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1 week ago | 
northernexpress.com | Ren Brabenec |Abby McKiernan |Quinn De Vecchi |Jillian Manning
Up North Pride talks June programming, Michigan protections, and federal attacks By Ren Brabenec | May 31, 2025 The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) ranks Michigan in the top 20 U.S. states for policies supporting LGBTQ+ residents’ lives, experiences, and equality. Michigan is an island in this category because, without going to either the East or West Coast, the only states in the U.S. with better rankings are Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois.
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2 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Ren Brabenec |Drew VanDrie |Anna Faller |Kierstin Gunsberg
Camping and hiking tips, 2025 updates, and advice for your visit By Ren Brabenec | May 24, 2025 With summer around the corner, locals and visitors alike are turning their attention to one of just three National Lakeshores in the United States: Sleeping Bear Dunes.
What can visitors expect at the park in 2025? And how should they prepare? Whether your adventure involves a day hike or a weekend camp-a-thon, we sat down with a park ranger to find out.
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Jamie Kauffold |Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner
By Jamie Kauffold | May 17, 2025 Start Memorial Day weekend with beautiful views of Little Traverse Bay during the Top of Michigan Festival of Races, Saturday, May 24. Choose from a half marathon, 10K, or 5K, with the earliest start time at 7:30am from Bayfront Park in Petoskey. For more info and to register visit: runsignup.com/Race/MI/Petoskey/TopofMichiganFestivalofRaces. The races benefit the Top of Michigan Trails Council and the Petoskey High School track and cross country teams.
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Matt Dursum |Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner
10+ ways to see the island through fresh eyes By Matt Dursum | May 17, 2025 Visitors may know Mackinac Island for its horses, paved bike trails, Grand Hotel, and the Revolutionary War era Fort Mackinac that overlooks the harbor. But beyond the crowded gift shops and popular hotels along Lake Shore Drive is a lesser-known side to the island. We got recommendations from two experts on how to explore Mackinac like a local.
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner |Ross Boissoneau
Tastemaker May 17, 2025 Lobster and avocado toast? In this economy?! You bet. The Landing Restaurant in Charlevoix is gearing up for their summer reopening May 21, and we’re headed straight for our favorite pick from the appetizer “Sharing is Caring” side of the menu. This loaded toast is hearty enough to split with a friend (or hold up as its own meal), and at $18.99, won’t break the bank despite its bougie ingredients.
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Anna Faller |Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner
Bottoms Up By Anna Faller | May 17, 2025 We get it: morning decisions are hard, especially when it comes to coffee. For our AM fix, find us at Wildwood Coffee Co. in Indian River, where everything from local art to light breakfast and pastries are on the menu. Our first order, though, is the Wildwood Latte.
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner |Ross Boissoneau
Festivals, music, fashion, camping, and more! By Abby McKiernan | May 17, 2025 Memorial Day weekend is almost here, and it’s time to kick off summer the northern Michigan way—with festivals, races, cookouts, and celebrations across the region. Whether you’re looking for family fun, lively music, historical reenactments, or just a glass of wine in the sunshine, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s happening:
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Ross Boissoneau |Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner
Millage funding keeps essential services running throughout the state By Ross Boissoneau | May 17, 2025 The Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE have made cuts to hundreds of agencies across the federal government. Among the cuts that have been in the news are those to the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to accounts in numerous media, the VA is planning to cut 83,000 jobs. At the VA, nearly 30 percent of workers are veterans, half of whom are disabled.
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Victor Skinner |Ross Boissoneau
May 17, 2025 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking northern Michigan residents to reconsider burning debris from the March ice storm. “Our local fire departments are reporting that people in areas impacted by the storm are starting to burn debris, which is causing surrounding dry grass and leaves to catch on fire,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in a DNR press release. What to do instead?
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3 weeks ago | 
northernexpress.com | Victor Skinner |Abby McKiernan |Ren Brabenec |Ross Boissoneau
Enbridge and environmentalists speak about updated timeline for the tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac By Victor Skinner | May 17, 2025 The Canadian oil and gas company Enbridge in early March unveiled a revamped information center in St. Ignace that now features a 22-foot model of the boring machine the company plans to use to tunnel hundreds of feet below the Straits of Mackinac.
