Up North Lowdown

Every four years, everyone goes crazy over curling. It shows up in the Olympic Games, which seems to give it a boost in popularity (at least in the countries where it's not already popular). And, since the games get underway tonight, we sent Austin Rowlader out on the sheet at the Traverse City Curling Club, to see what all the hype is about.

Data centers, and how to regulate them. Plus, Michigan moves toward lifting the ban on deer baiting in the lower peninsula.

Each year, volunteers fan out in northern Michigan — and around the country — to try and take a data snapshot: How many people are living without shelter? The point-in-time, or PIT, count provides data that informs federal funding. But where the government sends that money might soon change.

America's groundhogs (and other creatures) have weighed in. But how accurate are they? And what do, you know, the actual meteorologists at the National Weather Service say about our long-term forecast?

Fred Birdsee was born in Empire in 1899 and was still telling stories when IPR met up with him in January of 2000. We listen back. Plus, forget Punxsutawney Phil! Michigan has its own weather-predicting rodent, thank you very much. Woody issued her proclamation this morning.

On this episode, invasive species mitigation and a ride in an intergalactic snowplow.

Michigan Public's Michelle Jokisch Polo takes us inside the North Lake Processing Center with a retired pastor.