10/21/2026

N. WISCONSIN - Verizon owned Frontier wants to end copper-based phone services in Northern Wisconsin on November 16th. The move still needs approval by the Federal Communications Commission.  This could leave many residents in rural parts of Northern Wisconsin without phone or internet services.  The end of the wire service is because Verizon says they are retiring 136 wire centers across Wisconsin.  This would leave those affected with only Wireless or Satellite options.   

10/21/2026

N. WISCONSIN - Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District Fred Clark, a former member of the DNR board, says he would like wolves to be delisted. Currently wolves are on the Endangered Species List, but Clark says the population has recovered and meets the criteria to be delisted.  The euthanization of nine wolves by the Department of Natural Resources in Northern Price County last month is raising the issue of delisting them.  The DNR’s most recent report shows more than 1,100 gray wolves in the state across 321 packs.

10/21/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN -  A Bridge Michigan analysis reveals that nearly 1-in-10 local elected positions in Michigan could remain vacant due to a lack of candidates. This affects over 5,400 positions on the ballot for November 3. The vacancies are widespread but hit rural areas hardest, with school board positions being the most unfilled. Local boards can appoint individuals to vacant positions after elections, but if they can't, the vacancies return to the ballot. Experts say this is a growing problem nationwide, with 10,000 open seats lacking candidates in 2024. The issue stems from low pay and increasing distrust in government.