This week....
States like Michigan are receiving opioid settlement money — and trying to figure out how it's being spent. Check out this thorough analysis put together by KFF, an independent outlet covering health news and research.
They explain the history of how drug companies are now paying billions of dollars to make up for damage caused by opioids they manufactured and marketed. You'll also find some helpful data to see where that money is going. We hope to localize some of this in the coming months.
Also, Sauna Fest is coming to northern Michigan later this month. We spoke with festival organizer Vlad Borza about why he loves sauna. Look for that conversation later this week.
In case you missed it...
IPR's Michael Livingston tried his hand at Spizter. It's a card game that’s been played in the Thunder Bay area for more than a century. Every Thursday at 10 a.m., Marilyn Klingshirn group of about 10 people gather in a classroom at Alpena Community College.
A new book from Matthew Fletcher aims to disrupt narrative stereotypes and expectations about how Indigenous people are perceived.
It’s called “Stick Houses” and it’s a collection of fictionalized short stories based on his personal experience and those close to him.
Fletcher is a citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, an attorney and a professor of law at the University of Michigan.
In other news...
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wolf survey in lower Michigan starts today. Wolves were reintroduced in the 1990s but are mainly in the UP. There have been a good number of sightings since the last survey in 2019.
- We’re seeking stories on immigration and people’s experiences here in northern Michigan. We have ways that you can leave us written and audio messages with story ideas on our website.
- Up North Live reported that Benzie County and four of its sheriff’s deputies are named in a federal lawsuit. It comes from the family of Linda Henry, who was killed in 2022, the suit alleges deputies violated Linda Henry’s right to equal protection, which led to her murder.
- 9&10 News reported that the Bay Area Transportation Authority will offer rides to Cherry Capital Airport for folks from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. from a person's home or hotel starting Feb. 24.
