This week....
Cherry Capital Airport officials are now 30% finished with plans to build a bigger terminal. This won’t expand the overall footprint of the airport; instead, it will expand the concourse, the baggage system and the security checkpoint.
Building or expanding a space used by the public raises questions about health and energy and emissions. IPR's Izzy Ross will have more on that this week.
In case you missed it...
Marie Richards was laid off in mid-February from her job as a tribal relations specialist with the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Richards, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, worked as its historic preservation and repatriation specialist before taking the Forest Service job in December of 2023. She was one of thousands of probationary U.S. Forest Service workers laid off as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut costs and reduce the size of the federal government.
Check out IPR's conversation with Richards.
In other news...
The Ticker: new septic ordinance that could take effect January 1, 2026 in Grand Traverse County.
- County Commissioners are now moving to a public hearing phase to hear from the community about their plan.
- It would require private inspections of septic systems for properties within 300 feet of surface water, whenever that property is sold or transferred.
- Could affect between 200 and 400 properties in the county.
- No public hearing is set for the ordinance yet. But will be given a 10 day notice.
The night sky, during the day
Izzy visited the inflatable planetarium at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's visitor center.
- One of the rangers described it as a big, black beach ball. Visitors enter and sit on the floor, looking up at the inside of the dome.
- Rangers project the night sky onto the dome's ceiling. They can show it at different points in time and in different areas.
- They can also show the effects of light pollution, that is, light from artificial sources.
- The inflatable planetarium also travels! Park staff take it to school groups to teach students about the night sky.
