Joining the band For some, the National Cherry Festival Marching Band in Traverse City is a chance to keep marching. For others, it's an opportunity to try something new. It certainly was for Cindy Monroe.

Are we tossing an episode of the Up North Lowdown at you on July 4th? Yes we are. Is it a fun one? Yes it is.

The raid of Twin Flames Universe Michigan's Attorney General is going after the Twin Flames Universe, a spiritual organization based in Leelanau County that's widely considered to be a cult.

Twin Flames Universe — the subject of a 2023 Netflix series portraying it as a cult — is under investigation by Michigan's attorney general. Authorities carried out raids Tuesday in Leelanau County. We talked about it with journalist Jacob Wheeler, of the Glen Arbor Sun. Listen:

'Native America Calling,' new music shows, and more Michigan on IPR Interlochen Public Radio is changing some of its programming on WICA, WLMN and WHBP — its three news frequencies known as IPR News Radio.

A new schedule comes to IPR News Radio on Monday. We're excited to add some new shows!

As ICE plans to move into Baldwin prison, residents hope jobs will stay In Lake County — population 12,000 — a new ICE facility is opening in a shuttered private prison, promising to create hundreds of jobs in the poorest county in the state. Many residents have doubts ab...

The opening of a privately run immigration detention center in Lake County has raised a lot of questions, including its impact on nearby Baldwin.

On the move: Turtlefest and crossing signs return to Benzie County It's all about turtle safety at the second annual Turtlefest in Benzie County.

A few people in Benzie County were motivated by “a combination of traffic safety and turtle safety coming together, and also being concerned about the people like us who like to help turtles."

Turtlefest is returning this weekend - as are the crossing signs.

for @iprnews.bsky.social @grist.org

Copper mines, Star Wars and old engines: IPR stories win honors Interlochen Public Radio is the winner of three Regional Edward R. Murrow awards, the most of any public radio station in Michigan this year.

IPR is the winner of 3 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards! www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-05-21/c...

Ask an Expert: Climate and our community Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 7:00pm - What do you wonder about the way extreme weather and climate change might affect our communities here in northern Michigan?

We hope you'll join us at this event on May 28! And even if you can't, maybe you can help us right now, by sending us your questions/thoughts: www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-05-15/a...

UPDATE: Traverse City clears 'The Pines' as new ordinance takes effect A yellow police line encircled the area after the sweep displaced about 14 people who had been living in tents among the trees near 11th and Division streets.

The sweep began on Tuesday and appeared to conclude today.

What shows do you love? Take the IPR News programming survey IPR News wants your opinion as we consider changes to our programming.

We're considering some programming changes on IPR News Radio. Learn more and take a survey here: www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-05-05/w...

Army Corps to fast track review of Line 5 tunnel project The federal review of the Line 5 tunnel project will be sped up through new emergency procedures under an executive order from President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump’s executive order declared a national energy emergency, which cleared the way for energy projects to receive emergency status.

While the tunnel project’s emergency status will speed up the Army Corps’ review, it’s not clear exactly how much faster it will be.

The Helpful Leech There are many species of leech in Michigan but only a few feed on mammal blood.

Do you catch Cheryl Bartz's "What's Up Outside?" essays on Sundays? If not, here. If yes, listen again, because they're really fun. www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-04-07/t...

Love local news? Maybe you should be our next morning news host Come be an indispensable morning voice for people in one of the most beautiful parts of the United States.

IPR News Radio is looking for its next "Morning Edition" host! Learn more here:

Ice storm latest: A power update, and Bergman sees damage up close U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman made visits to Gaylord, Atlanta and Cheboygan as response and recovery efforts continue from the March 29-30 storm.

An update on the ice storm response, including U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman on his tour of the damage and the potential for federal assistance: www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-04-05/i...

BREAKING: Special prosecutor decides against charging Grand Traverse Co. commissioner Commissioner Rob Hentschel had been accused of sexual assault, but a prosecutor says there’s not enough evidence to prove a crime took place ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’

BREAKING: Commissioner Rob Hentschel will not face criminal charges after a special prosecutor said Friday that there’s "insufficient evidence to prove a crime took place beyond a reasonable doubt."

Bergman invites Trump to come see northern Michigan storm damage The Republican congressman says a visit from the president would bring national attention to the disaster and encourage first responders.

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman wrote in a letter to President Trump: "... a visit from you would be a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this recovery." www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-04-03/b...

