Good morning, Traverse City.

Sugar Loaf Scenic Area reopened over 25 years after closing in Leelanau County under the Leelanau Conservancy and invited locals to explore a new Summit Trail Friday night — offering plans for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking next spring while focusing on ecological restoration and human-powered trail access.

Road work on Hammond Road between Carlisle Road and Three Mile Road is causing commute delays and affecting pickups at Grand Traverse Academy, but residents, merchants, and school officials say the improvements (including new sidewalks and trails) will benefit the community once construction is completed at end of October.

Local tourism officials report that fall travel is boosting northern Michigan's economy as visitors, including many from the South, support small businesses and year-round jobs.

Traverse City Tourism's CEO Trevor Tkach and Visit Charlevoix's Amanda Wilkin say rising autumn visitors will keep community amenities thriving.

A 48-year-old Grand Traverse County man won a $6.79 million Lotto 47 jackpot on Aug.

15 after matching all six numbers with a ticket purchased at a Kingsley grocery store; he chose a single lump sum payment ($4.7M) and plans to buy a house, invest and travel.

A Grand Traverse County man claimed a $6.79 million Lotto 47 jackpot after matching six numbers on Aug.

15. He bought his winning ticket at Northland Food Center on East M-113 in Kingsley and opted for a lump sum of about $4.7 million to buy a house, invest and travel.

Abdul El-Sayed joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Saturday at the State Theatre to discuss affordability with hundreds of local residents.

The event addressed rising grocery and housing costs and showed strong voter engagement.

Jane Keen has served nearly 30 years in local elections in Leelanau County and continues to volunteer after retiring six years ago.

She helps prepare the polling precinct and encourages new workers to learn the process (every vote counts in our community).

A Glen Arbor firefighter donated blood stem cells to Texas coach Donn Landholm after his leukemia diagnosis in March 2024, leading to a successful transplant in February 2025.

Chalup’s match through the NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program) saved his life, and she was later honored at a University of Houston game.

Housing North will host its 12th annual Northwest Michigan Housing Summit on Monday, Oct.

26 and Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Hagerty Center. Leaders, developers and financial institutions will meet to explore new tools to boost affordable housing in the region.