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Charlie Brooks
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Northern Michigan Journalism Collaborative
Federal aid is just starting to trickle in from April flooding, but the toll is adding up. One school district is losing students because a washed-out bridge created bus detours, while Manistee County worries about costs.

Thursday on WCMU Public Television

From New York to Kolkata, sharing space with wildlife in our cities comes with surprising benefits.
An original series highlighting the people and places that make Michigan unique.
Hemingway writes The Old Man and the Sea but is overcome by mental illness.
Between the Lakes is WCMU Public Media’s weekly news podcast, bringing you the stories shaping central and northern Michigan—clearly, thoughtfully, and in under 15 minutes. Hosted by Tina Sawyer, new episodes drop each Saturday morning, offering trusted local reporting and essential context on public policy, the environment, the courts, and more.
News Wrap: GOP push for Missouri congressional map rejected
News Wrap: Supreme Court again rejects GOP push for new congressional map in Missouri
Pentagon 9/11 survivor Kevin Shaeffer reflects on his escape
Pentagon 9/11 survivor Kevin Shaeffer reflects on his escape: 'I had to fight'
Pataki on how N.Y. responded to 9/11 and its lasting impact
George Pataki on how New York responded to 9/11 and its lasting impact
Houthis capture Red Sea port, pressuring oil markets
Iran-backed Houthis capture Red Sea port, putting more pressure on oil markets
A Brief But Spectacular take on the toll of separation
A Brief But Spectacular take on the toll of separation
Trump's vow of $5,000 payments faces bipartisan criticism
Trump's vow of $5,000 payments to Americans faces bipartisan criticism
The young conservative movement a year after Kirk's killing
A look at the young conservative movement a year after Charlie Kirk's killing
What to expect from the GOP's first-ever midterm convention
What to expect from the GOP's first-ever midterm convention
Missouri's election maps in chaos after conflicting rulings
Missouri's election maps in chaos after conflicting rulings
AI researcher says companies are ignoring catastrophic risks
AI researcher warns companies are ignoring catastrophic risks
Destination Michigan 1703
Mt. Pleasant, Sanford, Sault Ste. Marie, Portage, and East Lansing
Destination Michigan 1702
Traverse City, Marquette, DeWitt, and Owosso
Destination Michigan 1701
Detroit, Traverse City, Mt. Pleasant, East Tawas, and Charlevoix
Destination Michigan 1606
Honor, Alanson, Interlochen, and Hancock
Destination Michigan 1605
Caledonia, Mackinaw City, Cedarville, and Beaver Island
Destination Michigan 1604
Ann Arbor, Albion, Sault Ste. Marie and Keweenaw Peninsula
Destination Michigan 1603
Grand Rapids, Detroit, Secret Mushroom Location, Mt. Pleasant, Osceola County
Destination Michigan 1602
Falmouth, Grand Rapids, Cedar Springs, and Alpena
Destination Michigan 1601
Mt. Pleasant, Cheboygan, and Maple City
Episode 1506
Caledonia, Pinconning, Grand Ledge & Waterfalls
WCMU Music - Latest Programs
Destination Out - September 6, 2026
This weekend on Destination Out, Mike Johnston features Detroit area brother greats such as Joe and Leon Henderson plus Elvin, Thad, and Hank Jones.
Juke Joint - September 6, 2026
This week on The Juke Joint is one of The Duke's Favorites, originally aired on August 12, 2018. Robert Barclay offered a tribute to Stan "The Record Man" Lewis who opened a record store in an African-American neighborhood in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1948, and offered a big selection of blues records to his customers.
Juke Joint - August 30, 2026
This week on The Juke Joint is one of The Duke's Favorites, originally aired on December 2, 2018. Robert Barclay, played tunes by artists known for their nicknames such as the Texas Nightingale, Curly, Furry and Cleanhead, a couple of professors, a few doctors, Cow Cow and Bumble Bee, the Black Ace, the Blues Boss, the Chief, Bon Ton, a Papa and a Mama and others known by their instrument: guitar, harmonica and piano.
Destination Out - August 30, 2026
On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston celebrates various jazz musicians birthdays from the past week including; Charley Parker, Alice Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Malachi Favors, Lester Young, and Sonny Sharrock.
Homespun - August 29, 2026
…Homespun this week celebrates the life of singer, songwriter, actress, entertainer Dolly Parton . We’ll spin tracks from Dolly as well as others who recorded her songs: The Lynn Morris Band, Linda Ronstadt, Mindy Smith , The Trio, and much more.
Destination Out - August 23, 2026
Mike Johnston features some obscure recordings on the ESP record label released in the 1960's by artists such as Gunter Hampel, Burton Greene, James Zitro, and SHQ.
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Latest from WCMU Public Media
Destination Michigan 1702
Traverse City, Marquette, DeWitt, and Owosso
Pressing Matters | MDOC Staffing Crisis, Housing Shortage & Bay City Infrastructure Challenges
We examine the staffing crisis Michigan's prison system is facing the housing shortage and more.
Michigan expands EV infrastructure, but access remains unequal, study finds
Michigan is actively expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and promoting the transition to electric transportation, but the presence of charging stations doesn’t necessarily mean all residents can benefit equally from electric vehicles, say researchers from Michigan Tech and University of Wisconsin.
Jewish faith leaders air concerns with Democratic Senate nominee El-Sayed
Nonnegotiable Michigan says it wants Abdul El-Sayed to be more conscious of how he criticizes Israel and its American lobby.
Republicans and Democrats hurl attacks and counter-attacks in Michigan governor's race
“It is either incompetence, corruption or both, and either one is disqualifying to be the governor of the state of Michigan."
Alma nurses to go on strike after rejecting MyMichigan's 'final' contract offer
After nine months of negotiation with hospital administrators, the nurses' union voted down the latest proposal from MyMichigan on Sept. 8. The three-day strike will start on Monday, Sept. 21.
Michigan monitoring gaps mean many may unknowingly breathe unhealthy air
In July, as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blanketed Michigan, air quality index readings in some areas of the state reached over 1,000, more than three times what the US Environmental Protection Agency considers hazardous.
'We kind of inherited it rather than experienced it': How two generations learned about 9/11
Erin Bjerke and Laney Harsh of Mount Pleasant talk about how they learned about the attacks, how they felt and where to go from here for remembering the day.
Whitmer passes out school lunches, takes policy questions in Kalamazoo
In recent years, Michigan has expanded its free school meal program, spent more on schools and literacy coaches, and changed its literacy curriculum. Still, test scores are down.
EEE case confirmed in Northern Michigan horse
The horse was from Roscommon County, the same county where Michigan's first human case of eastern equine encephalitissince 2021 was confirmed last month.
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