Otsego County millages pass to fund libraries, parks, recycling

Otsego County voters approved three millage proposals on the ballot, securing funding for local community services.

A clerk tried to remove voters from the rolls. How her county, and the state of Michigan, stopped her

Cheboygan superintendent on paid leave following OWI charge; interim named

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Cheboygan Area Schools Superintendent Spencer Byrd has been placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave following an OWI charge in Mackinac County, with the school board appointing Jessica Yearling as interim superintendent Monday night. According to Mackinac County's 92nd District Court, Byrd was charged with operating...

Coffia reelected, Damoose distances himself

Kate Gallup had support from her own county Tuesday (Leelanau), but it wasn’t enough to get her past her incumbent opponent. Republican John Damoose of Harbor Springs won the Michigan 37th Senate seat topping Gallup with 54-46% of the votes cast. “First I want to thank my opponent, Kate...

2026 Ogemaw Veteran of the Year

Editor’s Note: Stay connected with thousands of our Northeast Michigan neighbors through the Up North Voice Mail, delivered FREE every Thursday morning. Sign up today!. OGEMAW COUNTY- Earlier this year, the Ogemaw County Veterans Alliance named Mr. Donald B. Card the 2026 Ogemaw County Veteran of the Year. The Veterans Alliance, through its member organizations, represents all veterans in Ogemaw County. This award is the highest honor the Alliance can bestow upon a fellow veteran.

Callie Barr defeats Jack Bergman in Grand Traverse County, comes up short in race

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. — Democrat Callie Barr defeated Republican incumbent Jack Bergman by more than 6,000 votes in Grand Traverse County on Tuesday, despite falling short in the race for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. According to unofficial election results, Barr received 29,717 votes, or nearly 55%, compared...

Oscoda County voters reject millage renewal for local library

OSCODA COUNTY - Oscoda County voters have rejected a four-year millage renewal for the Oscoda County District Library. As a result of the defeat, the library will lose its dedicated millage revenue once the current tax expires. The ballot initiative failed by a margin of 214 votes. Final counts showed 2,175 residents voted against the measure, while 1,961 voted in favor. Had the initiative passed, it would have maintained the library’s current tax rate of 0.4883 mills until 2029. That funding was designated to support daily functions and overall library services.

Second bat tests positive for rabies in Grand Traverse County

A second bat in Grand Traverse County has tested positive for rabies this year after being found inside a local residence, health officials confirmed Thursday.

Wexford County commissioners approve conflict-of-interest waiver for solar project

WEXFORD COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Wexford County Commissioners have approved a potential conflict-of-interest waiver related to the Shipyard solar project. The project falls under the jurisdiction of the Wexford Joint Planning Commission, not the county board. But county administrator Joe Porterfield said the county wants to be prepared in case it becomes involved in any legal matters related to the project.

$75,000 Grant Puts 15 New Habitat Homes on the Map in Grand Traverse County

You teach third grade, or you drive an ambulance, or you work the line at a restaurant in Traverse City. You earn a steady paycheck, and you still can’t find a home in the county where you work. For a lot of Northern Michigan families, that’s not a hypothetical. It’s the current housing market.

Hammond Road reopens in Grand Traverse County after construction delays

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Hammond Road in Grand Traverse County is back open to traffic following months of construction and delays. The reopening comes after crews worked on road improvements near the Three Mile Road intersection in East Bay Township. The project faced several setbacks, including unexpected underground...

Easement deal paves way for sewer pipe replacement under South Airport Road

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- The clock is ticking to address the pipes below South Airport Road that leaked sewage this fall. On Wednesday morning, Grand Traverse County Commissioners called a special meeting to discuss what seems to be a rapidly approaching deadline to make repairs. The underground pipe...

