Ice Storm Recovery Michelle shares on-the-ground updates from northern counties still reeling from one of the worst ice storms in Michigan history. They break down emergency declarations, community efforts, outage credits, and what's next for long-term recovery.

🏗️ Cherryland Center's Next Chapter Beth unpacks the evolving plans for this once-forgotten mall, including the return of a nightclub proposal and a new redevelopment designation that could open doors for liquor licenses — and fresh business momentum.

🍽️ Detroit Chefs Head North Top Chef alum Sarah Welch and her husband, chef Cameron Rolka, are bringing their next culinary adventure to Traverse City. How could their arrival impact the local food scene — and what does it mean for the region's economic future?

Watch the full show on YouTube or Facebook.

This week on Currently, Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) are joined by special guest Nick Loud, co-founder and creative director of The Boardman Review.

Brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

In this episode:

🚶 Safer Streets in TC A new alliance is forming to make Traverse City's streets safer for all — pedestrians, bikers, and drivers alike. Beth shares the mission and momentum behind it.

🚧 Road Construction Season is Here From the M-72/M-22 corridor to multiple new projects kicking off, road construction is about to change your daily commute. Beth breaks it down.

📘 The Boardman Review at 30 Issues Nick shares the origin story behind the beloved Northern Michigan lifestyle journal, how they source their stories, and why they're staying committed to print in a digital world.

🐐 The Land of Milk and Honey How a nurse and a firefighter ended up running a goat farm in Cedar — and why it might be the most heartwarming story of spring.

All this plus crafting, caramels and comedians!

Watch the full show on YouTube or Facebook.

This week on Currently, we welcome a new voice to the table — Ellie Katz, science, conservation, and environment reporter from Interlochen Public Radio — who joins Beth Milligan of the Traverse City Ticker and host Christal Frost for a jam-packed conversation!

Brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

In this episode:

🏕️ East Bay Township Camping Debate Can you camp in your own backyard? Should short-term private camping be regulated like Airbnbs? We dig into the township's tricky new ordinance discussion.

🚣‍♀️ Fees for Business Use of Public Parkland With summer events like Paddle for Pints on the horizon, the City of Traverse City considers how (and how much) private businesses should pay to use public spaces.

🌨️ The Ice Storm That Hit the North Ellie Katz gives us insight into whether extreme weather — like last week's ice storm in Gaylord, Charlevoix, and Petoskey — is connected to climate change.

🐍 The Return of Sea Lamprey Control Efforts The invasive sea lamprey is back in focus as the Great Lakes Fishery Commission resumes critical control operations. What do these parasitic predators mean for the ecosystem?

All that, plus community vibes, laughs, and our #ExtraBall Challenge.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the full show on YouTube or Facebook.

It's a Spring Break edition of Currently with just Beth Milligan and Christal Frost holding down the fort in Traverse City!

Brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

This week, they kick things off with the unexpected arrival of... another Meijer? Beth shares details on the retailer's expansion plans in Northern Michigan.

Then, we dive into a busy week for the Grand Traverse County Commission, covering updates on:

• Improvements to the VASA Trail,
• A green light for AcenTek's broadband expansion,
• New Brownfield funding for Oak Shore Commons,
• And the county's plan to house inmates in neighboring jails due to overcrowding.

Finally, in celebration of Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers, we shine a spotlight on a Traverse City-based tech company bringing cutting-edge fan experiences to Comerica Park this season.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full episode on YouTube and Facebook.

On this week's Currently, Christal and Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) are joined by special guest Jacob Wheeler (Glen Arbor Sun) to break down the latest headlines affecting Northern Michigan.

Brought to you by lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings: Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City. Support also comes from West Shore Bank – committed to the well-being of the community, and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – a chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

This Episode Covers:

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Updates – How staffing and funding challenges may impact the upcoming season, protests at the park, and what this means for the endangered Piping Plover population.
• Library Funding Cuts & Book Bans – The Traverse Area District Library faces the loss of federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences. What does this mean for services, and why is a book ban request also making waves?
• Honoring a Grandson in Northport – A heartfelt story of a local couple's unique tribute to their late grandson.
• Retail & Restaurant Roundup – New businesses coming, closures, and expansions in Traverse City.

All that, plus our #ExtraBall Pinball Challenge and what we're looking forward to in the coming week!

This week on Currently, our Journalist in Residence Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) steps in as guest host, joined by Bill Froehlich from 9&10 News. Together, they break down the biggest recent stories:

🔹 Traverse City's biggest road project of 2025 kicks off March 21—how will detours impact your daily commute?

🔹 A Cadillac homeowner demands accountability over alleged violations by the Local Development Finance Authority in the wake of PFAS contamination concerns. Additionally, Longtime Cadillac City Council member Stephen King resigns suddenly, citing leadership frustrations—what does this mean for the city's future?