We are struggling with keeping some of our transmitters on the air in the aftermath of the big ice storm. IPR News in Harbor Springs and Classical IPR in Mackinaw City are both affected. Details: www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2025-03-29/i...

Whitmer deploys National Guard to help ice storm recovery The governor also expanded a state of emergency declaration to add Alcona and Antrim counties as thousands are still without power.

BREAKING: Lack of fuel has been among the main concerns in the region. Gov. Whitmer also said she would temporarily lift restrictions on weight and commercial driver hours to allow energy supplies to move quickly to northern Michigan.

No power? Find a warming station to shelter from ice storm Officials are urging the public to stay home and off the roads as a historic ice storm batters the region. But some communities have set up warming stations for people who need electricity.

Should you use a warming station, be prepared and bring toiletries, medication, clothes and nonperishable food items.

Great Lakes Energy: 'Prepare for a five-day to multi-week outage' Utility crews continue trying to repair outages ahead of more precipitation in northern Michigan, already battered by a damaging ice storm.

Great Lakes Energy said in a statement that it "advises members to prepare for a five-day to multi-week outage event." More winter weather is expected in northern Michigan on Wednesday morning.

A tree topples over in Hayes Township, near the Charlevoix/Emmet County line, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Meteorologists expect the thaw to take a few days. Video courtesy of Jessica Schmidt of Charlevoix.

Widespread outages, damage from northern Michigan ice storm The weekend ice storm put more than 100,000 customers in the dark as responders dealt with downed power lines and trees across roadways.

Crews are working to restore power to more than 100,000 customers who were left in the dark, after an ice storm brought down trees and power lines.

Communities could spend opioid money on naloxone access, ‘harm reduction’ Ever walked by some newspaper boxes and noticed some aren’t filled with papers, but medicine? Chances are that medicine can help reverse an opioid overdose.

What could they spend it on, you may ask? Harm Reduction MI Director Pamela Lynch shares her thoughts on making overdose-reversal drugs more accessible in this interview:

Some tip-of-the-mitt counties waiting to spend opioid settlement dollars As millions of dollars flow to Michigan communities from opioid distributors, some up-north counties are electing to wait to start spending.

Officials from Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties say they're still in the "information gathering stages" as they form oversight committees and survey populations.

Live alligator found under the bed draws police to Cheboygan motel “He didn't try biting anybody or anything. But ... he hissed at me and that was probably pretty much to say, 'Leave me alone.'”

When his owner checked out of his motel room in Cheboygan, Wally the alligator stayed a little longer.

Officials: Northern Michigan ‘just as vulnerable’ to measles outbreak One measles case has been confirmed in Michigan already, but officials in northern Michigan say low vaccination rates in some counties are causing real concern for a potential outbreak.

One measles case has been confirmed in Michigan already, but officials in northern Michigan say low vaccination rates in some counties are causing real concern for a potential outbreak.

Bear Trouble When a black bear in Minnesota woke up from hibernation in the middle of winter and attacked three people and a dog, researchers were left with one question: Why?

The chances of being struck by lightning are higher than being attacked by a black bear. But one morning, about a week before Christmas it happened to Bill Vagts and his dog. So, what went wrong? Find out in the latest episode of Points North:

We're still looking to answer your questions about how new immigration policy will impact northern Michigan. Submit a question on our Speakpipe:

In Leelanau County, a dispute over using sewage as farm fertilizer The conflict has led to a lot of questions and confusion, and could be discussed at a meeting this week.

Last spring, a farmer in Leelanau County started applying a kind of fertilizer to his fields: Sewage pumped from septic tanks, often called septage. That kicked off a local fight about whether it’s legal to apply that waste in Centerville Township.

The Week Ahead: Cherry Capital Airport, federal layoffs and the night sky Each Monday on Morning Edition, an IPR journalist brings you up to speed on what’s going on in northern Michigan, and what IPR is working on this week.

I took a drive to an inflatable planetarium at Sleeping Bear Dunes this weekend (also working on other stuff) - listen in:

@iprnews.bsky.social

KFF: Many ways of spending opioid settlement dollars but it's not all easy to track Aneri Pattani, senior reporter for KFF Health News breaks down the differences in transparency between states that are spending opioid settlement dollars.

Love seeing Michael Livingston build off @kffhealthnews.org's reporting/resources to investigate how opioid settlement $$ is being spent in his own community for @iprnews.bsky.social! If you're in northern Michigan, follow his ongoing coverage. www.interlochenpublicradio.org/ipr-news/202...