Emmet County approves millage renewal for North Central Michigan College

EMMET COUNTY - Emmet County voters yesterday approved an operating millage renewal for North Central Michigan College, securing local tax support for the institution through 2036. Official election results show the 0.9946-mill rate passed with 60.6% of voters in favor and 39.4% opposed. The millage supplies approximately 20% of the college’s annual operating budget and is expected to generate about $4.66 million in its first year in 2027. Approval of the millage restores a portion of tax authority previously reduced under Michigan’s Headlee Amendment. Revenue will fund academic programs, workforce training, student services, community education and partnerships with area employers. Official results released by the Emmet County Clerk’s Office confirmed the passage of the measure. North Central Michigan College President David Roland Finley thanked residents for approving the proposal and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to fiscal management. “We are grateful to the residents of Emmet County for their continued trust and support,” Finley said. “North Central Michigan College has served this region for more than 65 years by providing exceptional, accessible, relevant educational opportunities that prepare students for successful careers and strengthen our communities and we strive to keep this education affordable. We recognize the responsibility that comes with this

DNR Gives OK to Run Sewer Main Under Medalie Park; South Airport & More Road Work Coming

A last-ditch effort to prevent a new $1.77 million sewer main from potentially having to be torn up in a few years has proven successful. At a special meeting Wednesday, Grand Traverse County commissioners approved allowing the new main – which is replacing undersized pipe below South Airport Road that cracked and leaked sewage this summer – to run under Medalie Park instead of the road right-of-way. That will ensure the main doesn’t have to be ripped out or redone when the South Airport crossing is eventually reconstructed.

5 Best Restaurants in Traverse City, Michigan You Need to Try Before Everyone Else Finds Them

Traverse City, Michigan — a city where the lake’s blue hush meets the laughter of cherry pickers and poets, where Victorian homes lean into the breeze and the air is sweet with the promise of summer. Here, the streets are stitched together by the stories of Ojibwe ancestors, farmers, artists, and dreamers who came for the water and stayed for the warmth of the community. It’s a place where the scent of woodsmoke mingles with roasting coffee, where every block hums with the rhythm of festivals, farmers’ markets, and the slow, golden drift of sunlight across Front Street.

The Legend Behind Michigan's Most Haunted Bridge

There is something charming about covered bridges. Maybe it's the picturesque scenery that typically surrounds them or the slower pace of life that many seem to represent. The Fallasburg Covered Bridge in Lowell, Michigan, is one such destination that perfectly captures that charm. This 100-foot bridge takes you across the Flat River, is particularly beautiful […]

Bat found in Grand Traverse County home tests positive for rabies

How many bats in Grand Traverse County have tested positive for rabies?. What steps does the health department recommend to prevent rabies exposure?. Why is rabies considered fatal once symptoms appear according to health officials?. GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A second bat in Grand Traverse County has tested...

U.S. 31 in Interlochen reopens to two-way traffic as widening project continues

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- U.S. 31 Interlochen is officially open both ways to traffic. This is a part of a $32.5 million investment to rebuild and widen a section of U.S. 31 from Sullivan Road in Green Lake Township, to Reynolds Road in Inland Township. Some new improvements...

Federal, local dollars help fuel Cherry Capital Airport's new West Coast service

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- The biggest airport in northern Michigan is now getting even bigger after a federal grant and thousands of dollars from local partners are helping make it possible for the Cherry Capital Airport to offer nonstop service to two California cities. Cherry Capital Airport announced...

Grand Traverse County trails millage passes

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — Voters have approved a new millage to fund trail development, maintenance and improvements throughout Grand Traverse County. The millage passed with 58% (29,485) of voters saying “Yes” and 42% (21,047) of voters saying “No”. The proposal authorizes a 0.3-mill levy for six years, from 2026 through 2031. If levied in full, the millage is expected to generate an estimated $2,635,012 in its first year. The owner of a property with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000 would pay approximately $15 per year. The funding can be used for trail construction, planning and engineering, maintenance, capital replacement, property and right-of-way acquisition, and program administration. Election results are unofficial until certified by election officials.