🔹 Big changes are coming to Camp Greilick as Grand Traverse County unveils plans to open the 196-acre property to the public.

🔹 The 2025 Traverse City Comedy Fest is bringing Marc Maron, Jay Pharoah, Natasha Leggero, and more to town—get ready for a weekend of stand-up, improv, and even a comedy murder mystery!

🎧 Watch on YouTube & Facebook or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙 Brought to you by our lead underwriter Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings – Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City.

Also brought to you by West Shore Bank – Committed to the well-being of the community. Visit them on 8th Street or at westshorebank.com…and The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – A chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

This week on Currently with Christal Frost, we dive into Northern Michigan's top local stories with our journalist in residence, Beth Milligan of the Traverse City Ticker, and our special guest, Art Bukowski of the Traverse City Business News and the Traverse City Ticker!

🚤 First up, Art takes us inside the booming boating industry. While COVID-19 sank many sectors, boat sales skyrocketed. We explore what's driving the demand and how pontoons are making waves beyond the inland lakes.

🍔 Next, Beth introduces us to the Interlochen Depot, a unique community hub in the works featuring food trucks, live music, and more. But will zoning and environmental factors stand in the way?

🦠 Then, we shift gears to a cutting-edge Traverse City firm fighting antibiotic resistance. Could their breakthroughs change modern medicine?

🏫 We also have an update on TCAPS' search for a new school board member and take a behind-the-scenes look at how local schools decide when to call a snow day.

📚 And finally, Christal shares an exclusive National Writers Series promo code for those eager to attend Jonathan Eig's event on March 13!

All that, plus our #ExtraBall Pinball Challenge and what we're looking forward to this week!

✨ Special thanks to our sponsors:

This show is brought to you by:

• Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings – Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City.

• West Shore Bank – Committed to the well-being of the community. Visit them on 8th Street or at westshorebank.com.

• The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – A chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.

This week, Christal is joined by our Journalist in Residence Beth Milligan (Traverse City Ticker) and special guest Alli Baxter (UpNorthLive) to break down the top local headlines, including:

• 💰 Marijuana tax dollars at work – Northern Michigan communities are set to receive a share of nearly $100 million in marijuana tax revenue. How will these unrestricted funds help solve critical water issues in Central Lake and Cadillac?
• 🏠 Housing developments & downtown projects – Two HomeStretch workforce housing projects return to the Traverse City agenda. Plus, updates on Fish Pass and the much-discussed Rotary Square—what's next for these community projects?
• 🚧 West Front Street safety concerns – What's being done to address traffic and pedestrian safety on this busy corridor?
• 🎧 A new true-crime podcast from Up North Live – Alli shares details on an exciting new podcast diving into Northern Michigan's most impactful cases.

And as always, we wrap up with what Christal, Beth, and Alli are looking forward to in the coming week!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

✨ Golden Fowler Home Furnishings – Located on South Garfield Avenue in Traverse City, Golden Fowler offers Home Fashion~ Elevated, bringing style and comfort to your living spaces.

🏦 West Shore Bank – When you choose West Shore Bank, you're not just choosing a bank; you're choosing a partner committed to the well-being of our community. Visit them today on 8th Street or at westshorebank.com.

🕹 The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – A chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar with 200+ rotating cans, drafts, shooters, plus pinball machines in a low-key setting.

Now… who's up for a game of pinball? 🕹

In this week's episode of Currently with Christal Frost, we dive into the biggest local stories shaping northern Michigan with our esteemed guest journalists, Beth Milligan of the Traverse City Ticker and Jacob Wheeler of the Glen Arbor Sun.

First, we explore the evolving challenges facing local schools and communities following the Executive Order that revokes safe haven protections for schools and churches. Jacob breaks down the implications, including statements from Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Borkovich and how local officials are responding to the concerns of migrant and immigrant families.

Next, Beth gives us a rundown of major developments in Traverse City, from a new workforce housing project to the ongoing two-way street debate and necessary—but expensive—sewer system upgrades.

Later, we discuss the remarkable story of The Lost History of Black Homesteaders in Leelanau County, an upcoming documentary that traces the rediscovery of the Johnson family's untold legacy. What started as a simple Facebook message has turned into a powerful reclamation of local Black history.

Plus, what's the one thing our guests are looking forward to next week? (Spoiler: Traverse City Restaurant Week makes an appearance!)

Tune in for all this and more on Currently with Christal Frost!

This show is brought to you by:

• Golden Fowler Home Furnishings – Home Fashion Elevated, located on S. Garfield Avenue in Traverse City.

• West Shore Bank – Committed to the well-being of the community. Visit them on 8th Street or at westshorebank.com.

• The Coin Slot Arcade Bar – A chill hangout in Traverse City featuring a full bar, pinball machines, and a great selection of drinks.