By Michele Bourdieu Nadija Packauskas, right, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, pauses for a photo near the Capitol in Washington, DC -- with her Dad, Vytautas Packauskas, and Ukrainian American Anna Kovalenko of Grand Rapids, Mich. -- following their attendance at the American Coalition for Ukraine Summit April 12-16 in Washington. (Photo by Keweenaw Now) WASHINGTON, DC -- Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, and her 93-year-old Dad, Vytautas Packauskas, shared their experiences meeting with Ukrainans and their supporters at the American Coalition for Ukraine Action Summit ..read more

Map showing Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula, where Keweenaw Land Association has requested direct metallic mineral leases from the State of Michigan covering Department of Natural Resources (DNR) metallic mineral rights. Click here for a larger map. Approximately 10,631.43 acres of metallic minerals lease rights in Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties have been requested by Keweenaw Land Association, Limited. Detailed parcel information including maps and classifications can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing ..read more

By Caitlin Looby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published April 10, 2024, in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Reprinted here in part with permission The Presque Isle River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula empties into Lake Superior in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Environmentalists say that a new copper mine, which will be the closest metallic sulfide mine to Lake Superior to date, will threaten water quality in Lake Superior and its tributaries. (Photo © Caitlin Looby/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) GOGEBIC COUNTY, Mich. -- The Presque Isle River carves through the southwest tip of the ..read more

By Michele Bourdieu Visiting Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska displays a "Stop Putin Stop War" sign during the Feb. 4, 2024, Walk for Ukraine in Houghton. Pictured with her are the three Loosemore children -- from left, Kaitlin, Jethro and Jacob -- who attend the Walks for Ukraine regularly with their Dad, John Loosemore (holding sign and American flag in background). (Photo courtesy Yoopers for Ukraine) Yoopers for Ukraine have attracted more supporters this month with two visitors from Ukraine joining the weekly Walk for Ukraine on the Portage Lift Bridge and giving presentations at various ..read more

Cynthia Coté, Calumet artist and founding director of the Copper Country Community Arts Center, has an exhibit of her work, REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED, at the Finlandia Art Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, through April 3, 2024. HANCOCK --  REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED, an exhibit by Calumet artist Cynthia Coté at the Finlandia Art Gallery, is open! A reception for the artist will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the gallery, with an artist talk beginning at 7:20 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served ..read more

FLIP Fabrique -- a circus company based in Québec, Canada -- will present BLIZZARD, an enchanting snowstorm that blends creativity with daring choreography, at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 9, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. (Image courtesy Rozsa Center) HOUGHTON -- This Friday and Saturday, the Rozsa stage will transform into an enchanting snowstorm, whether or not the snow is falling outside! Cirque FLIP Fabrique's BLIZZARD will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. A Sensory-Friendly Matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, is designed to invite all m ..read more

By Nyasha Milanzi* Prior to attending the COP28 climate conference -- held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 to December 12, 2023 --  my knowledge of Indigenous Peoples in the environmental justice space was primarily centered around Native American communities in Michigan, which I had learned about through my present role as a research assistant for a ReJUST project at Michigan Tech. Our primary focus is on studying the air quality of an indigenous community in Michigan, specifically evaluating the impacts of a local energy generation facility that predominantly emp ..read more

Signs in Chassell Township cemetery indicate an area reserved for green burial. (November 2023 photo by Keweenaw Now) The Community Room at Portage Lake District Library was nearly standing room only on November 20, 2023, for a presentation by Keweenaw Green Burial Alliance (KGBA) President Stephen Jukuri on "A Tale of Two Cemeteries: Chassell Township Outperforms with Green Burial." The event was KGBA's first "post-pandemic" community update on what this non-profit educational and advocacy organization has been learning in the past few years about both successes and failures of green burial ..read more

Sew Cranky invites you to drop in at 322 Quincy Street in Hancock to create a snowflake for this year's "Snowflake Challenge." Cash prizes! (Poster courtesy Ginger Alberti of Sew Cranky) HANCOCK -- Ginger Alberti and Mike Sabo of Sew Cranky invite participants of all ages to two family events this winter -- the "Snowflake Challenge" and the "Hobbyhorse Hoedown." Snowflake Challenge Sew Cranky is a unique shop in Hancock where you can create a snowflake using a hand-crank sewing machine and enter it in the "Snowflake Challenge" any time from now to February 16, 2024, for cash prizes or a gift ..read more

By Michele Bourdieu Organized by Yoopers for Ukraine, an emergency Rally for Ukraine on Thursday, Dec. 7, attracts local residents who wave flags and display their signs and new banner on the Houghton side of the Portage Lift Bridge. The demonstration called attention to the need to contact legislators in Congress and request  funding for Ukraine. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas of Yoopers for Ukraine) HOUGHTON -- Yoopers for Ukraine, a local group promoting activities in the U.P. to support Ukraine, held an emergency Rally for Ukraine on Thur ..read more