Up North Lowdown

Candidates in northern Michigan’s 103rd House District offer different approaches to housing costs, access to rural health care and the proposed Line 5 tunnel. We hear from state Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) and Republican challenger Edwin Dean (R-Northport) as part of our profiles of area legislative races.

IPR's newest reporter is focused on hearing your voices about the issues that matter to you and the things you think are undercovered. In today's episode, we talk with Astrid Code about a new approach to journalism at IPR. We'll also round up some northern Michigan headlines, from worries about Flock cameras to the reopening of Sugar Loaf!

Northern Michigan has some enormous state House districts. The 104th District, for example, is 1,700 square miles. We find out how candidates cover that ground — and talk to them about the pressing issues they see, as they run for a seat in the Michigan Legislature.

Grayling used to be all over Michigan's rivers and streams. The freshwater fish could make a return if efforts by northern Michigan tribes succeed. We go to the Boardman-Ottaway River for an update. Also, a look ahead at an Indigenous People's Day celebration planned in Leland. And we pull over for a minute to watch part of Traverse City's Central Grade School come down.

The 2026 Cherry Pie Debates brought four candidates for the Michigan Legislature together to discuss a wide range of issues. In some places, they even found agreement. Listen to our recap.

After devastating ice storms hit northern Michigan in 2025, the federal government promised money for reforestation efforts. That was a big deal for people who count on those trees to make their living. But now, that money doesn't look like it's coming. Also: You like pie. You like being an informed voter. We can help.

Audio from the Sept. 17 crash of an F-16 in Grawn reveals details about what may have brought down the plane and just how quickly the pilot was forced to eject. We hear from another fighter pilot who survived a crash by pulling the ejection handle.

Safety complaints in a Traverse City park are causing leaders to consider stiffer penalties for "prowling," which could bring 90 days of jail time. As police step up enforcement, we visit Hull Park to hear from people who are homeless and spend time there.

It took a few tries in front of the Board of State Canvassers, but Ashley Areeda has the green light to circulate a recall petition against Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop. She talks to IPR about what the effort will entail, and then we speak with Votebeat Michigan's Hayley Harding, about the bigger picture. IPR has made multiple requests to interview Bishop. The invitation remains open.

Today, we pick up the phone and call the latest winner of the Up North Lowdown Puzzle. Test your wordplay mettle with Heather Huffstutler of Petoskey. But we start by rounding up some northern Michigan headlines, including a delay of absentee ballots in Antrim County.